Senior Executive Analyst, The Office Of Economic Development & Cultural Affairs

The City of San José is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and highly organized professional to join a diverse and inclusive workforce of over 7,000 employees dedicated to making San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work.

About The Department

The City Manager’s Office of Economic Development & Cultural Affairs (OEDCA) integrates three divisions:

• Cultural Affairs: Arts, Sports, and Entertainment – Fosters a vibrant, inclusive, and creative city by advancing cultural expression, supporting artists and arts organizations through grants and technical assistance, promoting access to sports and entertainment, commissioning and preserving public art, producing and coordinating outdoor special events and destination marketing, and stewarding City-owned convention and cultural facility assets and partnerships.
• Economic Growth and Business Development – Accelerates San José’s economic vitality by driving business retention, expansion, and attraction; supporting real estate and catalytic development; strengthening Downtown as a thriving urban center; and advancing commercial corridor revitalization and small business success across San José’s diverse neighborhoods.
• Workforce and Talent Development – Builds a resilient and inclusive workforce by connecting job seekers to training, education, and career pathways; delivering supportive services that reduce barriers to employment; and partnering with employers to design hiring initiatives that align with regional industry needs and economic opportunity.

OEDCA’s mission is to catalyze equitable job growth, investment, entrepreneurship, cultural vibrancy, and talent attraction and retention in San José while strengthening the City’s fiscal health. Key focus areas include:

• Retaining and growing jobs and revenue while promoting innovation from large and medium-sized businesses in key sectors such as manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
• Fostering small business resilience and creating thriving business districts.
• Accelerating a thriving Downtown.
• Activating San José as the South Bay's hub for sports, arts, and entertainment.
• Preparing residents to participate in the local economy through training, education, and career support.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
  • Staff and support the new San José 250th Anniversary Advisory Committee.
  • Lead strategic planning for the 250th Anniversary celebration and the 70th Anniversary of the San José–Okayama Sister City Relationship.
  • Develop comprehensive implementation plans, objectives, milestones, timelines, budgets, and performance measures for both initiatives.
  • Ensure coordination across related anniversary programs to maximize community participation and organizational efficiency.
  • Track progress toward established goals and recommend adjustments as needed.
• Advisory Committee Support
  • Organize and facilitate Advisory Committee meetings.
  • Prepare meeting agendas, briefing materials, presentations, minutes, and follow-up actions.
  • Coordinate committee communications and ensure timely execution of committee priorities.
  • Support the formation and operation of committee working groups focused on specific topics, projects, or areas of expertise.
• Community and Stakeholder Engagement
  • Develop and maintain productive relationships with community organizations, neighborhood associations, cultural, history and humanities institutions, educational partners, business organizations, philanthropic partners, and other stakeholders.
  • Serve as the City's primary point of contact for organizations interested in participating in anniversary activities.
  • Foster collaboration among diverse interests while building consensus around shared goals.
  • Coordinate engagement strategies that celebrate San José’s history while highlighting its longstanding international partnerships.
  • Represent the City professionally in public meetings, community events, and stakeholder engagements.
• Celebration Planning and Coordination
  • Coordinate planning for a signature citywide community celebration commemorating San José's 250th Anniversary.
  • Coordinate commemorative activities recognizing the 70th Anniversary of the San José–Okayama Sister City Relationship.
  • Work with City departments and external partners to identify opportunities for coordinated programming and promotion throughout the anniversary period.
  • Develop and maintain a comprehensive calendar of anniversary-related events and activities.
  • Develop a resource toolkit to guide organizations in planning and delivering anniversary-related events, programming, and activities.
  • Ensure consistent branding, messaging, and coordination across all anniversary activities.
  • Ensure coordination across City departments and partner organizations to maximize community participation and impact.
• Sponsorship and Resource Development
  • Assist the Advisory Committee in developing sponsorship, fundraising, and partnership strategies.
  • Assist the Advisory Committee in tracking sponsorship opportunities and commitments.
  • Support development of partnership agreements and related documentation.
• Executive Support
  • Prepare reports, briefing papers, memoranda, presentations, and correspondence for senior leadership.
  • Provide regular updates to the Administration’s executive staff.
  • Prepare agenda materials and presentations for the City Council and the Community and Economic Development Committee.
  • Respond to inquiries from elected officials, City leadership, and community stakeholders.
• Program Administration
  • Develop and maintain detailed project plans, schedules, budgets, and work plans.
  • Monitor project deliverables and coordinate activities across multiple stakeholders.
  • Identify risks and develop mitigation strategies.
  • Ensure timely completion of assignments and adherence to City policies and procedures.

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced program manager who excels in collaborative environments and has demonstrated success leading complex, high-profile initiatives and special events involving multiple partners. Key attributes include:

• Exceptional organizational and project management skills.
• Strong strategic planning and implementation abilities.
• Experience facilitating committees, boards, or community advisory groups.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparing executive-level reports, briefing materials, and presentations.
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate trust and credibility among diverse stakeholders.
• Diplomatic judgment and political acumen in navigating complex public-sector environments.
• Ability to balance competing priorities while maintaining focus on strategic objectives.
• Experience coordinating large-scale public events or community initiatives.
• Ability to work independently while managing numerous concurrent projects.
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through.

Desired Experience

Experience in one or more of the following is highly desirable:

• Local government administration.
• Economic development or community development.
• Arts, culture, or special events programming.
• Community engagement and public participation.
• Nonprofit leadership or partnership development.
• Sponsorship development and fundraising.
• Strategic planning and performance management.
• International relations, Sister City programs, or diplomatic protocol.
• Cross-sector collaboration involving government, business, and nonprofit organizations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education and Experience: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university and four (4) years of professional-level analytic and/or administrative experience. A Master's Degree in public administration, business administration, or a related field is preferred and can substitute for one year of the required experience.
• Required Licensing: Possession of a valid California Driver’s license may be required for some assignments.

When assigned to the Office of Emergency Management:

• Possession of FEMA Professional Development Series (PDS) Certificate is preferred upon hire, otherwise must be completed within one (1) year of employment.
• Possession of FEMA Advanced Professional Series (APS) Certificate is preferred upon hire, otherwise must be completed within two (2) years of employment.
• State of California EOC Position Credential within approximately two (2) years of employment. Must be maintained continually as a condition of employment.
• IAEM Certified Emergency Manager within approximately six (6) years of employment. Must be maintained continually as a condition of employment.

Basic Competencies

• Job Expertise: Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies, and federal and state rules and regulations, including:
  • Principles, practices, and problems of city government organization, administration, and management.
  • Contract administration principles.
  • Human resources administration principles and practices.
  • Financial management theory and practices, including government financing, budgeting, and accounting.
  • Emergency management principles and practices.
• Communication Skills: Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
• Computer Skills: Experienced with common business computer applications including MS Outlook, MS Word, and MS PowerPoint.

Schedule

This is a limited-term position lasting 18 months.