Director, Department of Tax & Collections

Lead with Purpose. Drive Fiscal Excellence. Serve Your Community.

Are you a strategic leader with a passion for public service and a strong track record in fiscal management? The County of Santa Clara invites you to bring your expertise, innovation, and leadership to the role of Director of the Department of Tax and Collections.

In this pivotal executive position, you will shape the future of one of the County’s most vital revenue-generating departments. Reporting directly to the Director of the Finance Agency, you will oversee a large, multi-division operation responsible for property tax administration and revenue collection, including hospital and healthcare collections, that directly supports essential public services.

As Director, you will:

• Provide strategic direction and operational leadership for a complex, high-impact department.
• Champion innovation in tax and revenue collection systems and processes.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while promoting transparency and accountability.
• Lead a dedicated team committed to excellence in public service and fiscal stewardship.

This is more than a leadership role—it’s an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the financial health of the County and the well-being of its residents.

Join us in shaping a stronger, more equitable future for Santa Clara County.

Recruitment Brochure
Click here to learn more about the position.

Filing Period and Application Procedure 

This recruitment is continuous until filled; the first review of applications will be on Friday, December 19, 2025. The recruitment may be extended or closed as early as 10 days after the issue date. You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and to monitor this site for updated closing information.
  
This recruitment requires the submission of an online application. No paper applications will be accepted. Applicants must apply online at https://esa.santaclaracounty.gov/career-seekers
  
It is important that the following information be included in your application packet, as it will be evaluated during the competitive review process: 
  
 1. Résumé;
 2. Cover letter explaining why you are the ideal candidate, including specific examples from your experience (maximum of 3 pages);
 3. Complete responses to the supplemental questions.
 
Thorough referencing and a background investigation will be conducted once mutual interest has been established. The finalist will be asked to provide a minimum of five references, and prior authorization from the finalist will be obtained by Executive Services.
  
Questions regarding this Executive recruitment may be directed to Adrian Cudal, Executive Services at 408.299.5851  or adrian.cudal@esa.sccgov.org
 
 
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• Lead through subordinate managers and supervisors, the professional and technical work of the Department of Tax and Collections, a large, complex tax and delinquent revenue collections operations;
• Administer state and local laws relating to the collection of municipal and County taxes;
• Manage and ensure compliant and efficient collections for healthcare operations;
• Develop and implement goals for the department;
• Plan, organize, direct, monitor, and evaluate the work of multiple divisions of the Department;
• Represent the Director of Finance in assuming leadership roles, such as serving as chair, or as a member of, various committees, task forces and advisory boards;
• Monitor, interpret, and direct the implementation of new legislation that impacts Departmental policies, procedures, and staff resources;
• Maintain awareness of best practices and significant developments in property tax revenue collections, delinquent collections, and accounting, and update policies and procedures accordingly;
• Maintain awareness of regulatory reporting requirements and provide oversight for the adequacy of staffing resources and work plans, and ensure compliance;
• Participate in the design, procurement, implementation and ongoing administration and updates of automated billing and collection systems;
• Manage the development and execution of strategic, business, and operational plans for the Department by establishing relevant priorities and key responsibilities;
• Determine and implement policies, practices, procedures, priorities, and work standards that affect the department as well as the Finance Agency and County as a whole to enhance revenue collections and efficiencies; 
• Allocate staffing and related resources to achieve maximum revenue recovery;
• Identify and implement new strategies to discover and collect unreported and/or uncollected revenues;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, other departments and agencies, and the general public;
• May be assigned Disaster Service Worker duties, as assigned; and
• Perform related duties and special projects as required.
  

Sufficient education, training and experience which would demonstrate the ability to perform the above management responsibilities and the possession of the following knowledge and abilities.

Experience Note:  The qualified candidate would typically possess education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree in Public or Business Administration, accounting, finance, economics, or a closely related field, and five (5) to eight (8) years progressively responsible experience in the management of tax and revenue administration, tax auditing or accounting operations for a large public organization or private entity comparable to the organizational structure of the County of Santa Clara. A Master's degree is highly desirable.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of management necessary to lead, plan, organize, manage, and evaluate programs, policy administration, organizational structures, tax and revenue services, and collection services;

• Basic provisions of public tax administration and tax auditing;

• Federal, State, and County legislation, codes, regulations, and polices pertinent to tax and revenue;

• Principles, practices, and techniques of public administration, organizational development, budget preparation,  and financial administration for local government;

• Principles and practices of personnel management, supervision, motivation, performance evaluation, training and development, and employee/labor relations; and

• Modern technology systems and financial applications for systems management.

Ability to:

• Effectively plan, organize, and supervise the activities, functions, and staff of a tax and revenue department;

• Develop and implement short- and long-range goals and objectives for the department;

• Evaluate, develop, implement, enforce and interpret objectives, goals, policies and procedures in order to meet standards for accounting and satisfy all applicable laws, codes and regulations;

• Manage and direct a comprehensive county tax and revenue reporting program;

• Manage compliant and efficient collections for healthcare operations;

• Develop records, systems, and procedures to ensure internal control of tax and revenue operations and provide the most cost-effective performance of functions;

• Audit, verify, and reconcile financial data;

• Ensure high-quality service to the public and manage public inquiries and complex procedural issues;

• Evaluate alternative solutions and recommend or adopt effective courses of action;

• Effectively lead, train, supervise, and evaluate others;

• Promote a culture of teamwork through cross-functional collaboration and skill-sharing;

• Prepare clear and well-written correspondence and reports;

• Demonstrate excellent communication skills to present to and interact with diverse audiences at all levels within the organization and the public; and

• Establish and maintain effective, cooperative, and collaborative working relationships with County departments/staff and representatives from other local, state and federal agencies.
  
  
  
  

Salary : $202,015 - $264,816