THE CITY OF SAN JOSÉ
Known as the “Capital of Silicon Valley,” the City of San José plays a vital economic and cultural role anchoring the world’s leading region of innovation. Encompassing 178 square miles at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay, San José is Northern California’s largest city and the 12th largest city in the nation. With more than one million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world, including major tech headquarters like Cisco, Adobe, Samsung, PayPal, and eBay as well as start-ups and advanced manufacturing.
San José’s quality of life is unsurpassed. Surrounded by the Diablo and Santa Cruz mountain ranges and enjoying an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, residents have easy access to the beaches along the California coast including Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Carmel; Yosemite and Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada; local and Napa Valley wine country, and the rich cultural and recreational life of the entire Bay region.
San José has received accolades for its vibrant neighborhoods, healthy lifestyle, and diverse attractions from national media including Business Week and Money magazines. The downtown area is home to high-rise residential projects, theaters, museums, and diverse entertainment attractions such as live music, live theater, cafes, restaurants, and nightclubs.
Inquiring minds are served by the Tech Interactive museum, the San José Museum of Art, and many local galleries and venues. Nineteen public school districts and over 300 private and parochial schools provide residents with a range of educational choices. Universities in and near the city include San José State University, Santa Clara University, Stanford University, and three University of California campuses.
In 2011, the City adopted Envision San José 2040, a long-term growth plan that sets forth a vision and a comprehensive road map to guide the City’s anticipated growth through the year 2040. The Plan proactively directs significant anticipated growth in new homes and workplaces into transitaccessible, infill growth areas and supports evolution toward a more urban landscape and lifestyle. The San José area is powered by one of the most highly educated and productive populations in America. More than 40% of the workforce has a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 25% nationally, while 40% of San José residents are foreign born, and 50% speak a language other than English at home.
THE CITY GOVERNMENT
The City of San José is a full-service Charter City and operates under a hybrid Council-Manager form of government. The City Council consists of 10 Council Members elected by district and a Mayor elected at-large. The City Manager, who reports to the Council, and the executive team provide strategic leadership that supports the policy-making role of the Mayor and the City Council. The City actively engages with the community through Council-appointed boards, commissions, and project specific engagement opportunities. In addition to providing a full range of municipal services including police and fire, San José operates an international airport, municipal water system, a regional wastewater treatment facility, over 200 neighborhood and regional parks, an accredited zoo, and a library system with 24 branches.
The City also oversees convention, cultural, and hospitality facilities that include the San José McEnery Convention Center, Center for the Performing Arts, California Theater, Mexican Heritage Plaza, and the SAP Center San José home of the National Hockey League’s San José Sharks.
City operations are supported by 7,033 full time equivalent positions and a total budget of approximately $5.2 billion for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. San José is dedicated to maintaining the highest fiscal integrity and earning high credit ratings to ensure the consistent delivery of quality services to the community. Extensive information regarding San José can be found on the City’s website at www.sanjoseca.gov.
THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
The mission of the Human Resources Department states: “Our Human Resources team recognizes that our employees power the City of San Jose and our success as a city is dependent on our ability to create a dynamic and engaged workforce. Our employees’ ability to provide excellent service is strengthened when we invest in attracting talent, provide opportunities for career growth, enable an environment focused on health, safety, and wellness, and retain a diverse workforce in a workplace that is equitable and inclusive.”
San Jose’s Human Resources Department offers key strategic support to the City and is responsible for the following core services:
- Employee Benefits – Provide benefit programs that best meet the needs of employees, retirees, their dependents, and the City, assist participants in effectively utilizing their plans and promote employee wellness.
- Employment Services – Facilitate the City’s ability to attract and hire a diverse and talented workforce.
- Health and Safety – Provide services that promote employee health, safety, and well-being.
- Learning and Development – Provide Citywide employee training and pipeline development programs that support employee recruitment, growth, engagement, and retention.
The Department also offers strategic support in Citywide Human Resources Systems Management and Records Management, Departmental Administration, Customer Service, Personnel Management, Financial Management, and Emergency Response and Recovery.
THE POSITION
The City is seeking a Division Manager to manage all services and activities in the Benefits Division of the Human Resources Department. The Benefits Manager will report to the Director of Human Resources and will be responsible for administering the City of San José's extensive benefits program, which includes insurance programs and other health, financial and professional benefits. The Director and Division Manager will work closely to make recommendations to the City Manager based on their evaluation of all benefits plans.
The City of San José's Department of Human Resources is a hard‐working, customer‐focused, and data‐driven team. The Division Manager plays an integral role in ensuring that City employees are offered competitive, qualify and affordable benefits. The position requires someone who is well-organized, resourceful, and creative. The Division Manager role needs an individual with the ability to anticipate problems by proactively planning ahead and a willingness to accept challenges. This person should be a strategic thinker and a confident decision-maker who works collaboratively to reach goals and determine solutions.