By Lookout Staff
January 20 – Jennifer Phillips, a policy advisor to the County of Orange and to its board of supervisors, has been hired as Santa Monica’s assistant city manager. She will replace Gordon Anderson, who is retiring.
Phillips will oversee the external services departments of Big Blue Bus, Community & Cultural Services, Housing & Economic Development, Library, Planning & Community Development and Public Works.
In addition, she will be responsible for leading citywide programs and initiatives dealing with “operational issues,” said City Manager Lamont Ewell.
As executive manager with the County of Orange, Phillips, who has worked for 24 years in public administration, developed policy recommendations for top officials.
During the past five years she led OC Animal Care and “implemented substantial organizational change, modernized operations and developed high quality, customer-oriented programs and services,” according to City officials.
Before joining the County of Orange, Phillips worked as recycling specialist with the LA County Sanitation District, principal financial analyst with the Orange County Transportation Authority and assistant to the city manager with the City of Fullerton.
Phillips will assume her new post next Monday.
“I am very excited about the appointment of Jennifer and confident that her outstanding professional experience and education will be an invaluable asset to this organization,” Ewell said.
Phillips is an active member of the International City/County Management Association; the Preparing the Next Generation Working Group and is currently Vice-Chair of Women Leading Government.
Phillips has a Bachelor’s of Science and Master’s in Public Administration degrees from CSU, Long Beach.
