Applications are accepted exclusively through the City of Ventura Career Site:
www.cityofventura.ca.gov/jobs. Submissions through other websites or methods will not be accepted.

Pay & Benefits

Whether you're starting your career journey or seeking new opportunities, we welcome all and offer:

Competitive pay and benefits
Strong support for professional development
Vacation & Holiday Compensation
Deferred Compensation
CalPERS Retirement
Tuition Reimbursement & Bilingual Pay

Pay (Salary DOQ):

Arts & Culture Economic Administrator - $117,010.61 – $156,795.18

About the Opportunity

The City of Ventura is seeking an Arts & Culture Economic Administrator to support arts, culture, and creative economy initiatives through the City Manager’s Office. The position provides expertise in cultural strategy and creative industry development, coordinates arts and culture projects, and works with community and regional partners. The position also conducts research, supports policy development, and evaluates program and economic impacts.

Key responsibilities include:

Develops, implements, and updates strategic initiatives related to arts, culture, and the creative economy, including long-range planning, cultural policy, feasibility studies, and emerging trends.
Plans, coordinates, and manages complex arts and culture projects, community engagement activities, creative placemaking efforts, and cross-departmental initiatives.
Establishes and maintains partnerships with arts and culture organizations, creative businesses, tourism agencies, educational institutions, civic organizations, and other community and regional partners.
Serves as a City liaison to cultural organizations and partners, including Downtown Ventura Partners, Visit Ventura, the Fair Board, Ventura County Museum, and other regional entities; represents the City at meetings, forums, conferences, and interagency activities.
Evaluates the economic and social impacts of arts and culture programs using quantitative and qualitative methods; prepares reports, presentations, and recommendations for City leadership and City Council.
Coordinates resource development activities with the City’s contracted grant consultant, including identifying funding opportunities, preparing program information, and supporting project readiness; identifies sponsorship and partnership opportunities.
Develops and maintains program documentation, procedures, and guidelines related to arts and culture initiatives, creative economy strategies, cultural policy, and community engagement.
Provides technical and subject matter expertise in arts administration, cultural planning, creative economy development, and cultural policy; responds to inquiries from City departments, community partners, and the public.
Participates in arts and culture budget planning and coordination with relevant departments; provides input on funding priorities and collaborates to inform funding priorities and opportunities.
Maintains current knowledge of trends, legislation, regulations, and best practices related to arts administration, cultural planning, creative industry development, and public art.
Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications – Required

A combination of education, training, and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in arts administration, cultural studies, economic development, public administration, or a closely related field, and four years of progressively responsible experience in arts/culture program administration, creative‑economy development, and/or cultural policy development/project management.

License: Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license is required.

About the Department

The City Manager’s Office serves as the administrative leadership of the City, operating under the authority granted by the City Charter adopted in 1934. The City Manager acts as the chief administrative officer and is responsible to the City Council for the oversight and administration of all City affairs. In this capacity, the Office provides strategic guidance to the City Council, supports the development and implementation of City policies and priorities, and oversees the preparation and administration of the City’s annual budget. The City Manager also appoints and directs department leadership to ensure alignment with Council goals and organizational objectives.

With a focus on responsive governance and operational excellence, the City Manager’s Office provides overall organizational leadership to ensure the effective daily delivery of City services, programs, and projects. Its work is guided by the City’s General Plan and centered on meeting evolving community needs while maintaining transparency, accountability, and a high standard of public service.

How to Apply & Selection Process

Submit your online City job application and supplemental questionnaire by the filing deadline. Resumes may be attached but will not replace a completed application or supplemental questionnaire. All communication regarding your application will be via email, so please check your inbox regularly and ensure your contact information is current.

Application Deadline: Monday, September 21, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Selection Process Timeline:

Thursday, October 1, 2026 – Oral Panel Interview
Thursday, October 8, 2026 – Department Selection Interview
As a condition of employment, selected candidates may be required to complete a background screening process.

While the Eligibility List for this classification may be used to fill other regular vacancies at the discretion of the City, this recruitment is specifically intended to fill the Arts & Culture Economic Administrator position within the City Manager’s Office. Candidates selected from the eligibility list will be considered for assignment to this department based on departmental needs and the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

This position is designated as "at will" serving at the pleasure of the City Manager and subject to discharge without cause and the right of appeal. Learn more about the Arts & Culture Economic Administrator by reviewing the job description here.

Additional Information

To learn more about the City’s hiring process, visit the City of Ventura Hiring Process page.

Questions? Contact the Recruitment Team:
recruitment@cityofventura.ca.gov

(805) 654-7802

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you need an accommodation in a selection process, please notify the Human Resources Department in writing by the final filing date of the position you are interested in. The Human Resources address is: 501 Poli Street, Room 210, Ventura, CA 93001, (805) 654-7853, e-mail: recruitment@cityofventura.ca.gov.

The City is an equal opportunity employer and strives to attract qualified applicants from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. We aim to create an environment that celebrates and embraces the diversity of our workforce. We welcome you to join our team!

Ventura, City of (CA)

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Arts & Culture Economic Administrator