Planning And Policy Strategist

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7000 employees play a key role in the success of San José the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant innovative and desirable place to live and work.Visithere to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations including quality and excellent customer service and hereto learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age race color religion sex national origin sexual orientation disability veteran statusor any other consideration made unlawful under any federal state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability please contact us at 711 (TTY) or via email at .

About the City

Known as the Capital of Silicon Valley the City of San José plays a vital economic and cultural role anchoring the worlds leading region of innovation. Encompassing 181 square miles at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay San José is Northern Californias largest city and the 12th largest city in the nation and ranked the #1 safest major City in the country. With almost one million residents San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States.

About the Office of Administration Policy and Intergovernmental Relations

The City Managers Office provides strategic leadership to the Mayor and City Council to support their public policy decision-making and the City organization to ensure the delivery of accessible equitable and quality services that meet our diverse community needs. The City Managers Office of Administration Policy and Intergovernmental Relations under the direction of the Director coordinates internal budgets and hiring citywide public policy legislative affairs and Public Records. It provides the Citys Leaders Administrators Directors and staff with support coordination research and strategic analysis of the citys critical needs programs policies and services.

About the Position

The Planning and Policy Strategist (Assistant to the City Manager) is a key member of the Office of Administration Policy and Intergovernmental Relations (API). The position will report to the Deputy Director of Policy and support organizational capacity-building around policy development and data-driven decision-making. The position enhances the City Managers Office internal planning and management and supports streamlining inter-departmental coordination for programs policies and initiatives. The position is responsible for facilitation and collaboration across Departments to advance the development implementation and evaluation of programs and services that support the City Council Focus Areas City Council Committees and other services that resolve critical issues. Supporting Departments and the City Managers Office in policy development is critical to this position as is supporting the City Managers Leadership Team as they oversee policies programs and projects going through City Council Committees and City Council Meetings. This position also assists both internal and external stakeholder communication and coordination to achieve City goals.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for problem-solving and working with multi-disciplinary teams. The ideal candidate will be driven to advance equity have significant experience in policy analysis be proficient in data collection and data-driven decision-making have community and government relations experience be skilled in navigating ambiguity and have an understanding of administrative functions in the public sector with an enthusiasm for continuous quality improvement. Central abilities key to this position include excellent communication (written and verbal) superior critical and strategic-thinking skills quality authoring and editing of memoranda confidence in leadership roles commitment to customer service and serving the most vulnerable residents while possessing the ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects and issues. Budgeting and procurement experience is also desirable but not required.

The organization is looking for proven leaders who enjoy working through complex issues to find creative and innovative solutions to public policy problems. Due to the complexity and scope of authority involved this position requires someone who can work both independently and interdependently to ensure work is completed in an accurate complete and timely fashion.

Education and Experience

A Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in public administration business administration or a discipline related to the business performed by the department AND six (6) years management and/or administrative experience in government or private business/industry. A Masters degree is preferred and may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

Desired Skills & Competencies:

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies as demonstrated from past and current employment history.

Serve as a leader to strengthen and support the development of individuals and teams including:

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships;
• Ability to appropriately handle sensitive and confidential information;
• Ability to delegate effectively and encourage the development of staff throughout the organization; and
• Demonstrate a positive attitude and flexibility to change.

An understanding of and appreciation for the complexities of local government processes and practices including:

• Ability to maintain a constructive mindset in challenging and fluid situations; and
• Ability to learn quickly be a self-starter handle multiple assignments and deadlines and work well under pressure.

Proven record of accomplishment of building capacity and directing organizational change to achieve policy goals including:

• Experience in the development and implementation of strategies to solve complex organizational and municipal problems;
• Strong project management experience;
• Proficiency in guiding data-driven approaches for public policy and other decision-making;
• Strong administrative budgeting organizational and planning skills;
• Detail-oriented and can balance the high-level thinking with managing day-to-day tasks on multiple projects at the same time; and
• Proven ability to effectively communicate with a broad set of stakeholders including team members senior and executive leadership elected officials internal and external stakeholders and the residents of San José.

Key position responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Analyze organizational structures programs functions procedures and practices; provide analysis and recommendations of various kinds and levels of services provided by City government to create improved efficiencies;
• Coordinate activities and provide information and staff reports to assist the City Manager and senior and executive staff City Council Members City task forces and committees;
• Oversee the performance of the organization in meeting the Citys goals and in carrying out directives of the City Manager and Emergency Operations Center (when activated);
• Support memo and project coordination at City Council Committees and for City Council Focus Areas in support of Deputy City Managers;
• Establish and maintain good working relationships with a diversity of individuals community groups and organizations to ensure that the Citys programs effectively serve the San José community;
• Carry out special studies investigations and prepare reports and recommendations to the City Manager;
• Represent the Director of Administration Policy & Intergovernmental Relations or the Deputy Director of Policy as assigned;
• May supervise professional and/or support staff as assigned; and
• Evening and weekend work is occasionally required.

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicants training and experience based on the application and responses to the job specific questions. You must fill out the online application available on the City of San José website. As part of this process you will be required to submit a resume and answer five (5) supplemental questions. References to resumes will be considered incomplete and your application withheld from further consideration. Please limit your response to no more thanthreepages.

The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates qualifications and addition to the starting salary employees in the Assistant to the City Manager classification shall also receive an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation pay.

Those candidates with experience and training that best match the position will move forward to the next phase of the selection process which will include interview(s) and reference checks. Please know that candidates who move forward will be expected to provide an example of a deliverable from a complex policy project at the time of the interview.

If you have questions comments or concerns about the recruitment selection or hiring process please contact Jessica Lowry at

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not acceptedthrough CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION please email and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be avaluable tool for learning research and professional growth. We encouragecandidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials liveassessments and interviews. Howeverwe value authenticity accuracy and truthfulness.Application responses and interview answers must reflect your ownknowledge skills and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation it cannotreplace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensuresfairnesstransparency and equityfor all applicants in the hiring process.