Special Assistant To the Mayor

Special Assistant To the Mayor III - Inter-Agency Relations

City of Oakland, CA

Oakland, CA

$117,953 - $194,081 a year

The Position

Mayor Libby Schaaf is seeking a passionate and experienced person to work closely with her to help make Oakland a better place to live.

The Director of Inter-Agency Relations (Special Assistant to the Mayor III) will serve a key role in the Mayor's second-term agenda to improve coordination between Oakland and external agencies and lead strategic multi-stakeholder initiatives.

Under general supervision, this position provides highly specialized administrative, analytical, and managerial support to the Mayor and the Mayor's Office; makes recommendations for action and assists in policy, procedure and budget development and implementation; addresses and resolves complex and/or sensitive matters; supervises, trains, and evaluates assigned staff; and performs related work as assigned.

The Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to staff the Mayor in her role as Commissioner of the regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission, including providing agenda briefings and tracking issues regarding funding or policies that impact Oakland. The candidate will serve as the Mayor's liaison with external agencies who own and maintain property in Oakland and those who provide major services, such as Caltrans, EBMUD, PG&E, Union Pacific, BART and AC Transit, to build effective partnerships and ensure their stewardship of Oakland's quality of life.

Additionally, the ideal candidate will engage with City staff to encourage inter-departmental coordination practices to deliver infrastructure program improvements; track internal efforts and build external relations to strengthen Oakland's competitiveness and readiness for county, state, federal, and regional funding; monitor the Affordable Housing & Infrastructure Bond Public Oversight Committee as they assess the City's capital expenditures, including integrating social, economic, and environmental metrics; and coordinate philanthropic support for community-led public projects, including placemaking efforts in public spaces.

Desirable Qualifications:

Proven ability to convene and lead internal and external stakeholders to develop and achieve outcomes, particularly public agency leaders/staff, and elected officials.

Demonstrated success managing complex projects or initiatives, leveraging scarce resources, and thinking strategically.

Municipal budgeting, and familiarity with city, county, regional, state and federal funding programs.

The Oakland Mayor's Office values a diverse workplace and is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to engaging the skills and leadership of all employees.

This is an at-will position, exempt from the provisions of the City of Oakland Civil Service Rules (per Charter Section 902f).

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Working for the City of Oakland

Examples of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Plan and organize administrative, analytical, legislative, fiscal or similar studies relating to the activities and operations of the City.

Develop plans and assist with implementing policy and procedural modifications.

Prepare a wide variety of written materials, including correspondence, reports, draft legislation, and public information materials for media.

Review and analyze a variety of City documents, including budgets, proposals and departmental reports.

Represent the Mayor in meetings and maintain liaison with elected officials and representatives of local, regional, state and federal governments, other public agencies, business, professional and community groups, the media and the public.

Coordinate and arrange meetings for the Mayor and prepare materials as required.

Monitor legislative matters and government agencies and analyze their potential impact on City operations.

Assist with the preparation and administration of the Mayor/City Council budget.

May utilize computer applications to assist with analytical studies.

Confer with City staff at all levels and in all departments as required by assignments.

Provide direction and oversight to assigned staff; assist with the development of staff performance.

Drive automotive vehicle as necessary to attend meetings and arrive at off-site locations.

Minimum Requirements for Application

The following qualifications are guidelines, as the appointing authority has broad discretion in filling positions in the classification series.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in public or business administration, political science, or a closely related field. Advanced degree is highly desirable.

EXPERIENCE:

Five (5) years of experience performing progressively responsible and complex administrative and managerial duties. Experience developing local legislation or a closely related assignment and two years of supervisory experience are desirable.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

Principles, practices and methods of administrative, organizational, legislative, economic and procedural analysis;

Municipal government functions and organization, and the basic principles and organization of regional, state and federal level of government;

Public administration principles and practices;

Business computer user applications, particularly as related to statistical analysis and data management;

Basic budgetary principles and practices;

Wide variety of issues affecting public policy.

Ability to:

Analyze complex administrative, operational, legislative, economic and organizational problems; evaluate alternatives; exercise sound independent judgment.

Prepare and analyze complex reports of a general and technical nature.

Develop and maintain effective relationships with elected officials, representative of public and private groups, the media and the public.

Communicate effectively and persuasively in both oral and written form.

Maintain accurate records and files.

Coordinate effective completion of competing projects; meet critical deadlines.

Represent the City and the Mayor in meetings with intergovernmental agencies, public officials, the media and community groups.

Coordinate functions and activities between departments and outside agencies.

Assess, develop and administer appropriate organizational and staffing structures.

Effectively oversee and direct the work of subordinate staff; conduct staff meetings.

Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE / OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Individuals who are appointed to this position will be required to maintain a valid California Driver's License throughout the tenure of employment OR demonstrate the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as required in the performance of duties.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply

If interested, please send a resume, letter of interest to OaklandMayorJobs@gmail.com with the subject line " Mayor's Director, Inter-Agency" ASAP. The Oakland Mayor's Office values a diverse workplace and is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to engaging the skills and leadership all types of people.

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration. The City of Oakland is an EEO/ADA Employer.