Chief Policy & Intergovernmental Relations Leader

City of San José; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

City of San José is seeking a Chief Policy and Intergovernmental Relations Officer to serve as the principal policy advisor to the Mayor. The role leads a small team and drives the policy agenda and intergovernmental strategy across all levels of government.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive public policy knowledge, strong advisory skills, and experience coordinating cross‑jurisdictional initiatives with federal, state, regional, and local partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field; strong policy background.
• Demonstrated ability to advise elected officials and senior leaders.
• Experience with intergovernmental relations and跨 jurisdictional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Review agendas and documents to identify policy opportunities and risks.
• Develop analyses, recommendations, and briefing materials for exec decision-making.
• Analyze policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation across staff.
• Lead cross-jurisdictional initiatives affecting the city.
• Track referrals and set priorities with Mayor and leadership.
• Move policy from concept to implementation and address execution barriers.
• Develop and execute the Mayor’s legislative and intergovernmental strategy.
• Build relationships with stakeholders inside and outside City Hall.
• Ensure alignment and accountability for deliverables across teams.

Skills

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Public policy knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public administration or political science

Master’s degree in public or business administration

Job description

City of San José is seeking a Chief Policy and Intergovernmental Relations Officer to serve as the principal policy advisor to the Mayor. The role leads a small team and drives the policy agenda and intergovernmental strategy across all levels of government.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive public policy knowledge, strong advisory skills, and experience coordinating cross‑jurisdictional initiatives with federal, state, regional, and local partners.