Salary: $117,433.68 - $179,397.40 Annually
Location : San Jose
Job Type: Full-Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number:
DEPART: Economic Development
Opening Date: 08/06/2026
Closing Date: 8/28/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

About the Department
The City Manager's Office of Economic Development & Cultural Affairs (OEDCA) has three integrated divisions:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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:

1. Retain/ grow jobs and revenue and promote innovation from large and medium-sized businesses in key sectors such as manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
2. Foster small business resilience and create thriving business districts.
3. Accelerate a thriving Downtown.
4. Activate San José as the South Bay's hub for sports, arts, and entertainment.
5. Prepare residents to participate in the local economy through training, education, and career support.

Position Duties
The City of San José is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and highly organized professional to serve as the Major Events Program Manager. This limited-term (18-month) position will lead the planning, coordination, and implementation of two significant civic initiatives:

• The City's 250th Anniversary celebration, culminating on November 29, 2027; and
• The 70th Anniversary of the San José-Okayama Sister City Relationship, including planning and coordination for commemorative activities and preparation for hosting the official Japanese delegation in 2028.

Located within the City Manager's Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs (OEDCA) and reporting to the Director and/or Deputy Director, this position will serve as the central coordinator for these high-profile initiatives. Working closely with City departments, Mayor and Council District Offices, community organizations, cultural institutions, neighborhood groups, businesses, and other stakeholders, the Major Events Program Manager will develop and implement coordinated programs that celebrate San José's rich history, international partnerships, diverse communities, and aspirations for the future.

The successful candidate will be a skilled project manager, relationship builder, and strategic thinker who can effectively manage complex initiatives involving numerous partners and high public visibility.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Staff and support the new San José 250th Anniversary Advisory Committee.
• Lead strategic planning for both the 250th Anniversary and the 70th Anniversary of the San José-Okayama Sister City Relationship.
• Develop comprehensive implementation plans, objectives, milestones, timelines, budgets, and performance measures for both initiatives.
• Ensure coordination across related anniversary programs to maximize community participation and organizational efficiency.
• Track progress toward established goals and recommend adjustments as needed.

Advisory Committee Support

• Organize and facilitate Advisory Committee meetings.
• Prepare meeting agendas, briefing materials, presentations, minutes, and follow-up actions.
• Coordinate committee communications and ensure timely execution of committee priorities.
• Support the formation and operation of committee working groups focused on specific topics, projects, or areas of expertise.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with community organizations, neighborhood associations, cultural, history and humanities institutions, educational partners, business organizations, philanthropic partners, and other stakeholders.
• Serve as the City's primary point of contact for organizations interested in participating in anniversary activities.
• Foster collaboration among diverse interests while building consensus around shared goals.
• Coordinate engagement strategies that celebrate San José's history while highlighting its longstanding international partnerships.
• Represent the City professionally in public meetings, community events, and stakeholder engagements.

Celebration Planning and Coordination

• Coordinate planning for a signature citywide community celebration commemorating San José's 250th Anniversary.
• Coordinate commemorative activities recognizing the 70th Anniversary of the San José-Okayama Sister City Relationship.
• Work with City departments and external partners to identify opportunities for coordinated programming and promotion throughout the anniversary period.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive calendar of anniversary-related events and activities.
• Develop a resource toolkit to guide organizations in planning and delivering anniversary-related events, programming and activities.
• Ensure consistent branding, messaging, and coordination across all anniversary activities.
• Ensure coordination across City departments and partner organizations to maximize community participation and impact.

Sponsorship and Resource Development

• Assist the Advisory Committee in developing sponsorship, fundraising, and partnership strategies.
• Assist the Advisory Committee in tracking sponsorship opportunities and commitments.
• Support development of partnership agreements and related documentation.

Executive Support

• Prepare reports, briefing papers, memoranda, presentations, and correspondence for senior leadership.
• Provide regular updates to the Administration's executive staff.
• Prepare agenda materials and presentations for the City Council and the Community and Economic Development Committee.
• Respond to inquiries from elected officials, City leadership, and community stakeholders.

Program Administration

• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, schedules, budgets, and work plans.
• Monitor project deliverables and coordinate activities across multiple stakeholders.
• Identify risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Ensure timely completion of assignments and adherence to City policies and procedures.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced program manager who excels in collaborative environments and has demonstrated success leading complex, high-profile initiatives and special events involving multiple partners.

The successful candidate will possess:

• Exceptional organizational and project management skills.
• Strong strategic planning and implementation abilities.
• Experience facilitating committees, boards, or community advisory groups.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to prepare executive-level reports, briefing materials, and presentations.
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate trust and credibility among diverse stakeholders.
• Diplomatic judgment and political acumen in navigating complex public-sector environments.
• Ability to balance competing priorities while maintaining focus on strategic objectives.
• Experience coordinating large-scale public events or community initiatives.
• Ability to work independently while managing numerous concurrent projects.
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through.

Desired Experience

Experience in one or more of the following is highly desirable:

• Local government administration.
• Economic development or community development.
• Arts, culture, or special events programming.
• Community engagement and public participation.
• Nonprofit leadership or partnership development.
• Sponsorship development and fundraising.
• Strategic planning and performance management.
• International relations, Sister City programs, or diplomatic protocol.
• Cross-sector collaboration involving government, business, and nonprofit organizations.

Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university and four (4) years of professional level analytic and/or administrative experience. A Master's Degree in public administration, business administration or related field is preferred, and can be substituted for one year of the required experience.
Required Licensing (such as driver's license, certifications, etc.)

Possession of a valid California Driver's license may be required for some assignments
When assigned to the Office of Emergency Management:

• Possession of FEMA Professional Development Series (PDS) Certificate is preferred upon hire, otherwise must be completed within one (1) year of employment.
• Possession of FEMA Advanced Professional Series (APS) Certificate is preferred upon hire, otherwise must be completed within two (2) years of employment.
• State of California EOC Position Credential within approximately two (2) years of employment. Must be maintained continually as a condition of employment.
• IAEM Certified Emergency Manager within approximately six (6) years of employment. Must be maintained continually as a condition of employment.

Other Qualifications
(Incumbents may be required to have different combinations of the listed qualifications, or more specific job-related qualifications depending on the position.)
Basic Competencies

(Needed at entry into the job in order to perform the essential duties.)

• 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, such as:
  
  • Principles, practices and problems of city government organization, administration and management.
  • Contract administration principles.
  • Human resources administration principles and practices.
  • Financial management theory and practices, including government financing, budgeting and accounting.
  • Emergency management principles and practices.
• Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
• Computer Skills - Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel.
• Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.
• Supervision - Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.
• Problem Solving: Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.
• Collaboration: Develops networks and builds alliances; engages in cross-functional activities.
• Initiative - Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance
• Project Management - Ensur