Term of Office of the Mayor of the City of Poznań
2024-2029

Contact
1st Floor, Secretariat, Room 108
Tel.: +48 61 646 33 44
e-mail: prezydent@um.poznan.pl

What Does the Mayor of Poznań Do?

If you visit Poznań, you might wonder who runs the city and how local decisions are made. The key figure in the City government is the Mayor of Poznań. This person is responsible for managing the City, representing it in Poland and abroad and ensuring that the city develops in a sustainable and modern way.

The current term of office lasts from 2024 to 2029.

Below you will find an easy guide to what the Mayor actually does.

Managing the City

One of the Mayor's main responsibilities is supervising the administration, coordinating the work of City departments and ensuring that public services operate smoothly. The Mayor also represents Poznań externally, for example in meetings with other cities, national authorities, international organizations, and investors.

Planning the City's Future

Another key role is strategic planning. The Mayor coordinates long-term development plans and programs designed to achieve the City's strategic goals. These plans involve infrastructure projects, economic development, environmental policies or social initiatives.

The Mayor also prepares reports and analyses about the City's social and economic situation which help guide policy decisions.

Managing Public Finances

The Mayor oversees the financial management of the City. This includes supervising the municipal budget and ensuring that public funds are used responsibly and in accordance with Polish law. The City's creditworthiness and financial stability are also monitored under the Mayor's authority.

Working with the City Council

The Mayor cooperates closely with the City Council (Rada Miasta). The Mayor:

• prepares draft resolutions,
• ensures that council decisions are implemented,
• provides legal and administrative support for the council's work.

In urgent situations, the Mayor can also issue emergency regulations to protect public order or safety.

Supervising City Institutions

Poznań operates many municipal institutions, such as schools, cultural institutions, transport services, and social welfare units.The Mayor has the authority to appoint and dismiss the heads of these municipal organizations and supervise their work. The Mayor also oversees certain public inspection services and municipal guards, as provided by law.

Protecting Personal Data

An important modern responsibility is acting as the Data Controller for the City administration. This means ensuring that the personal data processed by the City is handled in compliance with data protection regulations.

Developing Infrastructure and Transport

Infrastructure development is a major part of the Mayor's work. This includes planning and improving City roads, expanding public transport, developing cycling infrastructure, organizing and managing traffic in the City. These activities help keep Poznań accessible, efficient, and environmentally friendly.

Promoting Poznań Internationally

Poznań is an important academic, cultural, and business center in Poland. The Mayor promotes the City by supporting tourism (including cultural and congress tourism), cooperating with international partner cities, participating in international networks of cities and regions. The City also works actively to attract young people, students, and researchers, strengthening its role as a major academic hub.

Preparing for Emergencies

The Mayor is also responsible for crisis management, including preparing flood protection plans and declaring or cancelling flood alerts if necessary.

Managing Municipal Companies

Poznań owns shares in various municipal companies that provide services such as transport, utilities, and infrastructure. The Mayor supervises the City's interests in these companies, manages municipal shares and investments, and oversees the creation or restructuring of City-owned entities.

Why the Mayor's Role Matters

The Mayor of Poznań plays a crucial role in shaping the City's future. From managing daily administration to planning long-term development and representing the City internationally, the position combines political leadership, administrative management, and strategic planning.

For residents, students, entrepreneurs, and visitors alike, the Mayor's decisions influence how the City grows, how services operate, and how welcoming and dynamic Poznań remains.

Leading the City Administration

In addition to managing the City as a whole, the Mayor also serves as the head of the City Hall administration. This means overseeing the daily work of the municipal office that carries out public services and implements local policies in Poznań.

Supervising the Work of City Hall

The Mayor supervises how the City administration operates. This includes making sure that the organization of work in the municipal office is efficient and that all activities comply with Polish law and administrative regulations.

The Mayor also has general oversight of the tasks carried out by the city administration, ensuring that departments work effectively and deliver services to residents.

Managing Human Resources

As the head of the municipal office, the Mayor is responsible for staff policy. This includes setting priorities for hiring, professional development, and staffing across the administration. The Mayor also acts as the direct superior for the City's top officials, including the Deputy Mayors, the City Treasurer (responsible for public finances), the City Secretary (responsible for administrative coordination), and all other employees of the municipal office. This leadership structure ensures that decisions are coordinated and that the City administration functions as a single, well-organized institution.

Budget and Salaries in the Administration

Another important task is determining the salary budget for the different departments of the municipal office. By allocating funds for staff and administration, the Mayor ensures that each department has the resources it needs to perform its duties.

Ensuring Effective Governance

Overall, the Mayor's role as head of the administration ensures that the city government operates smoothly. By supervising staff, organizing the work of the office, and setting administrative policies, the Mayor helps maintain an efficient and professional public administration serving the residents of Poznań.

Overseeing City-Owned Companies

Like many large cities, Poznań owns shares in several companies that provide important public services-such as transport, infrastructure, and utilities. The Mayor of Poznań supervises these companies on behalf of the city.

This supervision is carried out through a special unit of the City Hall called the Ownership Supervision Office. Its role is to make sure that companies partly or fully owned by the City operate responsibly and in the best interests of the residents.

Protecting the City's Interests

The Mayor ensures that the city's investments in companies are properly managed. In practice, this means:

• protecting the financial and strategic interests of the City as a shareholder,
• deciding how the City uses its shares or stakes in companies,
• exercising the rights that come with those shares (for example voting at shareholder meetings),
• appointing representatives to the governing bodies of City-owned companies when the City has that right.

Managing Changes in Municipal Companies

The Mayor may also oversee major structural changes involving municipal companies. This can include creating new companies, joining existing companies as a shareholder, merging or restructuring companies, or, if necessary, dissolving them. The City may also negotiate with other shareholders, investors, or partners involved in these companies.

Example: Public Transport

A practical example is public transport. The Mayor coordinates how City-owned companies perform their public tasks. In the case of public transportation, the Public Transport Authority works with the municipal transport company. This includes cooperation with Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne w Poznaniu - MPK Poznań - Municipal Transport Company in Poznań, the company that operates trams and buses in the City.

Why This Matters

For residents and visitors, this system helps ensure that key public services such as transportation are efficient, reliable, and aligned with the City's long-term goals. By supervising municipal companies, the Mayor helps protect public resources and maintain high-quality services for everyone living in or visiting Poznań.

Mayor at a Glance

Name: Jacek Jaśkowiak
Position: Mayor of Poznań
Born: 10 March 1964, Poznań, Poland

Education:

• Law degree from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
• Postgraduate studies in accounting, finance and taxation
• Scholarship studies at Bielefeld University in Germany

Professional Background:

• Entrepreneur and business consultant for foreign investors (1997-2014)
• Experience in international trade and cooperation with global investors

Mayor since: 2014

Main Interests:

• Cross-country skiing (participant in the Worldloppet Ski Marathon Series)
• Cycling
• Theatre and culture

Community Engagement:

• Long-time supporter of visually impaired cyclists from a Poznań sports club
• Promoter of sports and active lifestyles