Downtown Manager (Assistant to the City Manager) - Office of Economic Development & Cultural Affairs

City of San José; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic leader for Downtown management in San José. This role involves fostering relationships with stakeholders, enhancing the urban environment, and driving economic growth through strategic initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional communication skills and a strong background in urban development. You will be pivotal in shaping the future of Downtown, ensuring its vibrancy and attractiveness as a city center. Join this innovative team and make a significant impact on the community's cultural and economic landscape!

Qualifications

• 6+ years of management experience in government or private sector.
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead Downtown management and ensure resource alignment.
• Develop relationships with property owners and manage outreach efforts.

Skills

Exceptional communication skills

Problem-solving and conflict resolution

Administration

Staff Management

Urbanist perspective

Cross-disciplinary facilitation

Politically astute

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public administration

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

The Office of Economic Development & Cultural Affairs (OEDCA) mission is to catalyze equitable job growth, investment, entrepreneurship, cultural vibrancy, and talent attraction and retention in San José while strengthening the City’s fiscal health. In support of its mission, OEDCA focuses on five key areas:

• Leading business attraction and retention efforts, focusing on strategic industry clusters.
• Strengthening the small business ecosystem, encouraging entrepreneurship, and supporting innovation.
• Developing a skilled workforce to prepare residents for high-wage, high-growth careers leading to economic self-sufficiency.
• Enhancing the economic and cultural vitality of Downtown.
• Championing a vibrant cultural environment through cultural funding, special event production and permitting, public art, and convention and cultural facility stewardship.

This position will serve as the City's lead for Downtown management working with City Departments and Downtown stakeholders. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring resource alignment, timely progress, and effective communications on policy, practice, and project issues to continue evolving Downtown San Jose into a vibrant city center for San Jose and Silicon Valley. This position will have one direct OEDCA report (Downtown Coordinator), and the potential for other project-level indirect OEDCA reports from the Business Development Division. The incumbent will report to the Deputy Director of OEDCA within the Business Development Division. The position will work closely with the other members of the Business Development Division including staff working on the Small Business Team, Corporate Outreach, and Communications.

Key duties of the position will include but are not limited to:

• Fulfills OEDCA’s strategic workplan goals to accelerate a thriving Downtown for FY 25-26 and 26-27 which include:
  • Generating 10 commercial lease renewal commitments of 5,000 sq. ft. or more.
  • Facilitating 10 newcommercialbusiness attractions.
  • Achieving a 10% year-over-year increase in downtowndaytimefoot traffic.
  • Receiving a 10% year-over-year increase in positive sentiment in the Focus Area Community Survey.

• Develops and maintains effective relationships with Downtown property owners, developers, and real estate brokers to support leasing and property improvement and development.
• Manages business outreach efforts and ongoing communication with the Top 20 largest Downtown companies.
• Develops and maintains metrics, datasets, and stories that communicate the progress and vision of Downtown (in collaboration with the Public Information Manager).
• Facilitates and aligns the involvement of City Departments in project, policy, planning, and practice issues in the Downtown.
• Supports inter-departmental efforts around downtown quality of life initiatives to improve homelessness, cleanliness, and safety.
• Actively manages relationships and City contractual agreements with major institutions receiving City funding to deliver services, including but not limited to the San Jose Downtown Association.
• Prepares or assists with the preparation of memos, reports, policies, and ordinances related to the management of Downtown.
• Supports efforts to improve and activate outdoor public spaces and improve wayfinding in the downtown.
• Supports, or may develop, programs and initiatives to enhance business vitality, downtown development, urban amenities, and lifestyle elements Downtown.
• Maintains close relationships with the District 3 Council Office, Mayor’s Office, and related Council district offices.

The ideal candidate will possess the most desirable combination of skills, abilities, and experience. These include:

• Exceptional communication skills - public speaking, and interpersonal communication, including the ability to identify new and build on existing relationships, the ability to communicate complex concepts in a clear and inspiring way, and the ability to write quickly and professionally.
• Problem-solving and conflict resolution - the ability to demonstrate flexibility and advanced problem-solving in the midst of evolving responsibilities, work processes, timeframes, and performance expectations in a fast-paced work environment. Ability to solve complex and sensitive problems and assist others in doing so.
• Administration - ability to develop and manage budgets, contracts, agreements, procurement processes, and performance metrics.
• Staff Management - provides appropriate situational context and sets clear goals and provides direction for employees; ensures support for projects and implements organizational goals and strategic objectives.
• Urbanist perspective - someone who is knowledgeable and experienced in the urban lifestyle and environment that the Downtown represents and is becoming. Is knowledgeable and experienced in urban development, urban planning/design, and urban affairs.
• Ability to work comfortably across disciplines, and to facilitate conversation, decision, and action across Departments (chiefly Planning, Building, Code Enforcement, Department of Transportation, Public Works, Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services, the Housing and Police departments).
• Professionally assertive, self-motivated, and able to work with a high degree of autonomy while also contributing to a high-performance team.
• Politically astute.

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business administration, or a related field. A certification in urban place management or a related field is preferred.
• Experience: Six (6) years of management and/or administrative experience in government or private business/industry. A Master’s degree is preferred and may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.
• Licenses or Certificates: Possession of a valid California driver's license.

Competencies

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

• Job Expertise - demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

• Analytical Thinking - approaches a problem or situation by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach.

• Collaboration - develops networks and builds alliances; engages in cross-functional activities.
• Communication Skills - effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people’s ideas and thoughts.
• Creativity - addresses objectives and problems while questioning traditional assumptions/solutions in order to generate creative ideas and new ways of doing business.
• Initiative - exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems and is proactive by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges.
• Leadership - leads by example; serves as an appropriate role model; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable.
• Management - evaluates priorities to ensure the 'true' top priorities are handled satisfactorily; sets clear goals for employees and the work unit.

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the job-specific questions. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

Submission of a cover letter and resume are required. The Education, History, and Work History sections of the application must be completed, or the application will be considered incomplete and may be withheld from further consideration.