Deputy City Manager

Mosaic Public Partners • Full-time • San Jose, California, United States • max $372.56k / year • 3d ago

THE OPPORTUNITY

A national search is underway to attract a strategic, engaging, and seasoned local government executive to serve as the City of San José’s next Deputy City Manager. This is an incredible opportunity for a collaborative leader who will assist the City Manager in providing effective and efficient administrative direction to and coordination among city departments in their service delivery, developing new service and policy frameworks, resolving complex problems, and improving multiagency planning, public policy development, and services to the community.

THE CITY OF SAN JOSÉ

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 approximately 181 square miles at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay, San José is Northern California’s largest city and the 13th largest city in the nation. With nearly one million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States.

San José’s quality of life is unsurpassed. Surrounded by the Diablo and Santa Cruz mountain ranges and enjoying an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, residents have easy access to the beaches along the California coast, including Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Carmel; Yosemite and Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada; local and Napa Valley wine country; and the rich cultural and recreational life of the entire Bay region. San José has received accolades for its vibrant neighborhoods, healthy lifestyle, and diverse attractions from national media, including Business Week and Money magazines. For more information about the unparalleled quality of life in San José, please visit https://www.sjeconomy.com/why-san-jose.

THE CITY GOVERNMENT

The City of San José is a full-service Charter City and operates under a hybrid Council-Manager form of government. The City Council is comprised of 10 Council Members elected by district and a Mayor elected at-large. The City Manager, who reports to the City Council, and her executive team provide strategic leadership that supports the policy-making role of the Mayor and the City Council and motivates and challenges the organization to deliver high-quality services that meet the community’s needs.

City operations are supported by 7,000 full-time equivalent positions and a total budget of $6.3 billion for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. San José is dedicated to maintaining the highest fiscal integrity and earning high credit ratings to consistently deliver quality services to the community. Extensive information regarding San José can be found on the City’s website at www.sanjoseca.gov.

THE OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

The Office of the City Manager provides strategic leadership that supports the Mayor and City Council in making public policy decisions and ensures the organization delivers cost-effective services that meet the needs of our community with the highest standards of quality and customer service. The City Manager’s Office also serves to guide fiscal and change management, the building and development of our workforce, and the development of long-term, data-driven strategies to invest in the City’s future. The City Manager is supported by an Assistant City Manager and five Deputy City Manager positions.

THE POSITION

The position of Deputy City Manager serves as a key advisor to the City Manager regarding matters related to the administration of the City and assists in the formulation and execution of complex policies and programs to fulfill the goals and objectives of the organization. The position will be responsible for a portfolio of departments related to one or more City Service Area(s) to assist the City Manager in coordinating, engaging, and monitoring departments, carrying out City Council policy direction, and ensuring service delivery goals. The position may be the executive sponsor or support for one or more of the City’s focus areas, ensuring appropriate attention and coordination to make significant accomplishments toward these priorities. The position will represent the City Manager in various intergovernmental and community activities and meetings, including coordinating the work of one or more standing City Council Committees to provide the City Council with information and recommendations for matters under consideration.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

The following are the minimum qualifications for the Deputy City Manager position:

Education:

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business, engineering, or related field. A Master’s degree is preferred.

Experience:

Ten years of progressively responsible professional experience demonstrating proficiency at the management, policymaking, and execution levels of a public and/or corporate organization responsible for a complex range of programs is required, including at least five years at an executive leadership level.
While candidates may be generalists, the City Manager’s Office seeks a candidate who can strengthen its expertise and capacity in the City’s housing development, homeless response, development services, and Code Enforcement services. The ideal candidate will bring experience navigating complex policy implementation, advancing cross-agency and interdepartmental collaboration, and aligning programs that span multiple service delivery systems. A demonstrated ability to deliver results in high-impact, politically visible areas—particularly where urgency, equity, and community trust intersect—will be critical.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The annual salary range for this position is up to $372,557. In addition to the abovementioned compensation, this position receives an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. The final candidate’s qualifications and experience will determine the actual salary.

For more information on employee benefits, visit the City’s Human Resources Benefits website.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply online by Friday, November 7, 2025, at:

www.mosaicpublic.com/careers

This recruitment will be handled with strict confidentiality. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.

Confidential inquiries are welcomed to:

Greg Nelson | greg@mosaicpublic.com | (916) 550-4100

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