City of Palo Alto
  • Senior Management Analyst

  • City of Palo Alto
  • Palo Alto, California United States View Map

Job Description

Description

Description
The Palo Alto Planning and Development Services Department is responsible for a range of functions aimed at preserving and enhancing the quality of life in Palo Alto through thorough and efficient permitting and entitlement, building inspection, and code enforcement services. By providing the City Council and community with guidance and effective implementation of land use, development, planning, housing and environmental policies, plans, and programs, the department works to maintain and enhance the City’s safety, vitality, and attractiveness.

Unique Opportunity!
The Department has a unique and exciting opportunity for the right candidate to work on a variety of projects in a dynamic, fast-moving environment. Many of these projects result in significant positive impacts on the attractiveness and vitality of the community. The position will appeal to a candidate with well-honed analytical skills who appreciates playing an active part in the department’s achievements by providing budget, administrative, and operational support.

Ideal Candidate
The department seeks a detail-oriented, experienced analyst with a proactive approach, a passion for learning, and strong customer service orientation. The ideal candidate will combine high integrity with a strong work ethic and be able to effectively handle multiple priorities simultaneously, pivoting as necessary to meet critical deadlines. The ability to produce accurate financial projections and reports, evaluate complex data, and perform policy analyses is a must. The candidate should also have exceptional oral and written communication skills and outstanding interpersonal skills. Supervisory experience or experience working closely with Human Resources is a plus.

Benefits: Fantastic benefits package, to learn more click HERE
Compensation (MGMT): Comprehensive compensation plan, to learn more click HERE.
Schedule : Hybrid (Some flexibility with in-office and remote days), subject to change

Essential Duties

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Develop, track, and manage budgets throughout the year using SAP, Budget Pro, and advanced Excel skills.
  • Support the department’s business operations by reviewing and approving expenditures, following City procedures and utilizing the highest ethical standards.
  • Provide insight on the department’s business performance and operations.
  • Perform project and policy analyses providing recommendations, as appropriate.
  • Serve as the department’s liaison with Human Resources (HR) for recruitments and various HR issues.
  • Update fees and department fee information.
  • Lead or support fee studies, nexus studies, or audits.
  • Prepare a variety of reports for leadership and elected or appointed bodies.
  • Review staff reports for budgetary impact.
  • Manage, coordinate, and administer special projects.
  • Administer contracts and grants for the department, tracking costs and ensuring contract compliance.
  • Pursue timely procurements and contract solicitations, working closely with procurement staff and tracking costs while monitoring compliance with rules, regulations, laws and policies.
  • Work with colleagues throughout the organization to obtain desired outcomes.
  • Work independently and exercise good judgement and discretion.

To see full job description click HERE.

Minimum Qualifications

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge and skills, which would typically be acquired through:

Bachelor's Degree in a related field and five years of professional experience in public or business administration, public affairs, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

Postgraduate coursework or a Master's Degree is preferred.

Supplemental Information

More than one position may be filled through this posting.

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Compensation Plan HERE.

Closing Date/Time: 10/22/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
City of Palo Alto

City of Palo Alto

650-329-2376

The Community


The birthplace of Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, is a community of approximately 68,000 residents and nearly 100,000 jobs. Located on the mid-Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technology, medicine, and green innovation. The community's treelined streets and historic buildings reflect its California heritage, and, at the same time, many world-class businesses maintain or started offices here, such as Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Amazon, Broadcom, Hewlett-Packard, Houzz, Rivian, SAP and SAP Ariba, Tesla, and Varian Medical Systems. Numerous start-ups are also at home in Palo Alto, arguably making it the start-up capital of the world. Stanford University is foundational to the history and prestige of Palo Alto, reflected in the community's dedication to lifelong learning. Stanford's cultural and educational offerings are integral to the vibrancy and charm of Palo Alto, while the City's exceptional K-12 school district ranks among the top public-school systems in the country. With more than 50% of adult residents holding a graduate degree or higher, Palo Alto is frequently listed as one of the most educated cities in the nation. Palo Alto boasts a genuine sense of community and an active citizenry with strong environmental values. Beautiful neighborhoods are complemented by vibrant commercial corridors and a bustling economy featuring premium shopping and dining options. Excellent healthcare facilities, performing arts, and diverse recreational opportunities are some of the community's incredibly desirable and cherished amenities. To learn more, visit https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/City-Manager/Latest-News

City Government

Palo Alto is a full-service charter city with a council-manager form of government. The seven-member City Council is elected at large, and the City Council annually selects the Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its members. The Mayor and City Council appoint the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Auditor. The City Manager is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the City. Palo Alto is organized into 15 departments/offices with 1,093.10 authorized positions in FY 2025. There is also a FY 2025 capital budget of $316.2 million. Palo Alto owns and operates its own utilities, including electricity (carbon-neutral), gas, water, wastewater, and an expanding fiber network. This dynamic municipal environment ensures an ever-engaging platform for unique problem-solving and advances new initiatives, including sustainability, broadband, and effective service delivery. Community assets also include five libraries, 36 parks, five community centers, a museum and zoo, youth centers, a general aviation airport, an 18-hole golf course, a regional water treatment plant, and wildland open space preserves at the San Francisco Bay and in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains offering 41 miles of walking/biking trails in addition to its police, fire, and ambulance services. Palo Alto has long been a leader in sustainability, and the City's ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals are part of what sets it apart. Since the City's first Climate Protection Plan was passed in 2007, Palo Alto has set goals that exceed State and Federal targets. Today, the City's goal to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030 (the "80x30" goal) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 guides sustainability efforts. An award-winning City, Palo Alto is recognized nationally as innovative and well-managed. City services and performance also receive impressive marks from community members in the Palo Alto Community Survey.

Many of those ratings put City programs and services in the highest percentiles among the hundreds of benchmark cities. Palo Alto makes decisions through comprehensive processes and proactively seeks to involve its extremely informed, educated, and engaged residents. Projects are naturally a cooperative effort among the City Council, Boards, Commissions, Committees, engaged residents, neighborhoods, businesses, property owners, and staff.

Join an Award Winning Team 

Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California’s Institute for Local Government. We offer a variety of career paths that relate to building and improving communities. The City has fourteen departments employing 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and re-build the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provides electric, gas, water, sewer and other services. Internal services departments help manage, staff, and protect the City.

Want to learn more about our benefits? Learn more by reviewing our "Benefits at a Glance Booklet."

Contact Us

Phone: 650-329-2376   

Email: Recruit@paloalto.gov   

Location: City Hall, 1st Floor | 250 Hamilton Ave 94301 | View Map

 

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