Overview
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.
About the Department
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for any additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.
The City of San José’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) is looking for people who want to make San José a better place to live and work. Our mission is to connect people through parks, recreation and neighborhood services for an active San José. The ActivateSJ 20-year strategic plan identifies the approach and projects to support healthy communities that inspire belonging by following the guiding principles of Stewardship, Nature, Equity & Access, Identity and Public Life.
The Department creates and activates thriving places near where people live, work, and play. These places are destinations for fun and learning with 48 community centers, 10 regional parks, 209 neighborhood parks, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, and over 60 miles of trails. Our programs and services touch the lives of our diverse community. We take public service seriously by working hard to earn the public’s trust by delivering quality services and high-value spaces and programs. Our team is collaborative, supportive, and innovative. We are a fast-paced organization that takes decisive action after thoughtful planning.
For more information, please visit activatesj.org.
The Division
The Community Services Division (CSD) empowers and supports residents, schools, and local organizations to make the city more livable, safe and clean. CSD is comprised of three core service program areas – BeautifySJ, Grantmaking for Community Impact, and Youth Empowerment Alliance/Youth Intervention Services. Overseen by a Deputy Director and two Division Managers, there are 161 full-time equivalent employees and an operating budget of approximately $54 million along with various sources including State, Federal and other special funds. Currently, the Department is recruiting for one Division Manager for the Youth Empowerment Alliance/Youth Intervention Program.
Youth Empowerment Alliance
The San Jose Youth Empowerment Alliance’s vision of ‘safe and healthy youth connected to their families, schools, communities, and their futures’ sets the framework and drives the collective efforts of the City of San Jose’ Youth Empowerment Alliance. We take a comprehensive approach with a public health lens to address youth violence. These interventions through programs, services, and policies seek to address youth violence in its multiple forms.
Position Duties
Reporting to the Deputy Director of Community Services, the Youth Intervention Division Manager is one of two Division Managers responsible for delivering school-based intervention strategies to ensure a safe and engaged community. The position oversees the implementation of the San Jose Youth Empowerment Alliance strategic workplan that is focused on reducing and addressing gang related youth violence; coordinates with community-based organizations and government partners to deliver services; and manages youth intervention programs that aim to interrupt violence. Additionally, the program will oversee the Council adopted Children and Youth Services Master Plan. The Youth Intervention Division Manager is also responsible for providing leadership in advancing division and/or department-wide initiatives, and the division responsibilities in the Deputy Director’s absence.
This Division Manager has an operating budget of approximately $11.6 million and oversees a grantmaking program of approximately $3.8 million. This Division Manager has up to 4 direct reports that include three management employees. There are over 50 full-time equivalent employees in the Youth Intervention section.
The Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department is currently seeking to fill one (1) full-time Division Manager vacancy in the Community Services Division.
Essential Duties for this position may include but are not limited to the following:
- Supervises subordinate management, supervisory, and professional staff to include prioritizing, and assigning work; conducting performance evaluation staff development; and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.
- Plans, implement and evaluates department programs and services.
- Participates in and advises on the development of department and program policy.
- Prepares and implements division work plans, capital improvement and/or operations budgets.
- Develops and implements division performance goals, objectives, and guidelines.
- Presents reports and information to the City Council, boards, committees, commissions and other divisions or departments.
- Ensures divisional compliance with federal and state laws, rules, regulations, local codes, and standards.
- Performs other duties as assigned of a similar nature or level.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the initiative, a balance of technical skills and personal attributes and be capable of leading a large, creative, and diverse division to meet established goals. The ideal candidate will have experience working in a large or mid-size city in parks, recreation, community, or neighborhood services; collaborating with government partners, experience in urban recreation and/or leading youth intervention programs; working in disadvantaged neighborhoods; demonstrated experience in compassionate response to vulnerable populations, residents experiencing homelessness and vulnerable youth (i.e. gang impacted) and adults.
The candidate should have knowledge of performance management and evaluating programs, as well as and have experience in project management and strategic planning. Ideally, the candidate will possess a large breadth of prior responsibility in recreation and community services, neighborhood-based program or division and have experience with a broad range of programs. The ideal candidate will also be someone who can inspire a positive, empowering workplace and is a champion of the principles of racial equity. [FSA1]
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Experience: Requires a bachelor’s degree in closely related field; and six years of increasingly responsible experience in a similar professional environment.
Acceptable Substitutions: None.
Form 700: This position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions. You must complete and file an “Assuming Office Form 700” with the City Clerk’s Office within the first 30 days of employment with the office.
Other Qualifications
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.
Collaboration – develops networks and builds alliances; engages in cross-functional activities. Positive demeanor and collaborative partner with stakeholders inside and outside the City organization.
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; Effective and empathic communicator skilled at building relationships.
Decision Making – identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions. Confident decision maker with a track record of producing results.
Initiative – Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning. Displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.
Leadership – leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, encourages and rewards risk-taking, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational supports and direction. Develop and enhance the skills and abilities of staff to take on greater levels of responsibility and achieve higher levels of individual and program-wide performance.
Management – evaluates priorities to ensure the ‘true’ top priorities are handled satisfactorily; sets clear goals for the employees and the work unit; Proven leader in empowering employees and supporting their development and recognition.
Political Skill – In taking action, demonstrates an understanding and consideration of how it will impact stakeholders and affected areas in the organization.
Vision/Strategic Thinking – Supports, promotes, and ensures alignment with the organization’s vision and values; understands how an organization must change in light of internal and external trends and influences; builds a shared vision with others and influences others to translate vision to action. Experienced manager who appreciates and welcomes San José’s rich multicultural, diverse environment.
Selection Process:
The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant’s training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered, or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. 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.
If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Taylor Pawlik at Taylor.Pawlik@sanjoseca.gov.
