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19:33 Mar 27, 2010
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
Norwegian to English translations [PRO] Government / Politics
Norwegian term or phrase:rådmann/administrasjonssjef
(Please note, for any moderators who might question the inclusion of two terms, that these are actually names for the same government position.)
Ordnett.no says for "rådmann" that it's "omtrent dss. chief administrative officer", which suggestion I have followed for the last couple of weeks. But now I see that the unofficial translation of kommuneloven uses "Chief executive" for "administrasjonssjef", which sounds a touch high-falutin' for a municipal manager (at least to these American ears.) But note that some counties in the U.S. use "County Executive". In the U.S., the topmost non-elected administrative manager is either Town Administrator, Town Manager, or City Manager, depending on the form of government.
If you have an authoritative translation (or even a feebly-held opinion) for this position, please share it.
It's very much in use still. I just made the observation that introduced in today's climate, the title would have been just råd, or council. Often combined with a field, as in finansråd, or byråd, or kommuneråd.
I'm going to respectfully differ on how old and disfavored a word "rådmann" is. It's prevalent in several official documents I have here, from as recently as 2008. And there's an open job advertised in Solund kommune for "ADMINISTRASJONSSJEF/RÅDMANN" at https://www.solund.kommune.no/artikkel.aspx?Aid=701&MId1=151... Not to mention Norsk Rådsmannforum at http://www.radmann.no/category.php?categoryID=62, where there is discussion of employment contracts for them.
I haven't researched the question, but my impression is that the term is still "alive and kicking" ute på Vestlandet, in contrast perhaps with some more urban precincts to the east. ;-)
two names for the same government position? Both peers who have voiced an opinion so far seem to agree that two different titles are applicable. One thing that's for certain, is that while administrasjonssjef could apply to just about any company, for anything from office manager to Chief Administrative Officer, rådmann is something that exists only in local government. It is an old word, and would not be acceptable if it came up today - councilmen are all too often male without making it a gender-specific title. Rådmann is the head of a 'byråd' or a city council. As such, he is the director of that city council's administration. So what it boils down to is perhaps that rådmann is the title, and administrasjonssjef is the one-word job description?
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Answers
1 hr confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
Head of Administration
Explanation: I found these on Bergen kommune's English translation pages.
Administrasjonssjef = Head of Administration
Rådmann (formannskapsmodell) = Chief Municipal Executive.
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +1
