Job Details

The Housing Department supports two of four City Council Focus Areas:

1. Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness;
2. Attracting Investments in Jobs and Housing.

Since the Housing Department was established in 1987, the City has been a leader in affordable housing, creating more than 21,000 new housing opportunities for San José residents, administering the Rent Stabilization Program, Inclusionary Housing Program, Supporting Market Rate Housing Development, Local Administration of Federal Grant Programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and overseeing, as the lead agency, the City's Homelessness Response as it strives to achieve functional zero in unsheltered homelessness.

This position, Deputy Director of Public Affairs overseeing Communications, Policy and Administration, will join the Housing Department's Executive Leadership Team, comprising the Deputy Director of Housing Production and Preservation, the Deputy Director of Homelessness Response and Grants, and the Director of the Housing Department.

The Housing Department is currently seeking to fill one (1) full-time Deputy Director for Public Affairs. Under administrative direction, the Deputy Director performs work of considerable difficulty planning, organizing, and directing major functional areas of a City operating department. Performs related work as required.

This position reports directly to the Director of Housing as Deputy for Public Affairs. An incumbent is deputized to act on behalf of the Department Director and is responsible for executing the daily operations of a line department over the divisions of Communications (2 FTE), Policy (4 FTE), and Administration (12 FTE) overseeing the Division Managers and Administrative Officer.

The salary range for this classification is $156,051.48 - $251,919.98 annually. This salary range includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates' qualifications and experience.

Key duties will include but are not limited to:

• Participates in and advises a Department Director in the planning and formulation of departmental policy.
• Provides direct supervision over major divisions within an operating department.
• Directs and performs special projects and strategic planning programs that impact departmental operations.
• Represents the Department Director in a variety of interdepartmental, intergovernmental, and community matters and assumes responsibility for the department's operations in the absence of the Director.
• Plans, directs, counsels, provides guidelines, and reviews accomplishments of major departmental work units or divisions as steps towards achievement of departmental goals and objectives.
• Exercises overall daily control of administrative services and line functions of a City department within assigned area.
• Directs and participates in the preparation, implementation, and control of a department's operating and/or capital budget.
• Provides staff support to the Mayor and City Council members on an assigned or as needed basis.
• Coordinates activities between major departmental divisions and/or sections to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of departmental operations.
• Directs and controls personnel related matters that impact the department's ability to hire, discipline, evaluate, and terminate departmental employees within assigned area.

Typical End Results Include:

Ensures that all departmental policies, procedures, and programs are carried out efficiently and effectively; ensures that all departmental operating functions are carried out efficiently and effectively; innovative operating programs which maximize departmental services and/or line functions; an effectively supervised, highly motivated, and well-trained departmental staff; effective solutions to highly complex departmental operational problems.

Training and Experience:

Any combination equivalent to successful completion of advanced course work from an accredited college or university in business, public administration, or related field; and six (6) years of increasingly responsible experience in senior level administrative, policy and/or analytic work in a public or private agency. Experience managing a work unit equivalent to a major division within a City operating department is desirable.

Licenses:

Possession of a valid license authorizing operation of a motor vehicle in California may be required.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Expertise in public affairs, policy and communications.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public and business administration.
• Knowledge of budget preparation and administration.
• Knowledge of group dynamics and communication skills.
• Knowledge of principles of capital project planning and management.
• Knowledge of human resource administration and management, employee and organizational development.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports and to present them effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to stimulate and motivate individuals and groups to achieve designated goals.

Competency Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of and demonstrable skills for communicating public policy.
• Strong knowledge of and demonstrable skills for developing policy reports and analysis.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of the City's budgeting and accounting system.
• Knowledge of the City's Civil Service System.
• Knowledge of the City's Personnel Administrative Manual.
• Ability to direct, oversee, control, and manage the work of others, with special emphasis in executive management control.
• Ability to organize, manage and evaluate a large and diverse City department according to the City's values, vision, and overall mission.

Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job-specific questions. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Please be advised that use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions in the online application process:

1. Please briefly describe your experience and expertise in the management of public affairs including media, community relations, and collaborations with related departments or agencies for the establishment of housing policy.
2. Please briefly describe your experience in housing and homelessness policy and legislation from federal, state and local governments.
3. Please briefly describe your experience working in local or state government departments or for organizations that have significant local and/or state government contracted work.

You must answer all questions to be considered, or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.

If you have questions about the duties of this position, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Vaishali Vashistha at ...@sanjoseca.gov.