The Office of the City Manager provides strategic leadership that supports the Mayor and City Council in making public policy decisions and ensures the organization delivers cost-effective services that meet the needs of our community with the highest standards of quality and customer service. The City Manager's Office also serves to guide fiscal and change management, the building and development of our workforce, and the development of long-term, data-driven strategies to invest in the City's future. The City Manager is supported by an Assistant City Manager and five Deputy City Manager positions.
The City Council has identified the following four focus areas, while the City Manager has directed an additional five focus areas aimed at ensuring organizational health and improving service delivery to the community:
City Council Focus Areas Increasing Community Safety. Enhance public safety through responsive services, preventative measures, and community engagement to safeguard life, property, and the environment. Key programs include field patrol, crime prevention, youth intervention services, and Vision Zero traffic safety.
Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness. Implement comprehensive strategies and supportive services to decrease the number of individuals experiencing homelessness and improve quality of life. Key programs include homelessness prevention, outreach, case management, interim housing construction and operations, and homelessness concerns.
Cleaning Up Our Neighborhoods. Clean and maintain the City's shared spaces and resources through proactive and community-driven blight reduction, beautification, and code enforcement services. Key programs include illegal dumping, anti-graffiti, encampment trash services, community code enforcement, and SJ311.
Attracting Investment in Jobs and Housing. Catalyze the City's growth to encourage a strong economy, robust housing, healthy neighborhoods, and vibrant downtown. Key programs include planning and permitting, development services, business outreach and assistance, and business district management.
City Manager Foundational Strategic Support Focus Areas Delivering Excellent Customer Service. Ensure reliable, empathetic, and solutions-oriented customer service to meet the needs and expectations of customers as they access and navigate City services. Key programs include citywide Customer Relationship Management system implementation, customer service network, and mandatory customer service training.
Closing Racial Inequities. Implement policies and programs to eliminate racial disparities and foster an inclusive, equitable community for all people to thrive. Key programs include budgeting for equity, racial equity action plans, and mandatory racial equity training.
Structurally Balancing the General Fund. Ensure long-term financial stability by aligning revenues and expenditures to sustainably balance the City's budget on an ongoing basis consistent with City Council and community priorities.
Driving Organizational Performance. Deliver equitable community outcomes, effective program performance, and efficient operations through continuous improvement, transparency, and accountability. Key programs include City Service Area performance updates, Focus Area dashboards, and community indicator disaggregation.
Making San José a Great Place to Work. Cultivate a supportive and dynamic work environment that attracts, retains, and grows talented and motivated employees. Key programs include hiring and retention, recruitment process modernization, and workforce learning and development.The Office of the City Manager is currently seeking to fill a full-time Deputy City Manager position.
The annual salary range for this position is up to $342,687. In addition to the abovementioned compensation, this position receives an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. The final candidate's qualifications and experience will determine the actual salary.
The position of Deputy City Manager serves as a key advisor to the City Manager regarding matters related to the administration of the City and assists in the formulation and execution of complex policies and programs to fulfill the goals and objectives of the organization. The position will be responsible for a portfolio of departments related to one or more City Service Areas to assist the City Manager in coordinating, engaging, and monitoring departments, carrying out City Council policy direction, and ensuring service delivery goals. The position will also be the executive sponsor for one or more of the City's focus areas, ensuring appropriate attention and coordination to make significant accomplishments toward these priorities. The position will represent the City Manager in various intergovernmental and community activities and meetings, including coordinating the work of one or more standing City Council Committees to provide the City Council with information and recommendations for matters under consideration.
While candidates may be generalists, the City Manager's Office is seeking an experienced public administrator who would strengthen its expertise and bandwidth in the areas of public safety (i.e., fire and police) and strategic support (e.g., human resources, information technology, etc) services, cross-agency and interdepartmental collaboration, as well as delivery and alignment of policies and programs that have shared service delivery methods.
Education: A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business, engineering, or related field. A Master's Degree is preferred.
Experience: - Ten years of progressively responsible professional experience demonstrating proficiency at the management, policymaking, and execution levels of a public and/or corporate organization responsible for a complex range of programs is required, including at least five years at an executive leadership level.
- While candidates may be generalists, the City Manager's Office is seeking a candidate who can strengthen its expertise and bandwidth in the areas of public safety (i.e., fire and police) and strategic support (e.g., human resources, information technology, etc) services, cross-agency and interdepartmental collaboration, and delivery of and alignment of policy and programs that have shared service delivery methods.
Form 700 RequirementThis position requires disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions. You must complete and file an "Assuming Office Form 700" with the City Clerk's Office within the first 30 days of employment with the office.
The Ideal CandidateThe City of San José is seeking an experienced and passionate municipal executive and proven leader who:
- Enjoys working in a fast-paced, high-profile, and progressive environment supported by collaboration, transparency, and ethics at the highest level.
- Is highly resourceful and organized toward meeting job objectives, anticipates problems, is proactive, avoids difficulties by planning ahead, and displays a willingness to assume extra responsibilities, special projects, and challenges.
- Can provide professional expertise and support to the City Manager in formulating, interpreting, and applying public policy in many areas, especially in public safety and strategic support services.
- Can identify, provide focus and policy guidance, and monitor performance on our City Council Focus Areas, City Manager Foundational Focus Areas, and other key priorities that align with broader organizational and community-wide d
ynamics, needs, and issues.
- Has extensive experience and the tenacity to work through complex, large-scale, long-term, and often difficult issues and projects, provide sound advice and consultation to departmental leadership, and demonstrate a positive achievement record through working with internal and external stakeholders to achieve City goals.
- Can make strategic connections, fill the gaps, and otherwise facilitate communication, understanding, and problem-solving in community, political, and organizational contexts while being creative, detail-oriented, and highly accountable.
- Is skilled at collaborating and communicating effectively with all levels of the organization and all elements of the community in a straightforward and equitable basis, with sensitivity to and respect for diverse organizational and community cultures.
- Can provide leadership, appreciation, and advocacy for innovation and technology to enhance organizational effectiveness to ensure the City serves the community to its best ability.
- Is committed to equity and inclusion, including the use of racial and social equity tools for administrative and policy work.
- Is politically astute, capable of mediating professional staff concerns and political interests, and comfortable with significant and regular interaction with the Mayor and City Council members.
- Excels at sharing information verbally and in writing, clarifying decision points, and serving as an early warning system, while retaining a broad, big-picture perspective and understanding the impact decisions can make on the City's overall well-being and goals.
- s proficient at developing messages for different audiences, assists Departments in telling their "stories" in meaningful and compelling ways, and achieves overall organizational communications consistency for quality, effectiveness, and perspective.
Selection ProcessTo be considered, please provide answers to all supplemental questions and include a comprehensive resume in your application process. If you have any question about this recruitment, please contact Sarah Steele, Senior Executive Analyst, via email at sarah.steele@sanjoseca.gov .
You must provide answers to all supplemental questions to be considered for this position. Applications will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this brochure. Candidates deemed to have the most relevant qualifications will be invited to interview.
