THE OPPORTUNITY

A national search is underway to attract a strategic, committed, and experienced attorney to serve as the City of San José’s next City Attorney.

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 approximately 181 square miles at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay, San José is Northern California’s largest city and the 13th largest city in the nation. With nearly 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; 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. For more information about the unparalleled quality of life in San José, please visit Why San Jose?

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 is comprised of 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.

City operations are supported by approximately 7,000 full-time equivalent positions and a total 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’s website at www.sanjoseca.gov.

THE OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY

The mission of the Office of the City Attorney is to provide excellent legal services, consistent with the highest professional and ethical standards, with the goal of protecting and advancing the City’s interests in serving the people of San José.

The Office of the City Attorney is supported by 88 full-time equivalent staff and has a budget of approximately $47 million.

THE POSITION

In accordance with the City Charter, the City Attorney is appointed by and reports to the City Council and is responsible for representing and defending the City and its current and former employees and officials, advising the Council, City boards and commissions; and performing other legal services as directed.

In addition to performing all functions, powers, and duties consistent with the Charter, the City Attorney acts as a department head in the supervision of the Office of the City Attorney, prosecutes all criminal cases for violation of City ordinances, and except as otherwise directed by the City Council, performs such legal services and functions for the City, its departments and officers as may be requested by the City Manager, department directors, or staff.  The City Attorney also provides legal advice to other Council appointees, including the City Clerk, the City Auditor and the Independent Police Auditor.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

At minimum, qualified candidates will have successfully completed the California State Bar Examination and possess ten years of experience as a practicing attorney, including three (3) years at a management level in a governmental office.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The annual salary range for this position is $291,755 - $392,868 which includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. This position is also eligible for a management pay for performance program which may provide additional compensation up to 2.5% and additional executive leave up to 5 days based on the individual’s performance. The final candidate’s qualifications and experience will determine the actual salary.

The City provides an excellent array of benefits, including sick leave, holidays, vehicle allowance and a technology stipend. Additional details can be found in the Executive Management and Professional Employees Benefit and Compensation Summary. For more information on employee benefits, visit the City’s Human Resources Benefit website.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply below by Monday, June 16, 2025.

This recruitment will be handled with strict confidentiality. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.

Confidential inquiries are welcomed to:

Greg Nelson | greg@mosaicpublic.com | (916) 550-4100

Bryan Noblett | bryan@mosaicpublic.com | (916) 550-4100