Executive Assistant to the Director (Exempt)

Salary : $87,346.68 - $107,246.64 Annually
Location : Oakland, CA
Job Type: Full Time Exempt from Civil Service
Job Number: 26-SS124-10
Department: Police Department
Opening Date: 10/15/2026
Closing Date: 10/25/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: UM1

The Position

The Executive Assistant to the Director will serve in a highly visible and integral role supporting the Chief of Police and Executive Team, working at the center of departmental operations and helping ensure that key priorities, initiatives, and commitments move forward effectively.

This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to the leadership and continued advancement of one of the Bay Area's largest and most complex police departments. The successful candidate will support the Chief in managing a fast-paced executive environment, coordinating critical information and activities, facilitating communication across the organization, and contributing to initiatives focused on public safety, community engagement, organizational excellence, accountability, and workforce development. For a highly organized, collaborative, and service-minded professional, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact while working alongside leaders and employees who are committed to serving Oakland and helping shape the Department's future.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Adaptable. You respond effectively to changing priorities and remain composed and professional in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative. You build positive working relationships and are committed to supporting the Chief, the Department, and the Oakland community.
• Communicative. You communicate clearly and professionally with executives, staff, elected officials, community members, and external partners.
• Discreet. You demonstrate sound judgment, integrity, and professionalism when handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Organized. You effectively manage competing priorities, complex schedules, and deadlines while maintaining accuracy and strong attention to detail.
• Proactive. You anticipate needs, identify potential challenges, and take initiative to develop solutions and move work forward.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Providing high-level executive support to the Chief of Police by managing complex and confidential administrative, operational, and organizational matters.
• Managing and coordinating the Chief's schedule, meetings, correspondence, and executive commitments while ensuring priorities are organized and critical matters receive timely attention and follow-through.
• Serving as a key liaison for the Office of the Chief of Police by coordinating communication and information among Department leadership, City officials, employees, community stakeholders, partner agencies, and other internal and external contacts.
• Supporting key Department priorities by tracking assignments and deliverables, preparing meeting materials, documenting action items, and ensuring timely follow-up across the organization.
• Anticipating the needs of the Chief and Executive Team by responding to emerging and time-sensitive matters, coordinating special projects and events, and supporting effective office operations.

Read the complete job description by clicking below:
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A few reasons you might love this job:

• Your work directly supports the Chief of Police and the Department's efforts to enhance public safety and serve the Oakland community.
• The position provides opportunities to work closely with the Chief of Police and Executive Team on departmental priorities, decisions, and initiatives.
• The role offers variety in a fast-paced environment where you can anticipate needs, solve problems, and support changing priorities.
• You will collaborate with Department leaders, City officials, employees, community partners, and other stakeholders while building meaningful professional relationships.
• You will join a diverse team of dedicated public servants committed to strengthening the Department and making a positive impact on the Oakland community.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will manage competing and shifting priorities in a fast-paced executive environment where urgent matters may arise with little notice.
• You will handle sensitive and confidential information requiring sound judgment, discretion, professionalism, and strong attention to detail.
• You will navigate a complex and highly visible environment while working with Department leadership, City officials, partner agencies, and community stakeholders.

Competencies Required:

• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products.
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships.
• Customer Focus: Attending to the needs and expectations of customers.
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity.
• Interpersonal Savvy: Considering and responding appropriately to the needs and feelings of others in different situations.
• Listening: Fully comprehending spoken communication.
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue.
• Political & Organizational Savvy: Working skillfully with politics, procedures, and protocols across organizational levels and boundaries.
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability.

Minimum Requirements for Application

Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may be acceptable:

Education:
An associate's degree in a related field. A bachelor's degree is desirable.

Experience: Two years of progressively responsible experience in a position comparable to an Administrative Assistant II level position in the City of Oakland, or five years of increasingly responsible experience providing administrative and clerical support to an executive management level position or elected official.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience supporting a Chief Executive, Police Chief, elected official, or other senior executive in a complex public-sector or large organizational environment.
• Experience working in a law enforcement, public safety, or similarly high-visibility environment, with an understanding of the importance of confidentiality, discretion, and professional judgment.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft 365, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and related tools used to manage executive operations and prepare professional work products.
• Experience coordinating executive-level meetings, special events, and projects, and documenting and tracking follow-up actions.
• Experience managing sensitive communications and high-priority matters, including the ability to interact professionally with public officials, community members, employees, partner agencies, and members of the public.

License or Certificate:
Successful incumbents in this position are expected to operate automotive vehicles in the performance of assigned duties. Due to the nature of the assignment and the hours worked, public transportation may not be a cost-effective or efficient method for traveling to the various locations required. Individuals who are appointed to this position will be required to maintain a valid California driver's license throughout the tenure of employment OR demonstrate the ability to travel to various locations on time as required in the performance of duties.

Other Requirements:This classification is exempt from overtime compensation per the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Administrative exemption criteria.
Supplemental Information

The Recruitment Process:
This is an at-will position, exempt from the provisions of the City of Oakland Civil Service Rules, per Charter Section 902. All applications received will be forwarded to the Planning and Building Department (PBD) for further consideration. Meeting the minimum qualification requirements may not result in further consideration; only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.

What's in it for you?

• Work/Life Balance: 37.5 hour works
• 15 paid holidays
• Vacation: 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service.
• Retirement: CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security.
• Health: The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans.
• Dental: Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents.
• Vision: VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents.
• Sick leave: Employees accrue 12 days per year.
• Deferred Compensation: 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan.
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, employee training, & telecommuting.

*Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found here:

How to Apply

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user on the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at:
If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, Ca 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs. If you have problems while applying online, please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524- 5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday-Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system.

For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Cherrel Alford at
The City of Oakland is committed to the wellbeing of its employees and offers comprehensive health and wellness services along with an array of other benefits for most positions. Benefits may include*:
• CalPERS Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Medical Waiver Plan - Cash-In-Lieu
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Commuter Benefits
• Group & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH)
• Pension Benefits
• Deferred Compensation

* Specific benefits may vary depending on the assigned specific bargaining unit. Information regarding most benefits can be reviewed here: Current MOUs may be reviewed here:
01

Do you confirm that the address on your application matches your current residency?

• Yes
• No

02

Are you a current full-time, permanent, part-time, or part-time City or Port of Oakland employee?

• Yes
• No

03

If you are a current City or Port of Oakland employee, what i