Assistant To The City Manager – OEDCA (Public Art Director - Office of Cultural Affairs)

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About the Department

The City Manager’s Office of Economic Development & Cultural Affairs (OEDCA) has three integrated divisions:
Cultural Affairs: Arts, Sports, and Entertainment- Fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and creative city by advancing cultural expression, supporting artists and arts organizations through grants and technical assistance, promoting access to sports and entertainment, commissioning and preserving public art, producing/coordinating outdoor special events and destination marketing, and stewarding City-owned convention and cultural facility assets and partnerships.Economic Growth and Business Development- Accelerating San José’s economic vitality by driving business retention, expansion, and attraction; supporting real estate and catalytic development; strengthening Downtown as a thriving urban center; and advancing commercial corridor revitalization and small business success across San José’s diverse neighborhoods.Workforce and Talent Development- Building a resilient and inclusive workforce by connecting job seekers to training, education, and career pathways; delivering supportive services that reduce barriers to employment; and partnering with employers to design hiring initiatives that align with regional industry needs and economic opportunity.
OEDCA’s 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:
Retain/ grow jobs and revenue and promote innovation from large and medium-sized businesses in key sectors such as manufacturing and artificial intelligence.Foster small business resilience and create thriving business districts.Accelerate a thriving Downtown.Activate San José as the South Bay's hub for sports, arts, and entertainment.Prepare residents to participate in the local economy through training, education, and career support.
About the Office of Cultural Affairs

A division of OEDCA, the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is the champion of San José's artistic and cultural vibrancy, resources, and vision. With the new Council-approved Economic Strategy Work Plan, OCA advances San José’s goal to be a vibrant hub of arts, sports, and cultural offerings. It is the City of San José's lead agency for supporting the development of a rich arts and cultural environment for the City’s almost one million residents and its many visitors. Programs and services of OCA include: public art, cultural funding (grantmaking), special event coordination and production, creative entrepreneurship, cultural facility stewardship, placemaking, and cultural policy. OCA is comprised of a motivated, professional staff of 13 across the following sections: Art Industry Support, Public Art, Special Events, and Administration. The Public Art Program Director manages the Public Art Section of OCA.

OCA also serves as the staff liaison to the 11-member Council advisory San José Arts Commission and its two subcommittees: the Executive Committee and the Public Art Committee. The priorities and work of the OCA and the Arts Commission are guided by the Economic Strategy Work Plan for 2025-2027 and the goals of Cultural Connection: San José’s Cultural Plan . More information about the Office of Cultural Affairs can be found at www.sanjoseculture.org.

Position Duties

The classification for this role is Assistant to the City Manager with a working title of Public Art Program Director.

OCA is seeking a proven, visionary leader to serve as its next Public Art Program Director. The new Public Art Director will lead an innovative and award-winning public art program in the 12th-largest U.S. city, and one of the most demographically diverse, known as the Capital of Silicon Valley. This key member of the OCA senior management team will be a strategic, visionary, and energetic leader with a facilitative spirit of customer service.

Stewarding over 400 works of art, the City of San José has a 1% for art ordinance, in which 1% of eligible City capital improvement project costs are set aside for public art. The program is highly regarded for its innovative work at the intersection of art and technology, reflecting San José’s diversity and rich history. In addition to capital projects, the program includes a City Hall exhibition program, collection maintenance, interagency contracts for public art services, and other creative placemaking efforts. Exemplifying its reputation as a center of excellence in public art best practices, the City of San José has interagency agreements with the County of Santa Clara and the Valley Transportation Authority to provide project management services.

This key leader is responsible for managing the Public Art Program. This includes developing a strategic vision, guiding and, where applicable, developing public policy, planning, managing and evaluating the program and its projects, stewarding its budget, as well as guiding the program’s projects realization from inception, installation, to conservation. This position will work closely with interdepartmental leadership and the community to realize the vision for public art in San José. This position will supervise two Senior Arts Coordinators, one Art Coordinator, and perform as an individual contributor. This position reports to and receives direction from the Director of Cultural Affairs/Deputy Director of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs.

The ideal candidate will be a detail-oriented individual with the necessary initiative, flexibility, and creativity to succeed in a team-oriented, fast-paced, and high-volume work environment. A high level of professionalism, excellent customer service skills, and a strong work ethic are sought. Knowledge of trends and best practices in public art, along with experience in program and budget management, is highly desired. Strong skills, including diplomacy, excellent written and oral communications, and political awareness, are needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Seek to advance San José’s cultural life in alignment with the goals of the City’s Economic Strategy Work Plan , Cultural Connection: San José’s Cultural Plan , and Public Art NEXT!
• In partnership with stakeholders, develop the Public Art Five-Year Capital Improvement Project Work Plan. Works with staff and stakeholders to develop scope and approach to projects, envisioning how public art can support community goals.
• Manage public art projects, integrating temporary and capital improvement projects into the public realm.
• Oversee the conservation of the public art collection.
• Manage the public art program budget, comprised predominantly of capital fund and interagency contract revenues.
• Lead, supervise, and foster professional development for three public art staff.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the Public Art Committee and support the Arts Commission.
• Negotiate and manage contracts with intergovernmental agencies, artists, and contractors.
• Coordinate annual work plans; project predevelopment; budget development and monitoring; scheduling; artist/vendor selection as needed; contract negotiations and monitoring; outreach, communications, and marketing; and reporting.
• Serves as an internal and external advisor on civic design and community art projects.
• Identify grant, fundraising, and partnership opportunities. Develop grant proposals. Manage grant administration and reporting.
• Develop and recommend policies, guidelines, and procedures.
• Effectively prepare written and verbal reports on programs for City Council, City leadership, Arts Commission, and Public Art Committee.
• Represent the City of San José within the community.
• Support the operations and services of OEDCA, performing other duties of a similar nature or level.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Arts, Public Art Studies, Architecture, Urban Planning, or a related field; and six (6) years of management and/or administrative experience in arts, public art, public works, or design-related programs for community entities. A Master’s degree is preferred and may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

Licensing Requirements: Possession of a valid California Driver's license is required.

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.
• Management - Evaluates priorities to ensure the 'true' top priorities are handled satisfactorily; sets clear goals for the employees and the work unit.
• Supervision - Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices.
• Political Skill - In taking action, demonstrates an understanding and consideration of how it will impact stakeholders and affected areas in the organization.
• Fiscal Management - Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan; complies with administrative controls over funds, contracts, and procurements.
• Creativity - Addresses objectives and problems while questioning traditional assumptions/solutions in order to generate creative ideas and new ways of doing business; exhibits creativity and innovation when contributing to organizational and individual objectives.
• 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.

The ideal candidate will possess a combination of the following skills and qualities to ensure success:

• Knowledge of principles and practices of creative placemaking, public art, community arts development, non-profit arts management, and/or community-based programs.
• Knowledge of principles of public art and project management, including aspects of artist selection, project approvals, contracts, community input, budget management, fabrication, installation and maintenance.
• Knowledge of integration of public art components into the underlying capital project or public space.
• Knowledge of contracting procedures, contract development and contract negotiations.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of grants administration.
• Knowledge of accounting procedures and ability to develop budgets and financial statements.
• Ability to develop a variety of resources through fundraising, grants, and various other activities in providing broad base program support.
• Ability to establish community support for meeting the goals and objectives of public art.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, including team leadership skills.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision.
• Information technology skills involving a variety of software systems including: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, FileMaker Pro, Outlook, and design programs.
• Ability to coordinate and manage multiple complex projects involving a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with diverse groups of people.
• Ability to effectively speak and present complex ideas and recommendations in public.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with artists, community
• groups, public agencies and officials, and co-workers.
• Proven experience in the management of people, programs, and budgets.

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. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Please be advised that use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process. 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 this position, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Lori Venzon at lori.venzon@sanjoseca.gov.

Tentative Recruitment Timeline (Subject to Change):

• Application filing deadline: Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 11:59 PM, PST
  
• Panel interview (virtual): Thursday, November 6, 2025
  
• Second-round interview (in person): Friday, November 14, 2025
  

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 be advised that use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process.

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.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

Closing Date/Time: 10/19/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of San Jose

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