Salary: $194,670.00 - $352,806.00 Annually
Location : San Jose
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:
DEPART: Independent Police Auditor
Opening Date: 09/17/2026
Closing Date: 10/12/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

About the Department
THE OFFICE OF THE INDEPENDENT POLICE AUDITOR

The Office of the Independent Police Auditor (IPA) was established by the San José City Council in 1993 with the enactment of a City ordinance codified in the San José Municipal Code. On November 6, 1996, the voters of San José amended the City Charter to establish the Office of the Independent Police Auditor as a permanent arm of city government.
The mission of the IPA is five-fold: (1) to provide independent oversight of and instill confidence in the complaint process through objective review of police misconduct investigations; (2) to review Police Department investigations of complaints against police officers to determine if the investigation was complete, thorough, objective and fair; (3) to conduct outreach to the San José community; (4) to propose thoughtful policy recommendations to the City Council; and (5) to strengthen the relationship between the San José Police Department (SJPD) and the community it serves.
The San José IPA is supported by a small team of approximately seven extremely committed staff members, including an Assistant IPA who oversees the day-to-day operations. The Office received a proposed budget allocation of $1.7 million for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.

Position Duties
The IPA conducts objective reviews of police misconduct investigations. The role of the IPA is to provide independent oversight of and instill confidence in the complaint process. Each IPA appointment is for a term ending four (4) years from and after the date of expiration of the immediately preceding term.
Reporting to the City Council, the IPA is charged with the following responsibilities, but not limited to planning, organizing, and supervising the work of the IPA Office in the review of SJPD investigations of complaints against police officers to determine if the investigations were complete, thorough, objective, and fair; supervising the Office's intakes of complaints from members of the public and engages with the community to instill public confidence in the IPA's operations; reviewing all complaints from members of the public that allege excessive or unnecessary force by police officers; supervising the preparation of an annual public report to the City Council; participating in SJPD's Officer-Involved Shooting Review Panel and In-Custody Death Training Review Panel; and meeting regularly with the Mayor and City Councilmembers.
The IPA will possess unquestionable integrity and objectivity; be able to further the mission of the Office with impartiality and independent conviction within the boundaries defined by the City Charter and under intense pressure and scrutiny; be politically astute but apolitical; have a solid record of community engagement, working with a diverse community; and have the ability to establish and maintain a mutually respectful working relationship with the Police Department.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Completion of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university. A law degree from an accredited college or university is desirable.
• Experience: A minimum of five years of experience in criminal law and criminal procedure. Must be experienced in or knowledgeable of investigations, legal research, and analyzing criminal, constitutional, labor, and civil rights law. Must have prior management and supervisor experience
• Licensing: Be a member in good standing with a state bar. The selected applicant may be required to obtain a California Bar license.
• Special Requirements: (1) Has not been a sworn law enforcement officer (e.g. police officer, reserve officer, probation officer, parole officer, or DEA agent), for at least ten years prior to appointment as the Independent Police Auditor, and (2) Does not have any immediate family members (defined as spouse, parent, domestic partner, sibling, child or grandparent) who are sworn law enforcement officers with any law enforcement agency.

Other Qualifications
SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $194,670 to $352,806 per year, which includes an approximate five percent ongoing non-pensionable compensation.
The actual salary will be determined by the final candidate's qualifications and experience. The City also provides an excellent array of benefits including a competitive defined benefit retirement plan with full reciprocity with CalPERS; a defined contribution plan available as an option.
For additional benefit information, interested candidates are encouraged to review the detailed recruitment brochure and visiting the City's Human Resources Benefits website.
APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by Monday, October 12, 2026 at this link:

View the full recruitment brochure here:
This recruitment will be handled with strict confidentiality. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.
Confidential inquiries are welcomed:

Greg Nelson

• (916) 581-1426

Additional Information:

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 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.
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 for 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 You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an to 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.