Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Deputy County Administrator

Recruitment #18-0257-01

Introduction

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended. A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application.

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Postmarks are not accepted. Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification. Applications will only be accepted on-line

 

DESCRIPTION



The County
Alameda County is located on the east side of the San Francisco Bay.  Referred to as the “East Bay,” the region has been the fastest growing group of communities in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than two decades. Alameda County is popular because of its desirable location, incredible diversity, ideal climate, and broad economic base, plus its range of available housing and business opportunities.  Alameda County is one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse regions in the country, offering a rich array of amenities including the Oakland Museum, Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland East Bay Symphony, and the Livermore and Tri-Valley Wine Country. Alameda County is home to the Oakland Athletics, Oakland Raiders, and Golden State Warriors. The University of California, Berkeley and California State University, East Bay are two of several distinguished academic institutions located in the County.

Alameda County has a population approaching 1.6 million residents, making it the second largest county in the Bay Area and the seventh largest in the State. The County encompasses 14 cities as well as 6 unincorporated communities and rural areas that span a total of 738 square miles. The County operates under a charter form of government and is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors. The Board is responsible for setting policy, overseeing all County operations, approving the organization’s annual budget, and representing the County in a number of areas including numerous special districts and regional agencies.

The Board-appointed County Administrator leads a team of department heads who work collaboratively to carry out County programs and initiatives. Alameda County’s fiscal responsibility has earned it a AAA bond rating. Alameda County employs over 9,000 employees working in 21 different agencies and departments and has an annual budget of nearly $2.7 billion. The County provides a full spectrum of services including general Government and Internal Services, Health Care, Social Services, Public Works, Criminal Justice, and other Public Safety services.

The Position
Under general direction, Deputy County Administrators serve as chief assistants to the County Administrator; have key responsibilities in planning, directing and coordinating all functions and activities of the County Administrator’s Office; do other related work as assigned.

Incumbents support the County Administrator in overall operation of the Office and provide high level administrative support to the County Administrator on complex matters.  Will also act in the absence of the County Administrator at meetings with various officials, legislative bodies and boards and commissions whenever needed,  

Positions in this classification will plan, organize and direct either the fiscal or legislative and strategic planning activities of the County including directing the development of the County budget, evaluating fiscal and budgetary procedures and policies and coordinating the fiscal activities of all County departments to assure maximum effectiveness of County resources; directing the development and execution of the County strategic plan and legislative agenda; and the initiation and coordination of interagency collaborations and internal/external partnerships.

The Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidates will have a solid background in legislative/policy or fiscal analysis, and demonstrated experience in budgeting, public policy, public finance and debt management as well as strong analytical, written and oral communication skills. Successful candidates will possess a demonstrated track record of providing high quality public service with a commitment to the ideals of implementing visionary policies and practices that reinforce strong dedication to the community and a record of effective staff management and development.  He/she will enjoy the challenge of a fast paced, progressive and team oriented work environment. The ideal candidate will also possess the following critical attributes:

  • A strategic thinker who can determine long-term goals as well as identify and design the best approach for achievement.
  • Ability to identify and understand complex problems and concepts, apply logical thinking and quantitative methods of gathering and analyzing information, make decisions and exercise good judgment based on available data, design solutions to problems, formulate and articulate action plans proactively and collaboratively.
  • A solid leader who aligns the organization’s vision and values and manages work groups by inspiring and advising subordinates, facilitating goal accomplishment and tracking and evaluating performance to ensure success.
  • A great communicator and listener, quick and clear thinking, calm under pressure. The ability to continue to be effective, proactive and innovative while dealing with changing priorities and deadlines.
  • Highly focused and organized, managing a variety of complex projects while charting a course of action to ensure the successful completion of goals as they relate to the mission, vision and values of the organization.
  • Politically astute, possessing the skills necessary for identifying, navigating and successfully interacting within the dynamics of the organization while maintaining sensitivity to the competing needs of a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders.
  • An innovative thinker adept at identifying opportunities and taking action to build strategic relationships to help achieve business goals.
  • Flexibility; enthusiastically takes on new challenges in a dynamic County Administrator’s office.
  • A manager who seeks to delegate and empower his/her staff; appreciates the strengths of a talented and devoted management team.   

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:   Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:  

Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business, finance, economics, public administration, or related disciplines and six years of increasingly responsible managerial experience in a large, complex public agency in the field of Finance or Policy Analysis including two years of experience in a senior level administrative or executive management position.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Accepted principles, techniques and practices of public administration including budget and financial techniques and procedures used in local government agencies and organizational planning, work measurement, and budget preparation, review and control.
• Organization, services and financing of local government and subdivisions, special districts, and local government boards, committees, commissions and agencies.
• Principles and practices of office management, including budget practices and control, program and project planning, implementation and administration.
• Principles and practices of personnel management, including the training, evaluation, selection and supervision of subordinates.
• Analyze, interpret explain and apply complex regulations, laws, directives, policies and procedures.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Prepare, review, and assist in the preparation of clear and concise reports, records and correspondence.
• Serve as liaison for the Board of Supervisors and County departments and the public while providing exceptional customer service.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with department personnel, other agencies/organizations and the public.
• Handle highly confidential and politically sensitive information and situations.
• State legislative processes as related to local government.
• Funding practices of State and Federal Agencies providing revenue sources such as subvention, grants, and revenue sharing.

Ability to:

• Oversee the analysis of data and make responsible, professional, cost effective recommendations and reports.
• Use initiative and sound independent judgment within policy guidelines and in interpreting, applying and explaining laws, rules, regulations and policies.
• Review and Analyze staff reports and recommendations.
• Plan and direct the work of staff.
• Develop, communicate and implement effective strategies for resolving complex issues, coordinating multiple projects and meeting critical deadlines.
• Demonstrate critical thinking techniques in the preparation of clear, concise and accurate reports, correspondence, policies, procedures and other written materials.
• Represent the County effectively in meetings with groups and individuals, including making effective oral presentations.
• Maintain a positive and effective working relationship that maintains the confidence and cooperation of elected officials, employees, and the public.
• Sensitive to public relations and is capable of dealing with negative publicity, recommending actions to ameliorate the situation. 

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING 3 STEPS:
1) A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
2) A review of candidates’ Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process.
3) An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components. Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work. To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Selection Plan

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

Deadline for Filing:

Monday, July 16, 2018

Review of Applications for Minimum Qualifications:

July 23, 2018

Review of Supplemental Questionnaire for Best Qualified:

July 23, 2018

Oral Examination:

August 8, 2018

*WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN*

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being. These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

  • Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
  • Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
  • Vision or Vision Reimbursement
  • Share the Savings
  • Basic Life Insurance
  • Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
  • County Allowance Credit
  • Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
  • Short-Term Disability Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
  • Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

  • Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
  • Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

  • 11 paid holidays
  • Floating Holidays
  • Vacation and sick leave accrual
  • Vacation purchase program
  • Management Paid Leave**
  • Catastrophic Sick Leave
  • Employee Mortgage Loan Program
  • Group Auto/Home Insurance
  • Pet Insurance
  • Commuter Benefits Program
  • Guaranteed Ride Home
  • Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
  • Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
  • Child Care Resources
  • 1st United Services Credit Union

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement. This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

Conclusion

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Sam Gee, Human Resources Division Manager
Human Resource Services Department, County of Alameda
510-267-9492

Alameda County is an Equal Opportunity Employer