Planning and Policy Strategist

Known as the “Capital of Silicon Valley,” the City of San José plays a vital economic and cultural role anchoring the world’s leading region of innovation. Encompassing 181 square miles at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay, San José is Northern California’s largest city and the 12th largest city in the nation, and ranked the #1 safest major City in the country.

With almost one million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States.

The City Manager’s Office provides strategic leadership to the Mayor and City Council to support their public policy decision‑making and the City organization to ensure the delivery of accessible, equitable, and quality services that meet our diverse community needs. The City Manager’s Office of Administration, Policy, and Intergovernmental Relations, under the direction of the Director, coordinates internal budgets and hiring, citywide public policy, legislative affairs, and Public Records.

It provides the City’s Leaders, Administrators, Directors, and staff with support, coordination, research, and strategic analysis of the city’s critical needs, programs, policies, and services.

The Planning and Policy Strategist (Assistant to the City Manager) is a key member of the Office of Administration, Policy, and Intergovernmental Relations (API). The position reports to the Deputy Director of Policy and supports organizational capacity‑building around policy development, program implementation and sustainability, and data‑driven decision‑making. The position enhances the City Manager’s Office internal planning and management, and supports streamlining inter‑departmental coordination for programs, policies, and initiatives.

The position is responsible for facilitation and collaboration across Departments to advance the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services that support the City Council Focus Areas, City Council Committees, and other services that resolve critical issues. The position is also responsible for leading the pilot implementation of initiatives and innovations for potential integration into future municipal operations, programs, and services.

Supporting Departments and the City Manager’s Office in policy development is critical to this position, as is supporting the City Manager’s Leadership Team as they oversee policies, programs, and projects going through City Council Committees and City Council Meetings. This position also assists both internal and external stakeholder communication and coordination to achieve City goals.

Strengthen organizational capacity in:

• Policy development
• Data‑driven decision‑making
• Internal planning and management
• Cross‑department coordination
• Innovative and high‑impact program and service delivery

• Facilitate collaboration across City departments
• Advance development, implementation, and evaluation of programs
• Pilot implementation of initiatives and innovations for potential integration into future municipal operations, programs, and services
• Support City Council Focus Areas (Increasing Community Safety, Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness, Cleaning Up Our Neighborhoods, Building More Housing, and Growing Our Economy) and Council Committees (Community and Economic Development, Neighborhood Services and Education, Transportation and Environment, and Public Safety, Finance, and Strategic Support).
• Assist the City Manager’s Leadership Team with items moving through Council
• Improve interdepartmental coordination
• Support internal and external stakeholder communication and engagement
• Help resolve critical City issues through strategic policy work

• Strong research and policy analysis background
• Experience with data collection, analysis, and visualization and data‑informed decision‑making
• Community and government relations experience
• Understanding of local government processes
• Administrative and organizational knowledge
• Commitment to continuous quality improvement

• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong critical and strategic thinking
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