Location
Description
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 Assistant classification is $58,631.04-$86,620.82 annually. 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 Mayor serves as the political leader of San José, and under the City Charter, is responsible for recommending policy, program, and budget priorities for the City. The Office of Mayor-elect Matt Mahan is recruiting for a full-time Council Assistant. This position serves as a key member of the policy team for Mayor-elect Mahan, working on several priority initiatives, making recommendations and developing action plans for meeting the Mayor’s policy objectives.
The position requires an individual with strong and effective organizational skills; ability to handle multiple assignments with competing deadlines; excellent written and oral communications skills, including the ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with community members, neighborhood organizations, key stakeholders, and City staff. Experience and knowledge of public policy is highly desirable. Bilingual language skills (Vietnamese, Spanish, and/or Chinese) both oral and written skills are desirable, but not required.
Responsibilities for the position may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Leads initiatives within an assigned policy portfolio. Drives policy priorities through government and legislative process. Research best practices on assigned policy portfolio.
- Gathers background information relative to issues pending before the City Council.
- Prepares or assists in preparation of speeches and talking points for the Mayor.
- Develops and maintains positive working relationships with council offices, city staff, community organizations, residents, business community, non-profit organizations, and government agencies as they are key partners on policy and as a representative of the Mayor’s Office.
- Coordinates arrangements for meetings, programs, or other civic functions on behalf of the Mayor.
- Attends meetings and community events with the Mayor, requires availability on evenings and weekends.
- Analyzes a wide variety of materials on assigned projects, programs, and topics.
- Responds to constituent inquiries and issues, resolves complaints, and interprets operating policies for residents of the community and other interested parties.
- Attends and represents the Mayor at City-related meetings and activities, meeting with governmental agencies, private industry, and related meetings.
- Performs other duties of a similar nature or level as required.
Employees in this classification are not members of the classified civil service and appointment would be on a contract “at-will” basis and is for a specified period of time to be determined by the appointing Councilmember and does not extend past the end of the elected official's or appointing authority's term. Candidates must be willing to work evenings and weekends on occasion, and as exempt management employees, are not eligible for overtime compensation. This unclassified position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income and business positions.
Ideal Candidate
Minimum Qualifications
Any combination of training and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to advise the Mayor on matters of public policy, democratic processes, constituent service, or citizen involvement.
Required Licensing: Possession of a valid California Driver’s license is required.
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 José 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.
Desirable experience, knowledge and skills for this position include:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, Communications, or closely related field.
- Strong organizational, administration, and management skills.
- Experience in community development or organizing, along with policy research.
- Knowledge of public administration and policy work and a strong commitment to public service, including previous experience working for a Councilmember or elected official.
- Proficiency in software applications, such as Microsoft Suite: MS Word, Excel, Publisher, Office and Power Point.
- Skilled in research techniques and applications; collecting, compiling, analyzing, and interpreting data.
- Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing (email, letters, report writing and editing).
- Strong work ethic, professionalism, and flexibility.
- Ability to communicate effectively with others and facilitate groups to achieve common objectives; understand and identify key issues and make recommendations in complex situations.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with others and to provide excellent service to internal and external customers, stakeholders, and colleagues.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced team environment as an effective team contributor.
- Demonstrates the ability to work independently, effectively prioritize work, and manage multiple, diverse, and competing priorities while meeting deadlines, delivering quality products in a timely manner.
Selection Process
The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process may consist of one or more interviews. You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process. Please note that there is a 4,000-character limit, including spaces, for each text response.
To be considered for this position, you must fill out the online application on the City of San José website and submit the following as attachments to your application:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Two (2) writing samples that best demonstrate your level of proficiency.
You must upload your cover letter, resume and writing samples to your application in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.
