Mayor’s Policy and Legislative Advisor

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 CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov.

The City of San José, the Capital of Silicon Valley, is one of the nation's best managed cities and consistently ranks among the top places to live, work and do business. As the cultural, governmental, and economic center of the region, San José is home to a diverse community that values integrity, innovation, excellence, collaboration, respect, and celebration.
 
The San José City Council is composed of ten Councilmembers elected by district and an at-large Mayor who serve as the City’s legislative and policy-making body.  Under the City Charter, the Mayor is responsible for recommending policy, program, and budget priorities aligned with the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors.

Mayor Matt Mahan is focused on five core priorities: ending unsheltered homelessness, improving community safety, cleaning up neighborhoods, growing the economy, and accelerating housing production.

The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan is seeking highly motivated, effective, and collaborative professional to join the Mayor’s Policy Team as a Policy Advisor.

This mid-level role is ideal for someone with experience in local government or an elected official’s office who thrives in a fast-paced environment, exercises strong independent judgment, and can drive complex policy initiatives from concept to implementation. The Policy Team works across City departments and with external partners to advance the Mayor’s core priorities and deliver measurable outcomes for residents.

The total salary range for the Policy Advisor is $105,000 - $180,000. This amount includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. The actual salary shall be determined by a candidate’s unique combination of skills, training, and experience.

Policy focus areas for this role may include: public safety, housing, homelessness, economic development, land use, environment, and neighborhood quality of life.

Responsibilities for this position may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Lead initiatives within an assigned policy portfolio, driving the Mayor’s priorities through research, analysis, stakeholder engagement, and the legislative process.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with City departments, Council offices, community organizations, business leaders, nonprofits, and government agencies.
• Coordinate cross-departmental projects citywide and collaborate closely with the City Administration.
• Conduct policy research and develop actionable recommendations based on data, best practices, and community needs.
• Draft clear, persuasive memos, reports, and correspondence that articulate policy proposals and justify recommended actions.
• Support development of the Mayor’s budget messages and policy documents.
• Partner with the Mayor’s Communications Team to prepare talking points, speeches, and supporting materials.
• Attend community meetings and public events on behalf of the Mayor, including some evenings and weekends.
• Respond to constituent inquiries, resolve issues, and interpret operating policies for residents and community partners.
• Assist with planning and execution of meetings, programs, and civic events.
• Represent the Mayor at City-related meetings, intergovernmental discussions, and community forums.
• Other duties as assigned

Employees in this classification are not members of the classified civil service and appointment would be on a contract “at-will” basis and is for a specified period of time to be determined by the appointing elected official and does not extend past the end of the elected official's term.  Candidates must be willing to work frequent evenings and weekends, and as exempt management employees, are not eligible for overtime compensation. This unclassified position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income and business positions.

Any combination of training and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to advise the Mayor on matters of public policy, democratic processes, constituent service, or citizen involvement.

Required Licensing: Possession of a valid California Driver’s license is required.

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. 

Desirable Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the most desirable combination of training, skills, and experience, which will allow them to serve as a member of the Mayor’s Team.

Education: Master’s Degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, or a related field is strongly preferred. 

Experience:

• At least four (4) years of professional work experience in public policy, local government, or an elected official’s office.
• Demonstrated increases in responsibility and strong performance at each career stage.
• Experience managing complex projects and/or coordinating interdepartmental teams.
• Experience working directly with senior leadership or executive-level decision makers.

The ideal candidate will offer the following abilities and knowledge, as demonstrated in employment history or other experience. We desire a well-rounded, dedicated, and enthusiastic individual with a broad combination of skills and abilities. A competitive candidate will demonstrate:

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong critical thinking, analytical ability, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and drive workstreams with minimal supervision.
• Excellent time and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across diverse stakeholders.
• Sound judgment in evaluating policies, programs, and operational issues.
• A proactive, self-starting work style and an ability to thrive in a high-energy, fast-paced environment.

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application. Only the 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, which may include practical/writing exercises.

To be considered for this position, you must fill out the online application on the City of San José website and submit the following:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Two (2) Writing Samples that best demonstrate your level of proficiency

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Mackenzie Mossing at Mackenzie.Mossing@sanjoseca.gov.

To learn more information about City Benefits, click on the Benefits tab of this job posting.

To learn more information about Mayor and City Council, click here.

Link to California Equal Pay Act.

This position will remain open until filled and applications will be reviewed continuously; therefore, we encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible.

Additional Information:

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 CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov 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.