City of Oakland - Executive Director, Public Ethics Commission (Apply by 6/2/25)
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) seeks a dynamic leader with experience enforcing or implementing government ethics, campaign finance, or transparency laws, policies, or programs to be its next Executive Director. The ideal candidate will be a highly skilled communicator and strategist with exceptional judgment who brings a passion for public service and government integrity, demonstrated experience leading diverse and high-performing teams, and a proven ability to develop and implement innovative strategies to achieve organizational goals.
The PEC is an independent Commission within the City whose mission is to promote “fairness, openness, honesty, and integrity in City government” and “inclusive, representative, and accountable democracy in Oakland.” The Commission’s primary responsibilities include enforcing the City’s government ethics, campaign finance, lobbying, and transparency laws; providing education and advice to encourage compliance with these laws; and administering the City’s campaign public financing programs. 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.
The Commission was established by the voters in the City Charter in 1996. The Commission’s independence, authority, and staffing were strengthened by Charter amendments in November 2014, and again in November 2024. In November 2022, Oakland voters approved Measure W, establishing the Democracy Dollars campaign public campaign financing program, to be administered by the Commission.
We are looking for someone who is:
Knowledgeable and passionate about ethics, campaign finance, and transparency. You will lead a dedicated staff charged with educating and enforcing the city’s laws relating to the ethical conduct of public servants, candidates, lobbyists, and other PEC clients. You will also be responsible for launching and implementing the Commission’s landmark Democracy Dollars campaign public financing program.
Able to oversee enforcement activities. You will oversee the PEC’s Enforcement Unit, which is responsible for investigating violations of Oakland’s ethics laws, including performing interviews, conducting research and data analysis, writing reports, and developing charging recommendations.
A visionary strategist with a track record for execution and implementation. You will be responsible for strategic planning to achieve organizational goals and objectives, such as developing best practices, policies, legislation, and innovations in campaign finance, government ethics or transparency laws and systems.
An inspiring manager and leader. In addition to implementing administrative principals and methods including program and policy development and implementation, you will oversee and manage employee supervision for your growing staff.
Analytical and detail oriented. You will oversee budget development and administration for the PEC Department.
A talented communicator. You will reach out to a broad audience and diverse community groups to implement education, outreach, and engagement programs.
An advocate for best practices reform. You will draft sample ordinances and policies and advocate for the Commission’s budget and legislative priorities before the City Council and other city officials.
What you will typically be responsible for:
Providing direction to execute the mission of the Public Ethics Commission by ensuring state and local law requirements are met, advising about and enforcing the laws within the PEC’s jurisdiction, and overseeing or conducting investigations and audits.
Developing policies, programs, and activities and enforcing the laws within the PEC’s jurisdiction.
Advising PEC Commissioners regarding laws, policies, and procedures, and reviewing and recommending legislative changes to the laws under the PEC’s jurisdiction.
Establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with Commissioners, public officials, City staff, other departments and organizations, media, and the general public in the performance of assigned duties.
Preparing budget reports and requests, maintaining fiscal controls, entering into contracts, managing the PEC’s budget, and advocating for the PEC’s fiscal priorities.
Preparing or reviewing reports to the City Administrator, City Council or other departments or commissions; working closely with Council and other public and private groups to coordinate plans or communicate about proposed projects.
Supervising, training, developing and evaluating subordinate staff; inspiring and leading staff to achieve the PEC’s objectives.
Read the complete job description by clicking here.
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 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 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 Erin Zadlo at EZadlo@oaklandca.gov.