That is the situation confronting council general managers across Sydney and NSW, in the latest instance of uncertainty and upheaval triggered by the government's determination to merge councils.

After councillors from local government areas facing possible mergers were told to apply for their positions in new entities last month, the government has made a similar request of general managers.

In a directive last week, the NSW government requested expressions of interest from existing council general managers for "interim" roles in new merged entities.

The communication requested responses to three questions about leading organisations during periods of change, and asked for a resumé.

The request has confused and angered parts of the local government sector, in part because general managers are employed by councils and not the state government.

"Most of us have been pretty well gobsmacked when the government made this decision," said Keith Rhoades, the president of Local Government NSW.

"I can't think of another place where it has happened where someone who doesn't employ you tells you can reapply for your job but that you might not get it," Mr Rhoades said.

"That's like the general manager of News [Corp] coming over to you and saying you've got to apply for your job, even though you work for Fairfax," he said.

The government has stated that it wants to reduce the number of councils in Sydney from 43 to 25. But it has been forced to run a "Boundaries Commission" inquiry into reducing numbers, and that inquiry has not yet finished.

A spokeswoman for NSW Local Government Minister Paul Toole said: "No decision has been made on any merger proposal, but it's appropriate for the government to seek a pool of qualified people to ensure a seamless transition to new councils that proceed.

"The government is aiming to make a decision on proposals currently under consideration by midyear."