Council District 9 Office - Council Assistant U

The City of San José, the Capital of Silicon Valley, is one of the nation's best managed cities and consistently ranks among the top places to live, work and do business. As the cultural, governmental, and economic center of the region, San José is home to a diverse community that values integrity, innovation, excellence, collaboration, respect, and celebration. The San Jose City Council consists of ten Councilmembers elected by district and a Mayor elected at-large, each for four year terms. The Mayor and Council are responsible for representing the residents of San Jose, providing accountability, reviewing public policy and programs, and adopting those policies which best meet the needs of the residents, visitors, and businesses in San Jose. The Office of Vice Mayor Pam Foley is recruiting for a full-time Council Assistant. Under the direction of the Vice Mayor, the position provides services in connection with policy analysis, research, communications, event planning, community outreach, and other related matters as needed and requested. The position requires an employee with strong and effective organizational skills; ability to handle multiple assignments; excellent written and oral communications skills, and the ability to develop and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with community members and neighborhood organizations, key stakeholders, and City staff. Candidates must be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed. Employees in this classification are not members of the classified civil service and are appointed "at will." Each appointment is for a specified period-of-time to be determined by the appointing official and does not extend past the end of the elected official's or appointing authority's term. This unclassified position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions.

Typical Duties:

The Council Assistant will be primarily responsible for the following tasks: Gathering background information relative to issues pending before the City Council Analyzing a wide variety of materials on assigned projects, programs, and topics Preparation or assisting in preparation of speeches, articles, or other communications for the Councilmember Responding to constituent inquiries and issues, resolving complaints, and interpreting operating policies for residents of the community and other interested parties Attending and representing the Councilmember at City-related meetings and activities, meeting with governmental agencies, private industry, and related meetings Planning and managing special events and coordinating arrangements for community meetings and programs Administering grants to non-profits Performing shared office duties including constituent database maintenance and constituent recognition Facilitating the Vice Mayor's attendance at community events Performs other duties of a similar nature or level as required Minimum Qualifications Any combination of training and experience equivalent that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to advise the Vice Mayor on matters of public policy, democratic processes, constituent service, or citizen involvement. Competencies The ideal candidate will possess the most desirable combination of training, skills, and experience, which will allow them to serve as a member of the City Council District 9 Team. Desirable experience, knowledge, and skills for this position include: A BA/BS in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, Communications, or related field is highly desirable. Knowledge of Public Administration; management, and administrative methods; budgeting, land use, housing, transportation, public relations, customer/constituent relations, etc. Ability to plan and manage special events, including the ability to coordinate with multiple event stakeholders and manage multiple event planning tasks at the same time to ensure that deadlines are met. Proficiency in the use of software applications such as Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, Outlook, or equivalent. Ability to effectively plan workflow and manage multiple projects to deliver quality products in a timely manner evidenced by through strong organizational, administration, and management skills. Ability to express themselves clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing (email, letters, report writing and editing). Skill in research techniques and applications - collecting, compiling, analyzing, and interpreting data. Strong work ethic, professionalism, flexibility. Ability to communicate effectively with others and facilitate groups to achieve common objectives; understand and identify key issues and make recommendations in complex situations. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with others and to provide excellent service to internal and external customers, stakeholders, and colleagues. Ability to present yourself in a professional and effective manner. Ability to work in a team environment and work as an effective team contributor. Demonstrate ability to work independently, prioritize work, and independently manage multiple, diverse, and competing priorities while meeting deadlines.

Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and resume. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional steps of the selection process may consist of one or more interviews. To be considered for this position, you must fill out the online application on the City of San Jose website and submit the following: Resume If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact charulatha.thiyagarajan@sanjoseca.gov. This posting/recruitment will remain open until vacancy is filled. Applications are reviewed continuously; therefore, we encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible.