Final answer:
A city manager is the administrator responsible for running the day-to-day operations in a city, as part of the council-manager system of government. They are appointed by the elected city council and oversee the administrative functions while the council focuses on policymaking.
Step-by-step explanation:
An administrator hired to run the day-to-day operations in a city is commonly referred to as a city manager. This role is characteristic of a council-manager system of government, where the city council, elected by voters, appoints the city manager to handle the administrative tasks of the city. This division of labor allows the council to focus on policymaking and legislative responsibilities while the city manager oversees the daily management and operational aspects of the city's government.
In the council-manager system, the city manager acts at the council's direction and can be terminated by the council. This system is designed to create efficiency and professional management of city operations, which is why it has been adopted by over 3,700 cities, including major ones like Austin, Dallas, and Phoenix. The council-manager system was part of a larger movement towards Progressive government in the early 20th century, aimed at reducing corruption and improving municipal governance.