Mayor Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San Jose, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San Jose employees work together as one team to make San Jose 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 Jose.

The City of San Jose 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 Jose 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. About the Department The City of San Jose, the Capital of Silicon Valley, is one of the nation's best managed cities and one of the top ten cities in which to live, work, and do business. Moreover, San Jose is the center of cultural, government, and economic activity for the region

The employees of the City of San Jose have embraced the following values: Integrity, Innovation, Excellence, Collaboration, Respect, and Celebration. The San Jose City Council consists of ten Councilmembers elected by district and a Mayor elected at-large, each for four-year terms. The Mayor serves as the political leader of San Jose, and under the City Charter, is responsible for recommending policy, program, and budget priorities for the City.

The Mayor and City Council are responsible for representing the residents of San Jose, providing accountability, reviewing public policy and programs, and adopting those policies which best meet the needs of the residents, visitors, and businesses in San Jose. The Mayor's Office of Technology and Innovation (MOTI) is charged with making San Jose the most innovative city in America, both inside and outside of City Hall. Key initiatives for the Technology and Innovation team include fostering economic development through startup-focused initiatives like the SJ AI Incentive Program, promoting AI literacy through partnerships with San Jose Public Libraries and San Jose State University such as the MLK Library's AI Center for Civic and Social Good, and co-developing pilots alongside private industry and city staff such as our object detection pilot.

Position Duties Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third-party job board application system. To apply, applicants must complete an application via the City of San Jose's website at http://www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers. Chief Innovation Officer for the Mayor's Office San Jose is the Capital of Silicon Valley-home to world-class innovators, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and civic leaders who believe big challenges deserve bold solutions

The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan is seeking an entrepreneurial and collaborative leader who is passionate about applying innovative technological solutions to better serve the community and advance Mayor Mahan's strategic vision for San Jose. The Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) will lead a small but dynamic Technology and Innovation team that is responsible for carrying out the Mayor's Smart City vision and designs the strategy and policies to ensure San Jose leads the country in technology and innovation policy. This leader will also work directly with other Mayor's Office key functions, City Manager's Office, and City departments to implement this vision.

Projects currently in this portfolio include onboarding the Service Innovation Fellow from the Responsive Cities Network, developing a series of business development convenings with the Office of Economic Development, supporting the GovAI Coalition started in San Jose, promoting and iterating the IT Training Academy, and acting as a filter for vendor pitches to City Departments. The CIO is also responsible for identifying new opportunities to pursue partnerships that support the Office's long term strategic goals. This includes working collaboratively across the Mayor's Office to identify and develop innovative solutions to advance the city's five focus areas: Growing our Economy, Building More Housing, Increasing Community Safety, Cleaning Up Our Neighborhoods, and Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness; and to align investments with the Director of Strategic Partnerships.

Through this collaboration, the Office will leverage opportunities to drive innovation and advance outcomes for its priority policy initiatives. The total salary range for the Chief Innovation Officer is $138,628.10 - $215,798.70.This amount includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates' qualifications and experience

Responsibilities for this position may include, but are not limited to the following: Develop a comprehensive strategy, vision, and program for the Mayor's Office of Technology and Innovation Act as the public face for the Mayor's Office of Technology and Innovation as appropriate, including representing the city on major stages around the world, interacting with the press, and producing various pieces of media collateral Advise the Mayor on major technology and innovation trends and develop strategies and programs to tackle these issues in San Jose Lead, manage and inspire the Technology and Innovation team including developing annual Objectives and Key Results (OKR) and work planning to ensure efficient delivery of the program Manage all aspects of the Technology and Innovation team portfolio including developing project priorities, driving public-private partnerships, managing communications and social media interfaces, and developing policy approaches Manage key donor relationships and fundraise as appropriate from corporate sponsors, foundations, and competitive grant opportunities Work with the policy team to develop state and national strategies working with our representatives in office to advance San Jose's innovation mission Serve as the key liaison for Office of Retirement Services, Information Technology Department, and the San Jose Public Library Advance and maintain relationships with key partners like the Bay Area Council, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Plug and Play Tech Center, and local tech institutions e.g. Nvidia, Adobe, Zoom Develop and maintain strong relationships with San Jose State University and support ongoing initiatives like the AI Center for Civic and Social Good, engaging students through panels and other convenings, and identifying ways students and faculty can support city services or community Manage high-level advisory boards with technology executives from leading companies in Silicon Valley Staff the Mayor at relevant meetings and events May supervise staff, fellows, and interns as the function grows and evolves 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. Minimum Qualifications The minimum qualification requirements include any combination of training and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to advise the Mayor or Council Member on matters of public policy, democratic processes, constituent service, or citizen involvement. Required Licensing: Possession of a valid California Driver's license is required.

Other Qualifications 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: A Master's Degree (or equivalent) from an accredited college or university, preferably in the field of Public Policy, STEM, Engineering, Law, Business, Economics, or a related field Experience: At least ten (10) years of professional experience in a position with responsibilities and skills similar to the duties listed above. Real-world experience in public affairs, local government, management consulting, technology firms, or in marketing is highly desirable.

The ideal candidate is a well-rounded, dedicated and enthusiastic individual with a broad combination of skills and abilities. A competitive candidate will possess the following attributes: Experience in technology policy, AI, emerging technologies, innovation, and data Passion for and preferred experience with the San Jose community and Northern California technology ecosystem Ability to create multi-stakeholder coalitions to support the work of the Technology and Innovation team A strong communicator who has the ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, to executive audiences, as well as the general public Cultural sensitivity, discretion, discernment, and a high level of executive planning Comfort with operational ambiguity while still maintaining the ability achieve results Experience with communications, press, and fundraising preferred A highly organized individual who demonstrates sound judgment and extreme attention to detail, with the ability to effectively prioritize and manage multiple tasks on tight deadlines A "people person" who can relate to a diverse group of individuals, and who has the ability to initiate, develop and maintain productive relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders An individual who demonstrates high ethical standards Strong project management and organizational skills, including using online project management tools e.g. Trello, Slack, etc

An understanding of government processes and an appreciation for navigating complex bureaucracies Core Competencies: Vision/Strategic Thinking: Understands trends in civic innovation and funding; builds and communicates a shared vision for partnership development. Leadership: Demonstrates high integrity, sets clear direction, and fosters collaboration and accountability. Management: Strong skills in project management, budgeting, and organizational development.

Job Expertise: Demonstrates understanding of cross-sector partnerships, grantmaking, and urban policy issues. Supervision: Empowers and develops others, assigns responsibilities effectively. Communication Skills: Speaks and writes clearly, persuasively, and with influence.

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills: Collaborates effectively across departments and sectors. Selection Process The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the cover letter, resume/CV, three (3) references, one (1) writing sample, and four (4) application question responses demonstrating their qualifications. Those candidates with experience and training that best match the position will move forward to the next phase of the selection process, which may include interviews and reference checks.

To be considered for this position, you must fill out the online application on the City of San Jose website and submit the following: Cover Letter Resume/CV 3 References 1 Writing Sample 4 Job Specific Question Responses You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process. Please note that there is a 4,000-character limit, including spaces, for each text response. You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.

This role will require positive collaboration with City Staff, as well as the local and regional business and tech industry, and the public interest sector. Please provide two clear and distinct instances where you collaborated with the private and public sectors to deliver a positive result. Please describe a time where you were a key stakeholder or decisionmaker on a complex or strategic issue, and how you exercised sound discernment to deliver a positive outcome or resort.

Please articulate a brief (2-3 paragraph) vision of the body of work you would achieve 1 year into the role if chosen. Where should AI usage within local government be encouraged, prohibited, and regulated/limited. Applicants must write their own responses.

We are interested in hearing your innate voice and reasoning. Use of AI content in responses may result in disqualification. If you have questions, comments, or concerns about the recruitment, selection, or hiring process, please contact Amanda Hook at Amanda.Hook@sanjoseca.gov

To learn more information about City Benefits, click on the Benefits tab of this job posting. To learn more information about the Mayor and City Council, click here. Link to California Equal Pay Act.

This position will remain open until filled. The Mayor's Office will begin reviewing applications as of June 8, 2026, 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.

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