Planning and Policy Strategist

Known as the “Capital of Silicon Valley,” the City of San José plays a vital economic and cultural role anchoring the world’s leading region of innovation. Encompassing 181 square miles at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay, San José is Northern California’s largest city and the 12th largest city in the nation, and ranked the #1 safest major City in the country. With almost one million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States.

About the Office of Administration, Policy, and Intergovernmental Relations

The City Manager’s Office provides strategic leadership to the Mayor and City Council to support their public policy decision-making and the City organization to ensure the delivery of accessible, equitable, and quality services that meet our diverse community needs. The City Manager’s Office of Administration, Policy, and Intergovernmental Relations, under the direction of the Director, coordinates internal budgets and hiring, citywide public policy, legislative affairs, and Public Records. It provides the City’s Leaders, Administrators, Directors, and staff with support, coordination, research, and strategic analysis of the city’s critical needs, programs, policies, and services. 

The Planning and Policy Strategist (Assistant to the City Manager) is a key member of the Office of Administration, Policy, and Intergovernmental Relations (API). The position reports to the Deputy Director of Policy and support organizational capacity-building around policy development, program implementation and sustainability, and data-driven decision-making. The position enhances the City Manager’s Office internal planning and management, and supports streamlining inter-departmental coordination for programs, policies, and initiatives. The position is responsible for facilitation and collaboration across Departments to advance the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services that support the City Council Focus Areas, City Council Committees, and other services that resolve critical issues. The position is also responsible for leading the pilot implementation of initiatives and innovations for potential integration into future municipal operations, programs, and services. Supporting Departments and the City Manager’s Office in policy development is critical to this position, as is supporting the City Manager’s Leadership Team as they oversee policies, programs, and projects going through City Council Committees and City Council Meetings. This position also assists both internal and external stakeholder communication and coordination to achieve City goals. 

Primary Purpose

Strengthen organizational capacity in:

• Policy development
• Data-driven decision-making
• Internal planning and management
• Cross-department coordination
• Innovative and high-impact program and service delivery

Core Responsibilities

• Facilitate collaboration across City departments
• Advance development, implementation, and evaluation of programs
• Pilot implementation of initiatives and innovations for potential integration into future municipal operations, programs, and services
• Support City Council Focus Areas (Increasing Community Safety, Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness, Cleaning Up Our Neighborhoods, Building More Housing, and Growing Our Economy) and Council Committees (Community and Economic Development, Neighborhood Services and Education, Transportation and Environment, and Public Safety, Finance, and Strategic Support). 
• Assist the City Manager’s Leadership Team with items moving through Council
• Improve interdepartmental coordination
• Support internal and external stakeholder communication and engagement
• Help resolve critical City issues through strategic policy work

Experience & Knowledge

• Strong research and policy analysis background
• Experience with data collection, analysis, and visualization and data-informed decision-making
• Community and government relations experience
• Understanding of local government processes
• Administrative and organizational knowledge
• Commitment to continuous quality improvement

Core Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong critical and strategic thinking
• High-quality memo writing and editing
• Ability to navigate ambiguity
• Strong project management skills
• Customer service mindset, especially serving vulnerable residents
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines

Preferred (not required):

• Budgeting experience
• Procurement experience

The organization is looking for proven leaders who enjoy working through complex issues to find creative and innovative solutions to public policy problems. Due to the complexity and scope of authority involved, this position requires someone who can work both independently and interdependently to ensure work is completed in an accurate, complete, and timely fashion.

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business administration, or a discipline related to the business performed by the department, AND six (6) years management and/or administrative experience in government or private business/industry.  A Master’s degree is preferred and may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

Desired Skills & Competencies:

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated from past and current employment history.

Serve as a leader to strengthen and support the development of individuals and teams, including:

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships;
• Ability to appropriately handle sensitive and confidential information;
• Ability to delegate effectively and encourage the development of staff throughout the organization; and
• Demonstrate a positive attitude and flexibility to change.

An understanding of and appreciation for the complexities of local government processes and practices, including:

• Ability to maintain a constructive mindset in challenging and fluid situations; and
• Ability to learn quickly, be a self-starter, handle multiple assignments and deadlines, and work well under pressure.

Proven record of accomplishment of building capacity and directing organizational change to achieve policy goals, including:

• Experience in the development and implementation of strategies to solve complex organizational and municipal problems;
• Strong project management experience;
• Proficiency in guiding data-driven approaches for public policy and other decision-making;
• Strong administrative, budgeting, organizational, and planning skills;
• Detail-oriented and can balance the high-level thinking with managing day-to-day tasks on multiple projects at the same time; and
• Proven ability to effectively communicate with a broad set of stakeholders, including team members, senior and executive leadership, elected officials, internal and external stakeholders, and the residents of San José.

Key position responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Analyze organizational structures, programs, functions, procedures, and practices; provide analysis and recommendations of various kinds and levels of services provided by City government to create improved efficiencies;
• Coordinate activities and provide information and staff reports to assist the City Manager and senior and executive staff, City Council Members, City task forces, and committees;
• Oversee the performance of the organization in meeting the City's goals and in carrying out directives of the City Manager and Emergency Operations Center (when activated);
• Support memo and project coordination at City Council Committees and for City Council Focus Areas in support of Deputy City Managers;
• Establish and maintain good working relationships with a diversity of individuals, community groups, and organizations to ensure that the City's programs effectively serve the San José community;
• Carry out special studies, investigations, and prepare reports and recommendations to the City Manager;
• Represent the Director of Administration, Policy & Intergovernmental Relations, or the Deputy Director of Policy as assigned;
• May supervise professional and/or support staff as assigned; and
• Evening and weekend work is occasionally required.

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.  You must fill out the online application available on the City of San José website. As part of this process, you will be required to submit a resume, and answer four (4) supplemental questions. References to resumes will be considered incomplete and your application withheld from further consideration.  Please limit your response to no more than three pages.

To apply, please complete an application via the City of San José’s website at www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers. This position will remain open until filled.  The first application review will be on March 30 2026 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. 

The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate’s qualifications and experience. In addition to the starting salary, employees in the Assistant to the City Manager classification shall also receive an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation pay.

Those candidates with experience and training that best match the position will move forward to the next phase of the selection process, which will include interview(s) and reference checks. Please know that candidates who move forward will be expected to provide an example of a deliverable from a complex policy project at the time of interview.

If you have questions, comments or concerns about the recruitment, selection or hiring process, please contact Jessica Lowry at jessica.lowry@sanjoseca.gov

Salary : $138,628 - $215,799