Council Assistant (Part-Time, Unbenefited) – Council District 4 Office

City of San Jose•San Jose, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of San José, 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. The San José City Council consists of ten Councilmembers elected by district and a Mayor elected at-large, each for four-year terms. The Mayor and Council are responsible for representing the residents of San José, providing accountability, reviewing public policy and programs, and adopting those policies which best meet the needs of the residents, visitors, and businesses in San José. The Council District 4 Office is recruiting for one (1) part-time, unbenefited Council Assistant to support the Office of Councilmember David Cohen. The Council Assistant position serves as a liaison to the elected official and will regularly represent the Council District office at City-related meetings and functions. The position provides support with policy analysis, research, communication, event planning, community outreach, and other related matters as needed. The position requires an employee with strong and effective organizational skills; detail oriented and ability to handle multiple assignments; excellent written and oral communications skills, and the ability to develop and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with community members and neighborhood organizations, key stakeholders, and City staff. It would be highly desirable for the successful candidate to have experience and knowledge of policy, communications as well as event planning.

Requirements

Any combination of training and experience equivalent that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to advise the Councilmember on matters of public policy, democratic processes, constituent service, or citizen involvement.
BA/BS in Political Science, Public Policy, Public or Business Administration, Communications, or related field is highly desirable.
Knowledge of Public Administration; management, and administrative methods; budgeting, land use, housing, transportation, public relations, customer/constituent relations, etc.
Ability to plan and manage special events, including the ability to coordinate with multiple event stakeholders and manage multiple event planning tasks at the same time to ensure that deadlines are met.
Proficiency in the use of software applications such as Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, Outlook, or equivalent.
Ability to effectively plan workflow and manage multiple projects to deliver quality products in a timely manner evidenced by strong organizational, administration, and management skills.
Ability to express themselves clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing (email, letters, report writing and editing).
Skill in research techniques and applications; collecting, compiling, analyzing, and interpreting data.
Strong work ethic, professionalism, flexibility.
Ability to communicate effectively with others and facilitate groups to achieve common objectives; understand and identify key issues and make recommendations in complex situations.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with others and to provide excellent service to internal and external customers, stakeholders, and colleagues.
Ability to present yourself in a professional and effective manner.
Ability to work in a team environment and work as an effective team contributor.
Demonstrate ability to work independently, prioritize work, and independently manage multiple, diverse, and competing priorities while meeting deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Experience and knowledge of policy, communications as well as event planning.
Strong writing, editing, public speaking, and communication skills.
Experience managing social media and creating digital content.
Basic photography, video editing, and graphic design skills.
Familiarity with Canva, email marketing platforms, and website management.
Understanding of local government, public policy, and community engagement.
Availability for occasional evening and weekend events.
Professionalism, discretion, and ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

Produce and distribute a weekly newsletter highlighting the Councilmember's activities, priorities, and district updates.
Draft, schedule, and publish engaging social media content across official platforms.
Prepare talking points, speeches, articles, and briefing materials for public appearances and events.
Accompany or represent the Councilmember at community events, neighborhood meetings, and official functions.
Capture photos and videos for newsletters, social media, and other communications.
Draft press releases, public statements, correspondence, memoranda, and constituent updates reflecting the Councilmember's priorities.
Promote district initiatives, coordinate community events, and respond to constituent inquiries.
Maintain and update the Councilmember's website with news, events, and resources.
Maintain a communications calendar to ensure timely, consistent messaging and public engagement.
Research City Council issues, analyze policy materials, and monitor local news to support communications.
Work with office staff, stakeholders, interns, and volunteers to advance the Councilmember's communications priorities.