Executive Assistant to the Director (Exempt)

City of Oakland•Oakland, CA

About The Position

The City of Oakland is seeking an Executive Assistant to the Director to provide high-level executive support to the Chief of Police and Executive Team. The role is central to departmental operations, helping move priorities, initiatives, and commitments forward in a fast-paced and highly visible environment. The Executive Assistant coordinates information and activities, facilitates communication across the organization, and supports work focused on public safety, community engagement, organizational excellence, accountability, and workforce development. The successful candidate will manage confidential administrative, operational, and organizational matters; coordinate the Chief’s schedule, meetings, correspondence, and commitments; and serve as a liaison among Department leadership, City officials, employees, community stakeholders, partner agencies, and other contacts. The position also supports Department priorities by tracking assignments, preparing meeting materials, documenting action items, coordinating special projects and events, and ensuring follow-through. The role requires adaptability, collaboration, clear communication, discretion, organization, and initiative. This is an at-will position exempt from the City of Oakland Civil Service Rules and from overtime compensation under the FLSA administrative exemption. Employees are designated Disaster Service Workers and must complete assigned related training and return to work as ordered during an emergency. Appointees must maintain a valid California driver’s license or demonstrate the ability to travel to required locations on time.

Requirements

Associate’s degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and 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.
Maintain a valid California driver’s license throughout employment or demonstrate the ability to travel to various locations on time as required.
Demonstrate attention to detail, relationship-building, customer focus, stress management, interpersonal savvy, listening, oral communication, political and organizational savvy, and professional integrity and ethics.
Complete assigned Disaster Service Worker training and return to work as ordered in an emergency.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide high-level executive support to the Chief of Police on complex and confidential administrative, operational, and organizational matters.
Manage and coordinate the Chief’s schedule, meetings, correspondence, and executive commitments; organize priorities and ensure timely attention and follow-through on critical matters.
Serve as a key liaison for the Office of the Chief of Police, coordinating communication and information among Department leadership, City officials, employees, community stakeholders, partner agencies, and other internal and external contacts.
Support Department priorities by tracking assignments and deliverables, preparing meeting materials, documenting action items, and ensuring timely follow-up across the organization.
Anticipate the needs of the Chief and Executive Team and respond to emerging and time-sensitive matters.
Coordinate special projects and events and support effective office operations.
Travel to various locations as required in the performance of assigned duties.

Benefits

37.5-hour workweek
15 paid holidays
At least two weeks of vacation per year, with the ability to accrue more based on public-sector years of service
CalPERS retirement plan, with pension formulas of 2.5% at 55 for Classic members and 2% at 62 for new members
Health coverage: City 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
Full-premium Delta Dental coverage for employees and eligible dependents
Full-premium VSP vision coverage for employees and eligible dependents
12 days of sick leave accrued per year
457(b) pre-tax deferred compensation plan and after-tax Roth 401(k) plan
Flexible Spending Account
Wellness Program
Employee Assistance Program
Life Insurance
Tuition Reimbursement
Employee training
Telecommuting