Police Commission Chief of Staff (Project Manager II)

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.  

Why join the City of Oakland Police Commission?
The City of Oakland is recruiting to fill one Project Manager II (Selective Certification - Chief of Staff) vacancy within the Oakland Police Commission. The Police Commission Chief of Staff is the Commission's representative to other branches of City Government, managing Police Commission projects and agendas, coordinating and facilitating Police Commission meetings, creating strategic and communications plans, conducting policy research, and attending to other duties as assigned to ensure the Police Commission's mission and goals are achieved. The Chief of Staff reports to and is supervised by the Executive Director of the Community Police Review Agency, receiving direction from the Police Commission regarding day-to-day functions and duties.
 
The Oakland Police Commission oversees the Oakland Police Department to ensure its policies, practices, and customs conform to national standards of constitutional policing. The Police Commission supervises the CPRA Executive Director, who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of CPRA, and the Inspector General, who is responsible for the day-to day operations of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The Police Commission is comprised of seven regular and two alternate members, enabled by Oakland City Charter section 604. All commissioners are Oakland residents and serve in a volunteer capacity.
 
The City of Oakland is at the forefront of pioneering community-focused, independent, transparent oversight of policing. The ideal candidate will share a dedication to the City's commitment and have enthusiasm for developing new practices that may serve as best practices for other jurisdictions in the future. We are looking for a candidate with strong organizational and communication skills and who is able to form effective collaborative teams across diverse internal and external stakeholders.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Interested in police accountability and independent civilian oversight: Your interest can help the Police Commission to fulfil its mission to constitutional policing, transparency, and accountability within the Oakland Police Department and City of Oakland.
• Committed to advancing racial equity: You are committed to understanding the historical harm policing has caused in marginalized BIPOC communities and able to discern systematic issues including racial profiling and discrimination.
• An exceptional communicator and writer: You will use your communication skills to navigate conversations with individuals with opposing perspectives in a clear and concise manner both orally and written.
• Self-motivated: You can take initiative, act independently, and exercise sound judgment.
• Adaptable: You can quickly adjust to changing circumstances and overcome challenges.
• Professional and ethical: You can maintain a high degree of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Resourceful: You can find creative solutions with limited resources.

• Managing the day-to-day operations and tasks for an all-volunteer Commission
• Developing, initiating, and maintaining strategic objectives and goals as defined by the Commission
• Handling confidential and sensitive records
• Contract management by ensuring all contracts are carefully planned and executed
• Assisting the Commission in managing public outreach, publicity, and social media presence

• You enjoy strategic planning and community organizing
• Your contributions will directly affect Oakland residents who are most impacted by policing
• You will work for a trailblazing community-centered police oversight commission

• You will need to manage and prioritize critical deadlines.
• You will navigate complex policies, rules, laws, and/or procedures.
• You will work with individuals with opposing perspectives.

• Action & Results Focused (Taking Initiative): Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishment 
• Analyzing & Interpreting Data: Drawing meaning and conclusions from quantitative or qualitative data
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships 
• Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
• Innovative Problem Solving: Identifying and analyzing problems in order to propose new and better ways of doing things                                                                                    
• Listening: Fully comprehending spoken communication 
• Leadership: Guiding and encouraging others to accomplish a common goal
• Presentation Skill: Formally delivering information to groups                                       
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability 
• Project Management: Ensuring that projects are on-time, on-budget, and achieve their objectives
• Reading Comprehension: Understanding and using written information                         
• Strategic Thinking & Perspective: Evaluating immediate actions in context of achieving long range objectives 
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
• Using Technology: Working with electronic hardware and software applications 
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing

• Experience working on issues relating to government ethics and/or accountability
• Experience managing a board or commission
• Experience developing and/or implementing strategic plans