Assistant Director of Economic Development & Cultural Affairs

Mosaic Public Partners • Full-time • San Jose, California, United States • $190.52k - $307.77k / year • 23h ago

THE OPPORTUNITY

Few opportunities offer the scale, complexity, and potential for impact found in San José. The Assistant Director will help shape the economic future of one of the nation’s largest and most diverse cities while serving as the department’s Chief Operating Officer and a key strategic partner to the Director. The role offers an exceptional opportunity to advance ambitious priorities while bringing innovation, technology, and disciplined execution to a diverse and highly visible portfolio.

THE CITY OF SAN JOSÉ

Known as the “Capital of Silicon Valley,” the City of San José plays a vital economic and cultural role in anchoring the world’s leading innovation region. 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 transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world, including major tech headquarters like Cisco, Adobe, Zoom, Samsung, and eBay, as well as start-ups and advanced manufacturing. The City of San José has twice been named “The Most Innovative Large City in America” by the Center for Digital Government.

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. For more information about the unparalleled quality of life in San José, please visit Why San Jose?

CITY GOVERNMENT

The City of San José is a full-service Charter City and operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council consists of ten (10) council members elected by district and a mayor elected at large. The City Manager, who reports to the 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 6,928 full-time equivalent positions and a total operating and capital budget of $6.0 billion for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. San José is dedicated to maintaining the highest fiscal integrity and earning high credit ratings to ensure the consistent delivery of quality services to the community. Extensive information regarding San José can be found on the City website at www.sanjoseca.gov.

THE DEPARTMENT

The City Manager’s Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs (OEDCA), part of the City Manager’s Office, drives San José’s vision of a vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous city. The department fosters economic vitality, cultural expression, and workforce opportunity through innovative programs and partnerships that strengthen the City’s fiscal health and enhance quality of life. OEDCA is comprised of three integrated divisions: Cultural Affairs: Arts, Sports & Entertainment, Economic Growth & Business Development, and Workforce & Talent Development.

OEDCA focuses on strategically aligning limited staffing and budgetary resources with initiatives that deliver the greatest impact on job creation and revenue growth. OEDCA’s mission is to catalyze equitable job growth, investment, entrepreneurship, cultural vibrancy, and talent attraction and retention across San José. To learn more about the department, click here.

THE POSITION

The Assistant Director serves as the Department’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), providing strategic leadership, operational oversight, and organizational direction to advance San José’s mission of driving economic vitality, cultural vibrancy, and equitable growth. Reporting directly to the Director, the Assistant Director plays a pivotal role in managing the Department’s day-to-day operations, overseeing three divisions and the strategic support unit, which together encompass 58 positions and an annual budget of approximately $64 million. Key responsibilities include translating the Director’s strategic vision into actionable goals and measurable outcomes; ensuring progress toward citywide economic development priorities; and ensuring operational excellence, optimizing processes, and integrating emerging technologies. The Assistant Director must possess a broad working knowledge of economic growth and business development, workforce and talent development, and cultural affairs, with the ability to understand how these areas intersect and contribute to San José’s overall economic and community vitality.

This role offers an exceptional opportunity for a dynamic and results-oriented professional to make a lasting impact in one of the nation’s most diverse and forward-looking cities. The Assistant Director will help shape San José’s economic future—strengthening local business growth, expanding workforce opportunities, and enriching the city’s cultural landscape.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business administration, economics, real estate, or a related field (a master’s degree is highly preferred).

Experience: Seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in the department’s functional area or closely related field, including five (5) years of experience with responsibility for supervising manager-level and other professional staff, managing programs and services, or operations within a complex public or private organization.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The Assistant Director salary range is currently $190,517.34 – $307,769.02 which includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Placement within this range will be dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the individual selected. The salary is supplemented by an attractive benefits package. For detailed benefit information, interested candidates are encouraged to review the detailed recruitment brochure or by visiting one of the following sitesExecutive Management Benefits or Health Benefits.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

Apply immediately, as initial review of candidate materials is tentatively scheduled for Monday, October 26, 2026. Your resume should reflect years and months of employment, beginning/ending dates, as well as the size of staff and budgets you have managed. To be considered for this exceptional career opportunity, submit your resume and cover letter at:

mosaicpublic.com/careers.

Confidential inquiries are welcomed to:

Greg Nelson | greg@mosaicpublic.com | (916) 581-1426

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