The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.
Why join the City of Oakland Public Works Department?
Joining the City of Oakland's Public Works Department (OPW) means becoming part of a team dedicated to real-time service, problem-solving, and operational excellence. The work performed in this division has a visible and meaningful impact on the daily lives of Oakland residents and contributes to a stronger, safer, and more resilient city.The City of Oakland is seeking a high-performing administrative and strategic leader to serve as the Assistant to the Director of the Public Works Department. This is a unique opportunity to work directly with department leadership at the center of some of Oakland’s most visible and impactful initiatives shaping strategy, driving execution, and helping deliver results for the community.Under administrative direction, the Assistant to the Director serves as a key member of the department’s leadership team, providing high-level strategic guidance, policy development, and operational coordination. This role goes beyond traditional administrative functions it is a trusted advisor to the Director, helping to set priorities, solve complex problems, and lead cross-departmental initiatives.
The position plays a central role in advancing the department’s most important work, including reporting to advisory commissions and City Council on voter-approved Measure Q; developing, monitoring, and updating the department’s Top Goals and Projects; leading the annual staff survey, including development, implementation, and action planning; driving implementation of the department’s illegal dumping strategy; partnering with the Race and Equity Team; and leading and coordinating department-wide strategic planning efforts. This is a management-level position with significant responsibility, visibility, and impact ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys both strategic thinking and execution, and is motivated by public service. The role also supports communication and engagement with the Mayor, City Council, and City Administrator, and prepares reports and policy recommendations.We are looking for someone who is:
- Skilled in presenting complex information and liaising effectively with oversight bodies. You communicate with clarity and confidence, ensuring stakeholders, executives, and community groups understand policy issues, operational data, and organizational needs.
- Excel in project management and high-level coordination. You manage timelines, guide multi-disciplinary teams, and ensure deliverables meet organizational standards whether steering administrative projects, drafting legislation, or supporting department-wide initiatives.
- Strongly experienced in community engagement and outreach. You collaborate thoughtfully with diverse communities, respond to public questions and concerns, and help shape programs that reflect community needs and expectations.
- Passionate about implementing policy as you are about developing it. You translate high-level directives into practical workflows, draft and analyze legislation, and ensure policies function effectively in real-world operations.
- Knowledgeable in performance measures and how they are developed, monitored, and reported. You use data to evaluate outcomes, shape department strategy, and support transparent, accountable decision-making.
- An expert in some areas and eager to become an expert in many more. You consistently pursue professional growth, welcome new challenges, and embrace opportunities to broaden your leadership, administrative, and technical capabilities.
- Experienced in managing complex, cross-departmental initiatives. You demonstrate a proven track record of leading high visibility, multi-stakeholder projects such as citywide programs, policy initiatives, and operational improvement efforts
- Skilled in internal and external communications within a government setting. You prepare or review City Council agenda materials, staff reports, and legislative items, as well as contributing to public facing communications and community engagement efforts.
- Committed to equity focused planning and implementation. You bring experience working with racer and equity frameworks, including the development or implementation of equity plans, policies, or analyses in a public sector environment.
What you will typically be responsible for:
- Facilitating communication and action across the department’s many bureaus and divisions.
- Using data to assess and drive the department’s performance.
- Acting as staff to council and community appointed boards and commissions as needed.
- Assisting in the development of short and long-range planning for departmental activities.
- Researching, preparing and analyzing complex reports; preparing draft legislation in response to Council and City Manager requests; reviewing City Council agenda materials and staff reports.
Read the complete job description by clicking this Assistant to the Director
*Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland!
Working for the City of Oakland
A few reasons you might love this job:- You will be part of the leadership team at a department that is central to the City’s quality of life.
- You will work closely with the Director advancing various priorities that will drive improvement.
- You will serve as a key connection between Public Works, the City Council, and the community, helping elevate public concerns and craft solutions.
- You will support essential services; streets, facilities, environmental programs that improve residents’ quality of life, giving purpose to your daily work.
A few challenges you might face in this job:
- You will be operating in a fast-paced environment where competing priorities are constant, and you will be expected to juggle them expertly and professionally while maintaining calm and grace.
- You will be expected to learn the work quickly, often with minimal direction, and become productive in a short amount of time.
- You will be engaging with individuals at all levels including executives, staff, community members, and external partners within a politically dynamic and high-visibility environment.
Competencies Required:
- Analyzing & Interpreting Data: Drawing meaning and conclusions from quantitative or qualitative data
- Building & Maintaining Relationships:Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
- Coaching & Developing Others:Supporting others in stretching and expanding their capabilities
- Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluation information, propositions, and claims
- Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely and cost-effective results
- Involving Others (Engaging Teams):Engaging others for input, contribution, and shared responsibility for outcomes
- Leadership:Guiding and encouraging others to accomplish a common goal
- Leading Cross-Functional Collaboration:Demonstrating cooperation and teamwork while working withing and across divisions, functions, or teams
- Managing Performance: Ensuring superior individual and group performance
- Oral Communication:Engaging effectively in dialogue
- Political & Organizational Savvy: Working skillfully with politics, procedures, and protocols across organizational levels and boundaries
- Project Management: Ensuring that projects are on-time, on-budget, and achieve their objectives
- Strategic Thinking & Perspective:Evaluating immediate actions in context of achieving long range objectives
- Thinking and Acting Systematically: Formulating objectives and priorities, and implementing plans consistent with the long-term global environment
- Writing:Communicating effectively in writing
Meeting the minimum qualification requirements may not result in further consideration, only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.
Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may be acceptable:
Education:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in public or business administration, accounting, or a related field. A Master's degree is desirable.
Experience:
Five years of progressively responsible experience performing complex administrative duties including two years of supervisory experience.
Desirable Qualifications:
- A master’s degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, Urban Planning, or a related field.
- Senior-Level Experience in a Public Agency: Progressively responsible experience in a municipal or other public sector organization, including direct support to executive leadership (e.g., Director, City Administrator, or equivalent).
- Experience with Employee Engagement/Organizational Development: designing, administering, and acting on employee surveys (e.g., Gallup Q12 or similar), including translating results into actionable improvements.
This is an at-will position, exempt from the provisions of the City of Oakland Civil Service Rules, per Charter Section 902.
All applications received will be forwarded to the Oakland Public Works for further consideration.
Meeting the minimum qualification requirements may not result in further consideration, only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.
What's in it for you?- Work/Life Balance:37.5-hour work weeks
- 15 paid holidays
- Vacation:2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
- Retirement:CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
- Health:The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans
- Dental:Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
- Vision:VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
- Sick leave:Employees accrue 12 days per year
- Deferred Compensation:457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
- Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.
*Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found here: Working for Oakland | City of Oakland, CA
Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.
Disaster Service Workers
All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
How to Apply
Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at:
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca/default.cfm.
If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs. If you have problems while applying online, please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Diana Ramirez, Administrative Analyst II at DRamirez@oaklandca.gov.
