Enforcement Chief, Public Ethics Comm

The Position

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 Public Ethics Commission?

The City of Oakland Public Ethics Commission (PEC) is currently recruiting for an Enforcement Chief to lead the Enforcement Unit within the PEC. This management level position is responsible for overseeing major functions of the Commission's enforcement program including investigations, administrative prosecutions, and audits. Under the general direction of the Executive Director, the Enforcement Chief administratively prosecutes violations of the laws the Commission enforces and negotiates proposed settlements; supervises investigative staff; serves as chief analyst in drafting legal analyses and reviewing investigative reports; makes recommendations regarding changes to the laws and regulations within the jurisdiction of the Commission; and performs other duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will have experience prosecuting or investigating ethics, campaign finance, lobbying, or transparency violations for a government agency, and interest in and the ability to build the Commission’s investigative unit. A law degree, as well as a passion for government integrity and effectiveness, are strongly desired.

The PEC is an independent Commission within the City of Oakland, created in 1996 and strengthened in 2014 to ensure compliance with the City of Oakland's government ethics, campaign finance, transparency, and lobbyist registration laws that aim to promote fairness, openness, honesty, and integrity in City government. The PEC employs a comprehensive, culture-change approach that blends effective prevention, strong enforcement, and collaborative leadership activities to create an ethical culture and build public trust in Oakland.

Join us in our mission to uphold the values of integrity and accountability within Oakland government. If you are ready to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply!

We are looking for someone who is:

• A skilled prosecutor and/or investigator. You will oversee the PEC's Enforcement Unit, and will be responsible for overseeing and conducting investigations, bringing enforcement actions in administrative proceedings or in court, and negotiating potential settlement agreements.
• Self-motivated. Though you will be supervised by the Executive Director, most of your work will be conducted on your own and remotely.
• A good manager. You will supervise and direct the work of 1 investigator and/or 1 to 2 law clerks and must make decisions on how to prioritize agency resources.
• Able to handle pressure and conflict. You may be working on complex matters in which there is a high degree of public interest. You will also be interfacing with people who may not wish to fully cooperate with investigations, or who disagree with your evidentiary conclusions. The ability to manage stress in your dealings with PEC staff, investigation subjects, and the public will be essential.
• A talented communicator. You will reach out to a broad audience of public officials, private citizens, and attorneys with varying degrees of familiarity with the PEC’s processes and the laws under its jurisdiction. You will present at the Commission’s monthly public meetings and may be called upon to present in court or in administrative hearings.
• A strong writer. Much of your time will be spent writing reports, both for internal review and for public consumption. You should be able to write clearly, logically, and persuasively.
• Fair-minded. You will be investigating cases involving subjects across the political spectrum. The ability to set aside personal feelings or preferences when conducting investigations and making recommendations is essential.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Managing and administering the PEC's enforcement program which includes audits, investigations, and administrative enforcement of activities governed by the PEC's laws such as the following: Oakland Campaign Finance Reform Act, Government Ethics Act, Sunshine Ordinance, Lobbyist Registration Act, Oakland Fair Elections Act, and Limited Public Financing Act.
• Leading and coordinating with investigative staff throughout a case investigation as well as hiring and training new enforcement staff.
  
• Establishing enforcement and investigative policies and procedures, creating uniform standards for investigations and audits, and ensuring that investigations comply with the PEC's Complaint Procedures and relevant administrative procedures.
• Reviewing preliminary information regarding complaints or suspicious activity to determine the appropriate course of action, drafting legal analyses for cases, finalizing case reports for review by the Executive Director, negotiating stipulated agreements and settlements with respondents, litigating cases in administrative and civil proceedings, and presenting recommendations to the Commission for case resolution.
• Conducting legal and policy research and analysis, as needed, and preparing or reviewing reports for the Commission, City Administrator, City Council or other departments or commissions.
• Communicating with members of the public, elected officials, and private counsel regarding incoming complaints and case resolutions.
• Aiding City staff, candidates, media, and members of the public with questions about the laws within the PEC's jurisdiction.
• Handling the administrative and personnel tasks associated with overseeing a public unit, including but not limited to reviewing and approving employees’ timesheets, handling requests for vacation and sick leave, writing performance reviews, mediating conflicts among staff, etc.

Read the complete job description by clicking here .
* Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland! Working for the City of Oakland

A few reasons you might love this job:

• Your work will be of great importance to the people of Oakland -- ensuring the integrity of Oakland’s elections and the ethical functioning of its government.
• You will have a large degree of autonomy over how to investigate and prosecute enforcement matters, under the supervision of the Executive Director.
• You will be handling a range of cases concerning diverse subject matter, and involving issues and challenges that can vary from day-to-day. Many of the PEC’s cases are high-impact and high-profile. This position is ideal for someone who thrives on new stimulation versus a predictable daily routine.
• You will be part of a team of professionals who are dedicated to strengthening democracy and accountability in Oakland.
• Your job schedule is flexible with hybrid telecommute options.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will be utilizing limited financial and staff resources to address program needs.
• You will need to keep abreast of relevant laws and policies that the Commission enforces.
• You may need to confront, gather evidence from, or negotiate with parties who disagree with your conclusions or are reluctant to cooperate; a tolerance for conflict, and respectful demeanor with opposing parties, are both essential.
• You will manage multiple competing priorities and projects on tight deadlines. Case prioritization and time management will be essential for this position.

Competencies Required:

• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Self-Management: Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability
• Strategic Thinking & Perspective: Evaluating immediate actions in context of achieving long range objective
• Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner
• Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
• Fact Finding: Obtaining facts and data pertaining to an issue or question
• Legal & Regulatory Navigation: Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
• Managing Performance: Ensuring superior individual and group performance
• Coaching & Developing Others: Supporting others in stretching and expanding their capabilities
• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing
• Negotiating: Reaching mutually satisfying agreements and compromise
• Presentation Skill: Formally delivering information to groups
  
  

Minimum Requirements for Application

The following qualifications are guidelines, as the appointing authority has broad discretion in filling positions in this classification.

Education:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in university in criminal law, public policy, sociology, political science, communications, journalism, finance, economics, accounting, computer science, or a related field. Possession of a J.D. or Master's degree is highly desirable.

Experience:
Three or more years of progressively responsible experience in legal analysis, policy development, investigation, auditing or public administration, including one year of supervisory or lead experience. Experience with campaign finance, lobbyist, transparency or ethics laws and regulations is highly desirable.

Desirable Qualifications:

• A law degree
  
• Experience with campaign finance, lobbyist, transparency or ethics laws and regulations
  
• Experience investigating or prosecuting legal violations
  
• Experience with or knowledge of administrative law
  
  

Supplemental Information

This is an at-will position, exempt from the provisions of the City of Oakland Civil Service Rules, per Charter Section 902. All applications received will be forwarded to the Public Ethics Commission for further consideration.
Meeting the minimum qualification requirements may not result in further consideration, only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.

What’s in it for you?

• Work/Life Balance: 37.5 hour work weeks and a flexible/hybrid remote schedule
• 15 paid holidays
• Vacation - 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
• Retirement - CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
• Health - The City of Oakland pays for the cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care and other HMO and PPO plans
• Dental - The City of Oakland pays for Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Vision - The City of Oakland pays for VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Sick leave - Employees accrue 12 days per year
• Deferred Compensation - 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Training, & Telecommuting.
• This position has hybrid remote/flexible schedule options. A Hybrid Telecommute is a flexible working arrangement that allows an employee to work from a remote location outside of City Hall offices on varied days of the week. The specific days and hours necessary or required to work in the City Hall Office will be determined on an as needed basis, while still completing the required 37.5 hours per week.

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

How to Apply

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at:

http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca/default.cfm.

If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs. If you have problems while applying online, please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Nicolas Heidorn at nheidorn@oaklandca.gov or Teddy T eshome at tteshome@oaklandca.gov .

The City of Oakland is committed to the wellbeing of its employees and offers comprehensive health and wellness services along with an array of other benefits for most positions. Benefits may include*:

• CalPERS Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Medical Waiver Plan - Cash-In-Lieu
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Commuter Benefits
• Group & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH)
• Pension Benefits
• Deferred Compensation

* Specific benefits may vary depending on the assignedspecific bargaining unit. Information regarding most benefits can be reviewed here: Employee Benefits Information Current MOUs may be reviewed here: City of Oakland Labor Agreements

Closing Date/Time: 10/21/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of Oakland

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