Assistant Director (Unclassified)

City of San José; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

City of San José is seeking an experienced Assistant Director in the Department of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement to lead department-wide operations and provide strategic direction.

Candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree in business/public administration (master's preferred) and at least seven years' professional experience, including five years in management. This executive role requires strong leadership and public-sector insight.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, or related field.
• Seven years of progressively responsible professional experience.
• Five+ years supervising managers and programs.

Responsibilities

• Oversee department-wide operations and executive leadership.
• Lead and coordinate planning, building, and code enforcement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Staff supervision

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY), or via email at [e-mail].

About The Department

The City of San José’s Department of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement serves to ensure the orderly and safe development of private properties, compliance with all applicable building, zoning, and quality of life ordinances and regulations, and to promote healthy and safe community standards. This is accomplished by departmental staff in service to customers by:

• Assisting and guiding land use and development to promote long-term goals and objectives that render safe, beneficial, and more sustainable communities.
• Providing orderly administration and compliance of building codes, as mandated by the various levels of government, to ensure the construction of buildings, homes, and structures meet intended life safety and structural requirements.
• Investigating and resolving citizen complaints of municipal code violations on private property in order to promote, maintain, and improve quality of life issues that better allow for safe and harmonious conditions in all neighborhoods.

For additional information please see the recruitment brochure located here: https://www.mosaicpublic.com/career/2661-assistant-director-planning-building-and-code-enforcement

Position Duties

Under the administrative direction of the Director, the Assistant Director serves as the principal operational executive of the department and a member of its executive leadership team. The Deputy Directors for Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement continue to report directly to the Director on technical and policy matters; the Assistant Director oversees the department-wide operations and administrative functions that support all three divisions.

For additional information please see the recruitment brochure located here: https://www.mosaicpublic.com/career/2661-assistant-director-planning-building-and-code-enforcement

Minimum Qualifications

Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, public administration, or a discipline related to the department’s operations. A Master’s degree is preferred.

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

Other Qualifications: To be considered for this exceptional career opportunity, submit your resume, cover letter, and a review date of October 26, 2026.

Resume should reflect years and months of employment, beginning/ending dates, as well as size of staff and budgets you have managed.

For further information contact: Bryan Noblett at Mosaic Public Partners, [phone].

Employment Eligibility

Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email [e-mail] and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer.