Economic Development Specialist (Administrative Assistant)

: The City of Palo Alto is excited to hire a new member for our growing Economic Development team. Under the direction of an Assistant to the City Manager, this position will directly engage with our business community, local non-profits, residents, and internal departments to build, grow, and develop our community. This exciting work requires an innovative and dynamic professional who can manage multiple competing priorities while providing exemplary customer service. This is a wonderful opportunity for someone eager and excited to learn about and enhance the multi-faceted Palo Alto economic landscape. If you have experience interacting with business and community representatives, facilitating successful outcomes among diverse stakeholders, and effectively managing simultaneous projects then this role will be ideal for you. Successful candidates will be able to communicate effectively to various audiences across different mediums, including written correspondence, phone calls, virtual meetings, and face-to-face meetings. They will know how to tailor their communication to their audience and understand how individual projects integrate into a comprehensive vision. Join an Award Winning Team Palo Alto is an award-winning City recognized nationwide as innovative and well-managed. Palo Alto is one of a small number of California cities with a AAA bond rating. Recently, Palo Alto became one of the most livable cities in the U.S. by Livability.com. It's the only city to receive the Platinum Beacon Award in sustainability best practices by California's Institute for Local Government. The City has fourteen departments employing over 1,000 full-time staff. Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and building inspectors keep us safe. Engineers and public works staff build and rebuild the physical infrastructure. City planners help envision and shape future community growth. Recreation, arts, and library professionals enhance community life. Utilities provide electric, gas, water, sewer, and other services to residents and businesses in Palo Alto. Benefits: The City offers outstanding benefits to our staff, including

• 12 paid holidays / year + paid vacation and management leave
• Annual day of recognition floating holiday which encourages employees to celebrate days of cultural importance or significance
• Caltrain Pass to continue our effort to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce traffic throughout the region
• CalPERS Retirement
• Multiple HMO/PPO medical plan options for employees and their families
• and much more

The following are examples of innovative benefit offerings that Palo Alto has pioneered which you will have access to:

• Flexible and Hybrid work schedules which include a combination of 9/80s, 4/10s, and remote working opportunities
• Tuition Reimbursement, professional development, and Student Loan repayment programs
• Eligibility to enroll dependents into the award-winning Palo Alto Unified school district
• Child Care subsidy, up to $10,000 (pilot program and subject to change)

Essential Duties

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Leads, plans and coordinates the administrative, technical, and analytical tasks in support of a department head, council-appointed officer, or other equivalent-level City official.
• Prepares and composes from brief oral instruction, written draft, and correspondence requiring discrimination and judgment in the selection of data or interpretation of laws, rules, or policies.
• May be required to create and update information on the internet and intranet. Relieves department head, Council Appointed officer or Assistant City Manager of certain administrative matters by following up on projects, transmitting information, and keeping managers informed of department activities.
• May prepare documents from notes, rough drafts, oral instructions, memos, transcripts of minutes and reports, and Council or Commission agenda and minutes; edit drafts for composition and grammatical structure.
• Establishes and maintains various files and reports; coordinates with library staff regarding building security and facilities maintenance.
• Coordinates press releases, program flyers, and other promotional materials.
• Performs related duties of a similar nature or level

The full can be found HERE. Minimum Qualifications

Sufficient education, training, and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge and skills, which would typically be acquired through Equivalent to the completion of an Associate Degree and six years equivalent, full-time administrative experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. An Associate's Degree is preferred.

Screening of candidates will be conducted throughout the posting period. Highly qualified candidates may be invited to participate in additional screening steps before the final closing date. This posting may be closed prior to the posted date once sufficient highly qualified applications have been received and screened. Candidates should prepare for: (1) Phone Screen (2) Panel Interview (virtual or in person) (3) Final interview with Hiring Manager (In Person)

The City of Palo Alto offers its employees a generous benefit package, featuring family medical coverage, retirement, life insurance, plus 12 paid holidays per year.

• Participation in a Governmental 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Fully paid employee and dependent Dental Plan
• Fully paid employee and dependent Vision Plan
• Fully paid Life and AD&D insurance equal to annual salary
• CalPERs sponsored medical plan with City flat rate contribution
• Fully paid Life Insurance equal to one-times annual salary
• Voluntary Supplemental Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability plan
• 12 annual paid holidays
• Two to five weeks vacation annually depending on years of service per MOA
• 96 hours annual sick leave
• Direct Deposit
• Flexible Spending Account for Healthcare and Childcare expenses
• Paid Parental Leave- Six weeks of Parental Leave at 100% of salary, for the first twelve-month period, immediately following the birth, adoption or placement of a child with the employee.

Some Management classifications may qualify for

• 80 hours of Management Leave
• Professional development reimbursement

Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS)

• 2% at 60 formula for Classic Misc Employees, one-year calculation for final compensation
• 2% at 62 formula for New Misc CalPers Members, three year calculation for final compensation
• 3% at 50 formula for Classic Safety Employees, one-year calculation for final compensation
• 3% at 55 formula for New Safety CalPers Members, three year calculation for final compensation
• Retiree Medical benefits for employee and dependents according to Retiree Medical Group

Please note: The City does not participate in CA State Disability Insurance (SDI) or Social Security. Since they City does not participate in SDI, City employees are not eligible to claim against the State's Pregnancy Disability Leave or Paid Family Leave programs.