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City of San Rafael

Civic Engagement Manager

The City of San Rafael is seeking a dynamic and experienced Civic Engagement Manager (formal title is Civic Design Manager) to spearhead comprehensive engagement programs while coordinating the Communication Team's activities. This role will work within the City's visionary Digital Services and Open Government Department (Department), which executes pioneering strategies to build trust with the community, increase transparency, and improve access to government for all. This position is part of a strong team with a service-driven culture where each day presents fresh challenges and opportunities to tangibly impact the lives of San Rafael's residents, businesses, and visitors!

This leader will play a pivotal role in the City by enhancing outreach and engagement, fostering inclusivity, providing methods of two-way communication and helping the City tell its story to the community. Our team achieves this mission through human-centered design, process improvement, and performance measurement, all aimed at continuously enhancing service delivery and the use of digital technologies to improve the relationship between government and people. This role will oversee our Digital Analyst and entails serving as the primary communications strategist for the City. Responsibilities include adept project management, fostering interdepartmental collaboration, improving the user experience of our digital engagement, working with community partners, engaging with media outlets, tracking metrics, and actively promoting San Rafael's outstanding reputation. Join us in reimagining how we bring all voices to the table and make government easier to use for everyone in our community-apply today!

THE CITY
The City of San Rafael is focused on enhancing our community members’ quality of life through well-designed services and a positive workplace culture. San Rafael is the economic and cultural heart of Marin County, and its high quality of life is centered on its commercial districts, engaged neighborhoods, active lifestyles, and natural environments. San Rafael (population approx. 60,000) is a full-service city with a City Council/City Manager form of government with 12 departments, more than 400 employees, and a total citywide budget of approximately $172M. The City’s vision is to be a vibrant economic and cultural center reflective of its diversity. The City Council is engaged and seeks to strengthen the urban and commercial areas as well as sustain the beautiful natural environment.

TOGETHER SAN RAFAEL
San Rafael’s organizational culture framework is an initiative called “Together San Rafael.” City employees are the organization’s greatest asset, and talented individuals with diverse backgrounds who are creative, curious, and excited about a challenge are sought to join the team. All departments are results-driven, with the goal of best serving the needs of community members. The Together San Rafael initiative is focused on increasing the engagement of employees to modernize and improve services for the community. This initiative recognizes the interconnectedness of the customer and employee experience. Together San Rafael is about:

• Bringing staff and management together to collaborate cross-departmentally.
• Empowering all employees to share and implement their innovative ideas.
• Celebrating the innovation happening every day in our departments.

Employees across the organization developed these guiding principles and staff integrate them throughout their work. 

THE DEPARTMENT – Digital Services and Open Government
Government faces new challenges in the post-pandemic era. Community expectations of how government communicates, engages, and delivers services are changing. The City’s response is to assess what is working, what can be improved, and transform services to meet the needs of people and the expectations of modern times. 

To meet these challenges, the Digital Service and Open Government is guided by core values including: 

• Government should be designed with and for people.
• Empathy for all users leads to equitable outcomes.
• Data and information should be used to create trust, transparency, and better government.
• Building capacity across City teams empowers positive change.
• Technology should be secure, accessible, and make life easier.

The Department’s work is centered around four key focus areas including Civic Engagement, Digital Transformation, Data & Insights, and IT Operations and Maintenance. Our team collaborates interdepartmentally to innovate, improve processes, leverage data, empower citizens to participate in decision-making processes, and make access to municipal services more efficient. From improving the user-experience of City services to implementing open data initiatives that provide insights into government operations, staff is dedicated to creating a more inclusive and responsive government that serves the needs of all residents.

THE JOB
This is an exhilarating opportunity that puts this Civic Engagement Manager at the forefront of transforming community engagement, technology, and communication in the vibrant community of San Rafael. Reporting to the Director of Digital Service and Open Government, they will oversee the interdepartmental Communications Team and manage engagement operations in coordination with both the City Manager’s Office and other departments.

The Civic Engagement Manager will ensure that projects are completed on time, according to budget, and within the bounds of work contracts. They will direct website content strategy, guiding staff on user experience enhancements that will revolutionize the City's online presence. They will also take the reins on managing the City’s social media strategy, shaping its voice and swiftly responding to media inquiries. Providing critical creative direction for the City’s online presence is the key responsibility of this role – seizing the opportunity to lead crucial engagement strategies that promote equitable access to services and information!

UPCOMING PROJECTS & OPPORTUNITIES

• Communications Strategy: Establish an advanced strategy for communicating the City’s mission, vision, and values.
• Citywide Language Access Plan: Increase the accessibility of  City services by establishing consistent guidelines and practices for multilingual engagement.
• Citywide Website Content Strategy: Coordinate with the website team to develop content strategy, oversee improvements to enhance the user experience.
• Public Comments & Requests Process: Coordinate with teams across the City to build best practices for responding to requests and questions from the community.

The City of San Rafael is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Please click on the Job PDF to view the announcement.

Position Highlights:

1. Diverse range of responsibilities to gain valuable skills and experience across various areas of municipal practice, including litigation.
2. Hybrid remote office work schedule
3. Highly competitive salary and benefits package

The position may be filled at either the Deputy City Attorney level ($144,768 - $217,153 annually) or at the Assistant City Attorney level ($166,408 - $249,612 annually), based on candidate qualifications and experience.

The City of Thousand Oaks is seeking a Deputy/Assistant City Attorney (DOE) to join our team!  This position supports the City Attorney’s Office in achieving long-term goals and outcomes through sound legal counsel and is responsible for protecting the legal interests and assets of the City with the highest level of professionalism, ethics, and dedication to serve the City of Thousand Oaks for the benefit of its citizens. 

The Deputy/Assistant City Attorney must be able to communicate with impact, possess excellent interpersonal skills, cultivate productive working relationships, possess a strong client support focus, and provide expert legal counsel on a wide variety of complex legal matters.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Perform all phases of pretrial, trial, and appellate work; develop strategy, prepare briefs, draft pleadings, motions, and arguments, and conduct discovery and depositions in preparation for the presentation of the City’s case; file motions and briefs.
• Conduct research, provide legal opinions and advice, investigate, evaluate, and resolve complex legal matters on a wide variety of issues; draft legal documents such as contracts, resolutions, and ordinances.
• Attend meetings of and provide advice to the City’s official boards and commissions as requested by the City Attorney; represent the City in administrative hearings and negotiations
• Monitor and prepare comments on proposed federal and state legislation and regulations; recommend changes in City policies and practices to comply with legal requirements.
• Conduct legal review of all claims filed against the City.
• Provide staff assistance to the City Attorney; complete special projects as assigned.
• Maintain effective relationships with a variety of community organizations, groups, and individuals to promote positive public relations; coordinate assigned activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations.

Do you have a passion for outdoor recreation and open space? Do you seek an opportunity to work on planning projects that focus on land use, public access improvements and staff facilities?  Midpen has an excellent opportunity for a skilled Planner III who will manage complex planning projects supporting public access and outdoor recreation in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.  The ideal candidate will be an organized, creative, and energetic self-starter with excellent communication and project management skills, who enjoys working within a collaborative team dynamic. Top-level candidates are familiar with feasibility studies, public outreach and engagement, design project management, environmental review processes, and local, state, and federal land use laws and permitting processes, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHP), etc.

About Midpen: Midpen helps plants, animals and people thrive throughout the greater Santa Cruz Mountains region by preserving a greenbelt of more than 70,000 acres of public open space with over 250 miles of trails in 27 extraordinary preserves, permanently protected for natural resource conservation and ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. Midpen is a public agency with a focused mission that guides our work, and where every employee makes an impact.  If you are looking for an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the legacy of open space protection, natural resource restoration and outdoor recreation, working with an incredible team of like-minded colleagues, we invite you to apply for this position!  Check out the Working for Midpen video on our Employment Opportunities page.

About the Position:  Midpen's Board approved the addition of two new Planner III positions to the Planning Department. The Planner III focuses on a wide variety of planning and capital improvement projects that include long-range planning; land use planning; and conceptual site design to increase public access, outdoor recreation, and enjoyment of Midpen’s lands. The Planner III is tasked with performing complex professional level planning, analysis, and design; developing and administering project scopes, schedules and budgets; directing the feasibility and conceptual design phase of capital improvement projects such as trails, staging areas and staff facilities; developing recommendations for land use policies; preparing long-range master plans to guide the use and management of Midpen lands; conducting or overseeing studies to identify and evaluate environmental issues related to public access and natural and cultural resources; conducting public outreach and engagement; preparing requests for proposals; assisting in development of grant applications; preparing and/or assisting in the preparation of environmental review documents; and obtaining planning permits and initial approvals for projects. The Planner III also provides project presentations to senior management, the Board of Directors, and Committees, and at public meetings, that may be held in the evenings and weekends.

The ideal candidate is a self-starter who works independently with some supervision; communicates well and collaborates closely with internal team members from other departments to complete project requirements; works with local jurisdictional agencies to coordinate planning and permitting efforts; directs multidisciplinary teams of consultants; prepares and presents clear and concise oral and written communications to senior staff and management, the Board of Directors and public; keeps projects on schedule and on budget while remaining flexible to adjust priorities as needed; maintains well-organized and complete project documentation; and builds trust with peers, community members, stakeholders, and Midpen leadership. Beneficial skills for this position would include experience using computer-based and/or other systems such as GIS for management and analysis of data regarding Midpen lands, facilities, natural and cultural resources, as well as experience in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and tribal relations.

For additional information about the position, see the Job Description page on Midpen’s website. The position receives direct supervision from a Senior Planner.

A Few Reasons Why You May Love This Job

• Collaborative work that directly supports Midpen’s mission to protect and restore the natural environment and contributes to providing nature’s benefits to everyone
• You’ll be part of a talented and dynamic team of bright, energetic, and motivated professionals with a passion for the outdoors, trails, and preserving open space
• Excellent employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, tuition reimbursement, and a retirement pension through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)

Work Environment:  This position is part of the Planning Department at the District’s offices in Los Altos, California.  Planner III project presentations may be held in the evenings and weekends. In addition to working in the office, the Planner III will sometimes work in the field and hike through steep terrain and wildland areas.  Field work will require driving in remote areas on dirt roads, working in temperatures ranging from cold and blustery to hot and dry. Ideal candidates will be comfortable working in these types of field conditions, as well as in an office environment. Midpen offers a hybrid office/telecommute work schedule for this position, which includes a 9/80 schedule.

Education and Experience:  Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:  Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in urban or regional planning, environmental planning or design, environmental sciences, landscape architecture or a related field, and at least three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience with five (5) years desired in project management (design, planning or environmental review projects), preferably in parks, open space or related field, including at least one (1) year of direct supervisory and administrative responsibility (which can include management of consultant team). 

Licenses & Certifications Required:   Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Benefits:   Midpen provides an excellent benefits package including health, life & disability insurance as well as CalPERS pension. Please see the Benefits page on Midpen’s website for details.

How to Apply: apply online at CalOpps.org.

(To avoid missing email communication regarding your status in this recruitment, please add mpropenspace@calopps.org to your contacts or list of safe senders)

This recruitment is open until filled. The first review of applications is March 25, 2024 at 8:00 a.m.  Applicants with the most relevant experience and qualifications suitable for the position will be contacted for an interview.

The following application items are required to be considered*:

1. Fully completed CalOpps employment application 

2. Cover letter 

3. Resume 

4. Supplemental question responses

*Incomplete CalOpps employment applications, or applications without the required application items listed here, will not be considered for the position.

Interview Schedule:  (dates are subject to change)

First Interview (virtual): April 11, 2024

Written Exercise (virtual): April 22, 2024

Second Interview (in person): April 23, 2024

A note to applicants who currently live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area: A note to applicants who currently live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area: before committing to the application process, and if you haven’t done so already, we suggest evaluating the feasibility of relocation. We recommend researching the cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area, the cost to relocate, and typical commute times to Los Altos from outlying areas.

Midpen reserves the right to limit or deny off-duty employment or business ownership which creates a conflict of interest or an incompatibility with District employment. Information can be found in the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual Section 4.13 Off-Duty Employment and Business Ownership.

Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation

by contacting the Human Resources department at 650-691-1200.   

Put your passion for Open Space to work!

Per the City’s COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the City requires all employees starting on or after February 11, 2022 to provide proof of vaccination as a condition of employment absent a documented medical and/or religious exemption.  Proof of vaccination means that employees are required to be “up-to-date” with regards to the COVID-19 vaccine. Consistent with the Santa Clara County Public Health Order issued on December 28, 2021, "up-to-date" means that employees are required to be vaccinated with the entire recommended initial series of a COVID-19 vaccine (two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine).   

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third-party job board application system. To apply, applicants must complete an application via the City of San Jose’s website at http://www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers. 

The total salary range for the Council Chief of Staff classification is $86,318.44 - $172,058.64. This amount includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience. 

The District 8 Council Office, supporting Councilmember Domingo Candelas, is recruiting for a Chief of Staff position. The position will work closely with the Councilmember and lead the staff support team for the Councilmember. The Chief of Staff is an integral link between the Councilmember and the Mayor and City Council colleagues, City administration, and the community. The Chief of Staff must have excellent oral and written communication skills, effective organizational, analytical, and management skills, and a dedication to public service. The position requires the ability to develop and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with community members and neighborhood organizations, key stakeholders, and City staff. The Chief of Staff will serve as a liaison to the Councilmember and will regularly represent the Councilmember at City-related meetings and functions. Bilingual language skills (Vietnamese, Chinese and/or Spanish) both oral and written are highly desirable.  

Responsibilities for this position may include, but are not limited to the following:  

• Advises the Councilmember on policy, budget, and community matters. 
• Manages the day-to-day office operations. 
• Supervises staff to implement office projects and achieve identified objectives. 
• Manages staffing to include workloads, training, performance evaluations, and assisting with hiring and corrective or disciplinary actions. 
• Creates and maintains a collaborative team culture within the Councilmember's office. 
• Oversees budgetary, legislative, and strategic planning processes. 
• Manages communications and public relations, interfacing with media, governmental officials, department directors, business leaders, advocacy groups, constituents, and others on behalf of the Councilmember. 
• Responds to other matters as needed. 

Candidates must be willing to work occasional evenings and weekends, and as exempt management employees, are not eligible for overtime compensation. Employees in this classification are not members of the classified civil service and are appointed "at will." Each appointment is for a specified period to be determined by the appointing Councilmember and does not extend past the end of the elected official's or appointing authority's term. This unclassified position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions.