Assistant Director - City Managers Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs

Assistant Director

The City of San Jose is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San Jose is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY), or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov.

The Assistant Director serves as the Department's Chief Operating Officer (COO), providing strategic leadership, operational oversight, and organizational direction to advance San Jose's mission of driving economic vitality, cultural vibrancy, and equitable growth. Reporting directly to the Director, the Assistant Director plays a pivotal role in managing the Department's day-to-day operations, overseeing three divisions and the strategic support unit, which together encompass 61 full-time employees and an annual budget of approximately $67 million. This position is responsible for translating the Director's strategic vision into actionable goals and measurable outcomes with direct accountability for implementing the Two-Year Economic Strategy Work Plan to ensure progress toward citywide economic development priorities. The Assistant Director will ensure operational excellence, optimize processes, and integrate emerging technologiesincluding automation and artificial intelligenceto enhance efficiency, service delivery, and community impact.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, innovative, and forward-thinking leader with exceptional operational and organizational management skills. The successful candidate will be a strong communicator and relationship builder, skilled at leading and mentoring high-performing teams, fostering accountability, and promoting a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and continuous improvement. The Assistant Director salary range is currently $184,968 - $298,804. Placement within this range will be dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the individual selected. The salary is supplemented by an attractive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to :

• Retirement The City has its own competitive defined benefit retirement plan separate from and with full reciprocity with CalPERS.
• Health Insurance The City contributes 90% towards the premium for the lowest-priced nondeductible plan. Several plan options are available.
• Dental Insurance The City contributes 100% of the premium of the lowest-priced plan for dental coverage.
• Personal Time Vacation is accrued initially at the rate of three weeks per year with amounts increasing up to five weeks after 15 years of service. Vacation accrual may be adjusted for successful candidates with prior public service to reflect a vacation accrual rate commensurate with total years of public service. Executive Leave of 40 hours is granted annually and depending upon success in the Management Performance Program, could increase to up to 80 hours. Sick Leave is accrued at the rate of approximately 8 hours per month.
• Holidays The City observes 15 paid days annually.
• Deferred Compensation The City offers an optional 457(b) plan.
• Flexible Spending Accounts The City participates in Dependent Care Assistance and Medical Reimbursement Programs.
• Insurance The City provides a term life insurance policy equal to two times annual salary. Long-term disability and AD&D plans are optional.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) The City provides a comprehensive range of services through its EAP.

To be considered for this exceptional career opportunity, submit your resume, cover letter, and a list of six work-related references (two supervisors, two direct reports, and two colleagues, who will not be contacted until the final stages and only with prior permission of the candidate) by the first application review date of December 12, 2025. Resume should reflect years and months of employment, beginning / ending dates, as well as size of staff and budgets you have managed.