Assistant to the Director Public Works Agency (Exempt)

City Of Oakland

Job Location:

Oakland, CA - USA

Yearly Salary: $ 149409 - 183461

Posted on: 23 hours ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

The Position

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity inclusion and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the citys historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture community and individualism of employees.

Why join the City of Oakland Public Works Department

Joining the City of Oaklands Public Works Department (OPW) means becoming part of a team dedicated to real-time service problem-solving and operational excellence. The work performed in this division has a visible and meaningful impact on the daily lives of Oakland residents and contributes to a stronger safer and more resilient city.

The City of Oakland is seeking a high-performing administrative and strategic leader to serve as the Assistant to the Director of the Public Works Department. This is a unique opportunity to work directly with department leadership at the center of some of Oaklands most visible and impactful initiatives shaping strategy driving execution and helping deliver results for the administrative direction the Assistant to the Director serves as a key member of the departments leadership team providing high-level strategic guidance policy development and operational coordination. This role goes beyond traditional administrative functions it is a trusted advisor to the Director helping to set priorities solve complex problems and lead cross-departmental initiatives.

The position plays a central role in advancing the departments most important work including reporting to advisory commissions and City Council on voter-approved Measure Q; developing monitoring and updating the departments Top Goals and Projects; leading the annual staff survey including development implementation and action planning; driving implementation of the departments illegal dumping strategy; partnering with the Race and Equity Team; and leading and coordinating department-wide strategic planning efforts. This is a management-level position with significant responsibility visibility and impact ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment enjoys both strategic thinking and execution and is motivated by public service. The role also supports communication and engagement with the Mayor City Council and City Administrator and prepares reports and policy recommendations.

We are looking for someone who is:

Skilled in presenting complex information and liaising effectively with oversight bodies. You communicate with clarity and confidence ensuring stakeholders executives and community groups understand policy issues operational data and organizational needs.
Excel in project management and high-level coordination. You manage timelines guide multi-disciplinary teams and ensure deliverables meet organizational standards whether steering administrative projects drafting legislation or supporting department-wide initiatives.
Strongly experienced in community engagement and outreach. You collaborate thoughtfully with diverse communities respond to public questions and concerns and help shape programs that reflect community needs and expectations.
Passionate about implementing policy as you are about developing it. You translate high-level directives into practical workflows draft and analyze legislation and ensure policies function effectively in real-world operations.
Knowledgeable in performance measures and how they are developed monitored and reported. You use data to evaluate outcomes shape department strategy and support transparent accountable decision-making.
An expert in some areas and eager to become an expert in many more. You consistently pursue professional growth welcome new challenges and embrace opportunities to broaden your leadership administrative and technical capabilities.
Experienced in managing complex cross-departmental initiatives. You demonstrate a proven track record of leading high visibility multi-stakeholder projects such as citywide programs policy initiatives and operational improvement efforts
Skilled in internal and external communications within a government setting. You prepare or review City Council agenda materials staff reports and legislative items as well as contributing to public facing communications and community engagement efforts.
Committed to equity focused planning and implementation. You bring experience working with racer and equity frameworks including the development or implementation of equity plans policies or analyses in a public sector environment.

What you will typically be responsible for:

Facilitating communication and action across the departments many bureaus and divisions.
Using data to assess and drive the departments performance.
Acting as staff to council and community appointed boards and commissions as needed.
Assisting in the development of short and long-range planning for departmental activities.
Researching preparing and analyzing complex reports; preparing draft legislation in response to Council and City Manager requests; reviewing City Council agenda materials and staff reports.

Read the complete job description by clicking this Assistant to the Director

*Click on the link below to see a video on what its like to work for the City of Oakland!

Working for the City of Oakland

A few reasons you might love this job:

You will be part of the leadership team at a department that is central to the Citys quality of life.
You will work closely with the Director advancing various priorities that will drive improvement.
You will serve as a key connection between Public Works the City Council and the community helping elevate public concerns and craft solutions.
You will support essential services; streets facilities environmental programs that improve residents quality of life giving purpose to your daily work.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

You will be operating in a fast-paced environment where competing priorities are constant and you will be expected to juggle them expertly and professionally while maintaining calm and grace.
You will be expected to learn the work quickly often with minimal direction and become productive in a short amount of time.
You will be engaging with individuals at all levels including executives staff community members and external partners within a politically dynamic and high-visibility environment.

Competencies Required:

Analyzing & Interpreting Data: Drawing meaning and conclusions from quantitative or qualitative data
Building & Maintaining Relationships:Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
Coaching & Developing Others:Supporting others in stretching and expanding their capabilities
Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluation information propositions and claims
Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality timely and cost-effective results
Involving Others (Engaging Teams):Engaging others for input contribution and shared responsibility for outcomes
Leadership:Guiding and encouraging others to accomplish a common goal
Leading Cross-Functional Collaboration:Demonstrating cooperation and teamwork while working withing and across divisions functions or teams
Managing Performance: Ensuring superior individual and group performance
Oral Communication:Engaging effectively in dialogue
Political & Organizational Savvy: Working skillfully with politics procedures and protocols across organizational levels and boundaries
Project Management: Ensuring that projects are on-time on-budget and achieve their objectives
Strategic Thinking & Perspective:Evaluating immediate actions in context of achieving long range objectives
Thinking and Acting Systematically: Formulating objectives and priorities and implementing plans consistent with the long-term global environment
Writing:Communicating effectively in writing

Minimum Requirements for Application

Meeting the minimum qualification requirements may not result in further consideration only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may be acceptable:

Education:

Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in public or business administration accounting or a related field. A Masters degree is desirable.

Experience:

Five years of progressively responsible experience performing complex administrative duties including two years of supervisory experience.

Desirable Qualifications:

A masters degree in Public Administration Public Policy Business Administration Urban Planning or a related field.
Senior-Level Experience in a Public Agency: Progressively responsible experience in a municipal or other public sector organization including direct support to executive leadership (e.g. Director City Administrator or equivalent).
Experience with Employee Engagement/Organizational Development: designing administering and acting on employee surveys (e.g. Gallup Q12 or similar) including translating results into actionable improvements.

Supplemental Information

This is an at-will position exempt from the provisions of the City of Oakland Civil Service Rules per Charter Section 902.

All applications received will be forwarded to the Oakland Public Works for further consideration.

Meeting the minimum qualification requirements may not result in further consideration only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Whats in it for you

Work/Life Balance:37.5-hour work weeks
15 paid holidays
Vacation:2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
Retirement:CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
Health:The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem Blue Shield United Health Care and other HMO and PPO plans
Dental:Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Vision:VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Sick leave:Employees accrue 12 days per year
Deferred Compensation:457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account Wellness Program Employee Assistance Program Tuition Reimbursement Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.

*Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found here: Working for Oakland City of Oakland CA

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

How to Apply

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at:

you do not have access to a computer there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza 2nd Floor Oakland CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).

Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs. If you have problems while applying online please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at for information; however we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions please contact Diana Ramirez Administrative Analyst II at

Required Experience:

The PositionThe City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity inclusion and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the citys historical roots and the lives of...

The Position

Why join the City of Oakland Public Works Department

We are looking for someone who is:

Skilled in presenting complex information and liaising effectively with oversight bodies. You communicate with clarity and confidence ensuring stakeholders executives and community groups understand policy issues operational data and organizational needs.
Excel in project management and high-level coordination. You manage timelines guide multi-disciplinary teams and ensure deliverables meet organizational standards whether steering administrative projects drafting legislation or supporting department-wide initiatives.
Strongly experienced in community engagement and outreach. You collaborate thoughtfully with diverse communities respond to public questions and concerns and help shape programs that reflect community needs and expectations.
Passionate about implementing policy as you are about developing it. You translate high-level directives into practical workflows draft and analyze legislation and ensure policies function effectively in real-world operations.
Knowledgeable in performance measures and how they are developed monitored and reported. You use data to evaluate outcomes shape department strategy and support transparent accountable decision-making.
An expert in some areas and eager to become an expert in many more. You consistently pursue professional growth welcome new challenges and embrace opportunities to broaden your leadership administrative and technical capabilities.
Experienced in managing complex cross-departmental initiatives. You demonstrate a proven track record of leading high visibility multi-stakeholder projects such as citywide programs policy initiatives and operational improvement efforts
Skilled in internal and external communications within a government setting. You prepare or review City Council agenda materials staff reports and legislative items as well as contributing to public facing communications and community engagement efforts.
Committed to equity focused planning and implementation. You bring experience working with racer and equity frameworks including the development or implementation of equity plans policies or analyses in a public sector environment.

What you will typically be responsible for:

Facilitating communication and action across the departments many bureaus and divisions.
Using data to assess and drive the departments performance.
Acting as staff to council and community appointed boards and commissions as needed.
Assisting in the development of short and long-range planning for departmental activities.
Researching preparing and analyzing complex reports; preparing draft legislation in response to Council and City Manager requests; reviewing City Council agenda materials and staff reports.

Read the complete job description by clicking this Assistant to the Director

*Click on the link below to see a video on what its like to work for the City of Oakland!

Working for the City of Oakland

A few reasons you might love this job:

You will be part of the leadership team at a department that is central to the Citys quality of life.
You will work closely with the Director advancing various priorities that will drive improvement.
You will serve as a key connection between Public Works the City Council and the community helping elevate public concerns and craft solutions.
You will support essential services; streets facilities environmental programs that improve residents quality of life giving purpose to your daily work.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

You will be operating in a fast-paced environment where competing priorities are constant and you will be expected to juggle them expertly and professionally while maintaining calm and grace.
You will be expected to learn the work quickly often with minimal direction and become productive in a short amount of time.
You will be engaging with individuals at all levels including executives staff community members and external partners within a politically dynamic and high-visibility environment.

Competencies Required:

Analyzing & Interpreting Data: Drawing meaning and conclusions from quantitative or qualitative data
Building & Maintaining Relationships:Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
Coaching & Developing Others:Supporting others in stretching and expanding their capabilities
Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluation information propositions and claims
Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality timely and cost-effective results
Involving Others (Engaging Teams):Engaging others for input contribution and shared responsibility for outcomes
Leadership:Guiding and encouraging others to accomplish a common goal
Leading Cross-Functional Collaboration:Demonstrating cooperation and teamwork while working withing and across divisions functions or teams
Managing Performance: Ensuring superior individual and group performance
Oral Communication:Engaging effectively in dialogue
Political & Organizational Savvy: Working skillfully with politics procedures and protocols across organizational levels and boundaries
Project Management: Ensuring that projects are on-time on-budget and achieve their objectives
Strategic Thinking & Perspective:Evaluating immediate actions in context of achieving long range objectives
Thinking and Acting Systematically: Formulating objectives and priorities and implementing plans consistent with the long-term global environment
Writing:Communicating effectively in writing

Minimum Requirements for Application

Meeting the minimum qualification requirements may not result in further consideration only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may be acceptable:

Education:

Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in public or business administration accounting or a related field. A Masters degree is desirable.

Experience:

Five years of progressively responsible experience performing complex administrative duties including two years of supervisory experience.

Desirable Qualifications:

A masters degree in Public Administration Public Policy Business Administration Urban Planning or a related field.
Senior-Level Experience in a Public Agency: Progressively responsible experience in a municipal or other public sector organization including direct support to executive leadership (e.g. Director City Administrator or equivalent).
Experience with Employee Engagement/Organizational Development: designing administering and acting on employee surveys (e.g. Gallup Q12 or similar) including translating results into actionable improvements.

Supplemental Information

This is an at-will position exempt from the provisions of the City of Oakland Civil Service Rules per Charter Section 902.

All applications received will be forwarded to the Oakland Public Works for further consideration.

Meeting the minimum qualification requirements may not result in further consideration only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Whats in it for you

Work/Life Balance:37.5-hour work weeks
15 paid holidays
Vacation:2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
Retirement:CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
Health:The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem Blue Shield United Health Care and other HMO and PPO plans
Dental:Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Vision:VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
Sick leave:Employees accrue 12 days per year
Deferred Compensation:457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account Wellness Program Employee Assistance Program Tuition Reimbursement Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.

*Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found here: Working for Oakland City of Oakland CA

Disaster Service Workers

How to Apply

Required Experience: