DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Account Management, Marketing & Public Affairs andCustomer Programs

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 181 square miles at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay, San José is Northern California’s largest city, third largest in the State, and the 13th 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, Zoom, Samsung, and eBay as well as start-ups and advanced manufacturing. The City of San José has twice been named “The Most Innovative Large City in America” by the Center for Digital Government.

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-by-the-Sea; 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.

For more information about the unparalleled quality of life in San José, please visit www.sjeconomy.com/why-san-jose.

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 transit-accessible, 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 the United States. More than 40% of the workforce has a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 25% nationally. Forty percent of San José residents are foreign born, and 50% speak a language other than English at home. San José is proud of its rich cultural diversity and global connections, and the essential role the City plays in connecting residents and businesses to the nation and the world.

The City Government

The City of San José is a full-service Charter City and operates under a Council-Manager form of government.

The City Council consists of ten (10) council members elected by district and a mayor elected at large. The City Manager, who reports to the Council, and her executive team provide strategic leadership that supports the policy-making role of the Mayor and the City Council and motivates and challenges the organization to deliver high quality services that meet the community’s needs. Department heads are appointed by the City Manager with confirmation by the City Council. The City actively engages with members of the community through Council-appointed boards and commissions.

In addition to providing a full range of municipal services including police and fire, San José operates an airport, a municipal water system, a regional wastewater treatment facility, some 200 neighborhood and regional parks, 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 San José Sharks.

City operations are supported by 6,994 full-time equivalent positions and a total operating and capital budget of $6.1 billion for the 2024-2025 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 website at www.sanjoseca.gov.

The Department

San José Clean Energy, or SJCE, is San José’s local, not-for-profit electricity supplier operated by the City of San José’s Energy Department.

Since 2019, our dedicated and motivated team has provided clean energy for residents and businesses at competitive rates, while also offering community programs, local benefits, and increased transparency and accessibility. SJCE serves more than 350,000 customer accounts and has contracted for more than 1 GW of power.

Joining our team means that you will be making a big impact on the fight against climate change. SJCE plays an important role in meeting San José’s ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 and in implementing the City’s climate action plan, Climate Smart San José.

Thanks to SJCE, San Jose has one of the cleanest energy mixes of any large city and offers a 60% renewable product and a 100% renewable product.

Serving our community with respect and integrity is at the core of what we do. We center equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging in our work. The department also hosts active, staff-led Culture and Racial Equity committees and has won awards for its education and outreach work with Spanish and Vietnamese speaking communities.

San Jose Clean Energy is composed of eight different divisions:

• Account Management, Marketing and Public Affairs
• Budget, Financial Planning and Human Resources
• Climate Smart
• Customer Programs
• Legislative Affairs
• Power Resources
• Regulatory Compliance and Policy
• Risk Management and Contracts Administration

For more information about San José Clean Energy, please visit: www.sanjosecleanenergy.org.

Position and Duties

The City of San Jose is seeking an experienced Deputy Director to provide strategic direction and day-to-day leadership for the Account Management, Marketing, & Public Affairs Division and the Customer Programs Division within the Department. The Energy Department launched clean energy services to most residents and commercial customers in early 2019.

This position reports to the Assistant Director. It is responsible for customer relations, account and billing services, business development, community engagement, marketing and communications, and design and implementation of customer energy programs.

The Deputy Director is an integral part of the Energy Department executive team and will have the following responsibilities:

• Forecast SJCE's annual revenue plan and achieve targets. Track electricity usage, revenue, and cash collections by customer class.
• Lead SJCE rate-making recommendations, implementation and communication of new rates.
• Lead SJCE's account services function, developing and maintaining relationships with key customers including large load customers such as data centers.
• Develop custom rates for large load customers as needed.
• Coach the team to provide high quality customer service optimizing the User Experience (UX).
• Oversee internal and contracted services for data management, billing services, and the customer call center. Liaise with PG&E and customers to resolve issues and optimize the Customer Experience (CX).
• Direct the development and execution of comprehensive marketing, outreach, and communications strategies that promote SJCE programs, rates, and brand identity.
• Oversee all department communications including print, social media, e-newsletters, and the department's website. Conduct mandatory noticing activities.
• Ensure clear, accessible, and multilingual communications for diverse community audiences.
• Manage press releases and external relations. Serve as a liaison with the media and community groups to ensure SJCE is responsive to concerns. Schedule and deliver public and community presentations.
• Provide direction, guidance, and review of community outreach and business development plans to increase customer participation, support customer retention, and improve cost-effectiveness.
• Lead the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of customer energy programs, including energy efficiency, demand response, electrification, and distributed energy resource initiatives. Ensure programs align with state policy, regulatory requirements, and community priorities.
• Foster partnerships with community organizations, technology providers, and regional agencies to expand program reach and impact.
• Provide leadership and collaborate with staff across the department, the City Manager's Office, Finance Department, the City Attorney's Office, Planning Department, and economic Development as well as other Departments to achieve SJCE and City objectives.
• Collaborate and build contacts with external stakeholders, including CalCCA, regulatory agencies, community organizations, and the public to ensure programs and services meet objectives, the needs of customers and community.
• Seek out additional funding opportunities, innovative programs and new product offerings to advance mutually beneficial goals.

The ideal candidate

The position requires a strong communicator with a passion for startups, community action, environmental and energy technology with strategic and tactical abilities. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent listening, writing, and presentation skills, and have experience leading high performing teams to accomplish objectives. Candidates should have a working knowledge of electricity rates, CCAs, and a strong energy, utility, or sales background. Ideal candidates should be well versed in customer service, account management, communications and marketing, and customer program design and administration. The ability to articulate and execute strategic policy initiatives will be utilized. Experience in start-ups and community energy programs is highly desirable. The successful applicants will have demonstrated honesty and integrity, the ability to inspire others, creativity, good judgment, accountability, and decision-making with a commitment and passion to advancing the goals of San Jose and SJ Clean Energy. Education: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in business, public administration or related field. Experience: Six (6) years of increasingly responsible experience in senior level administrative and/or analytic work in energy or utility expertise in a public agency, utility, or private company. Experience managing a work unit equivalent to a major division within a City department or large private company is desirable.

Desirable Qualifications

1. Significant customer development or sales experience including managing complex data streams and billing issues, managing a wide variety of customer types, such as residents, large technology companies, and public agencies. Experience with renewable energy and CCA's.

2. Senior level management experience, skills building effective relationships internally and externally, experience with managing multiple teams and effectively developing staff with various levels of expertise. Experience hiring and developing high performing teams, resolving complex personnel issues.

3. Experience leading strategic policy, identifying new opportunities and initiatives that provide significant value to the organization.

Compensation & Benefits

The Deputy Director salary range is currently $161,513.30 - $260,737.36. Placement within this range will be dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the individual selected. This salary includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non pensionable compensation. The salary is supplemented by an attractive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to:

• Retirement: Competitive defined benefit retirement plan with full reciprocity with CalPERS.
• Health Insurance: The City contributes 90% towards the premium of the lowest-priced non-deductible plan. Several plan options are available.
• Dental Insurance: The City contributes 100% of the premium of the lowest-priced plan for dental coverage.
• Personal Time: Vacation is accrued initially at the rate of three weeks per year with amounts increasing up to five weeks after 15 years of service. Vacation accrual may be adjusted for successful candidates with prior public service to reflect a vacation accrual rate commensurate with total years of public service. Executive Leave of 48 hours is granted annually and depending upon success in the Management Performance Program, could increase to up to 80 hours. Sick Leave is accrued at the rate of approximately 8 hours per month.
• Holidays: The City observes 15 paid days annually.
• Deferred Compensation: The City offers an optional 457(b) Plan.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: The City participates in Dependent Care Assistance and Medical Reimbursement Programs.
• Insurance: The City provides a term life insurance policy equal to two times annual salary. Long-term disability and AD&D plans are optional.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): The City provides a comprehensive range of services through the EAP.
• Health Benefits: https://www.sanjoseca.gov/yourgovernment/departments-offices/human-resources/benefits

How to apply

The position will close on January 26, 2026. To be considered, candidates must submit their application online at s.kirby@pipermaddox.com, or at pipermaddox.com including the following materials including the following materials:

• A cover letter
• A resume
• List of at least three (3) work-related references (who will not be contacted without prior notice)

Applications will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this brochure. Candidates deemed to have the most relevant qualifications will be invited to proceed in the selection process.

Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews. A final selection will be made upon completion of comprehensive reference and background checks.

Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country.

The City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent, or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for Hl-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

• Consultant Recruiter Name – Sam Kirby
• Consulting Agency Name - Piper Maddox
• Phone: +1 424 644 6163
• Email: s.kirby@pipermaddox.com

To view full job brochure, please click here.