The City of Elk Grove is now accepting applications for the position of
CIVIC INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER
The City of Elk Grove is seeking a bold, visionary leader to serve as the City’s Chief Innovation Officer and key advisor to the City’s Executive Leadership Team on strategic initiatives that advance organizational effectiveness and community resilience with an equity lens. This position leads the newly reimagined Office of Civic Innovation and Sustainability (previously the Office of Strategic Planning and Innovation). This powerhouse team drives forward-thinking initiatives that make a real difference in the organization and community.
The Civic Innovation and Sustainability Manager will ignite progress by embedding innovation frameworks and human-centered design principals into City initiatives, and spearheading strategic programs that enhance urban mobility, environmental sustainability, and service excellence. The Manager will energize and empower a talented team, including a Sustainability Program Manager, Senior Transportation Planner, and Senior Management Analyst, to deliver impactful results across departments.
The City is looking for a trailblazer that is:
- A collaborative bridge-builder with exceptional interpersonal skills?to build strong partnerships and lead large-scale, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
- A creative problem-solver with a can-do spirit that thrives on challenges and turns ideas into actionable solutions.
- A change agent with a deep commitment to improving service delivery using data-driven decision making, evidence-based practices, and equity-centered community engagement.
- A process improvement champion with a passion for fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement, including the expertise to facilitate our AIM (Always Improving Mindset) Academy (a Lean Six Sigma-style program for process improvement) to streamline processes and elevate service delivery.
This is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to lead transformative change, drive sustainability, and shape the future of one of California’s most vibrant, diverse, and forward-looking cities.
Tentative Recruitment Timeline (subject to change)
Filing Deadline: 11:59 PM on July 25, 2025
Oral Board Interviews: August 12, 2025 (virtual)
Final Selection Interviews: Augst 26, 2025 (in person)
The City offers a competitive salary and generous benefit package including CalPERS retirement benefits, a deferred compensation match and more.
Why work for the City of Elk Grove?Proud Heritage. Bright Future.
Community Profile
Elk Grove is a vibrant, family-friendly community of approximately 178,124 people in the Sacramento, California region, located 14 miles south of the State Capital and 60 miles east of the Bay Area. Elk Grove is a young, ethnically diverse, modern city that was incorporated in 2000. Elk Grove has low crime, excellent schools, over 100 community parks and 28 miles of trails, plentiful dining and shopping options, numerous annual events and festivals, and over 270 sunny days per year.
DEFINITION:
Under general direction, plans, organizes, oversees, coordinates, and manages the activities of the Civic Innovation & Sustainability Division, including Citywide strategic initiatives, sustainability, urban mobility, and other civic innovation programs and projects. Serves as the City’s Chief Innovation Officer; participates in the development of citywide policies and strategies to advance innovation and sustainability goals; manages the effective use of division resources to improve organizational productivity and customer service; provides complex and responsible support to the City Manager in areas of expertise; and performs related duties as assigned.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general direction from the Assistant City Manager. Exercises supervision over professional staff.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
This is a management classification responsible for managing a division in the City Manager’s Office. The incumbent is responsible for developing and implementing policies and procedures for assigned division, including short- and long-term planning, budget administration and reporting, and coordination of key programs/projects with other City divisions and departments and external agencies. Positions apply advanced management principles and strategic thinking to decisions that impact the organization as a whole. Positions generally serve as advisors and contributors to executive management on policies, procedures, and major City initiatives.
EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL JOB FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only)
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.
- Plans, manages, and oversees the daily functions, operations, and activities of the Civic Innovation & Sustainability Division, including programs, services, and activities such as Citywide strategic initiatives, sustainability, urban mobility, and civic innovation programs and projects to support a vibrant, attractive, equitable, and sustainable community.
- Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the division; continuously monitors the efficiency and effectiveness of assigned programs, service delivery methods, and procedures; assesses and monitors workload, administrative, and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities and makes recommendations for improvement.
- Participates in the development, administration, and oversight of division budget; determines funding needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; ensures compliance with budgeted funding.
- Participates in the selection of, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; works with employees to correct deficiencies; recommends and implements discipline and termination procedures.
- Serves as the City’s Chief Innovation Officer; leads efforts related to continuous quality improvement, data-driven decision-making, use of innovation frameworks, citywide grants strategy, and excellence in service delivery.
- Guides and supports cross-departmental innovation teams working to streamline City policies and procedures, integrate appropriate technology to increase efficiency and ensure equitable service delivery that matches community needs, and promote a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
- Monitors and implements legal, regulatory, technology, and societal changes and court decisions that may affect the work of the division; determines equipment acquisition, training programs, and proceduralchangestoensureretentionofqualifiedstaffandtheprovisionofservicestothecommunity in an effective, efficient, and economical manner.
- Oversees the development of consultant requests for proposals for professional services and the advertising and bid processes; evaluates proposals and recommends project award; coordinates with legal counsel to determine City needs and requirements for contractual services; negotiates contracts and agreements and administers same after award.
- Coordinates City-wide projects that involve multiple stakeholders, elected officials, and/or are public facing and require complex policy analysis or other issues which may be controversial and require precision and care in the planning, development, and adoption phases, coordinates projects and activities across City departments.
- Champions and collaborates across the City organization to further sustainability and innovation related projects and activities in support of City goals and objectives.
- ServesasastaffresourceandinternaltechnicalexpertbyprovidingconsultationandguidancetoCity staff and management with respect to strategic initiatives, LEAN/Six Sigma, human-centered design thinking and other innovation frameworks, policies, procedures, and efforts.
- Develops and maintains partnerships with community partners and external stakeholders, including state, regional, and local organizations to effectively leverage resources, secure grant opportunities, and develop and implement projects to address existing issues.
- Identifies the best method of data collection, analysis, and reporting to inform decision making processes; directs and performs complex professional level data analysis in support of City data needs, quality improvement, performance, and mandated reporting; identifies, analyzes, and interprets trends or patterns in data sets using statistical techniques; and generates reports on a scheduled and ad hoc basis.
- Conducts a variety of division and City-wide organizational and operational studies and investigations; recommends modifications to programs, policies, and procedures as appropriate.
- Oversees City’s grant strategy, including identifying grant opportunities; ensuring cohesive messaging aligned with the City’s brand and vision; supporting departments in developing a clear problem statement, SMART goals and objectives, and performance metrics; tracking and analyzing data in support of grant applications and reporting.
- Participates in and makes presentations to the City Council and a wide variety of committees, boards, and commissions; attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in local government.
- Manages the maintenance of working and official division files; prepares, reviews, and presents staff reports, various management and information updates, and reports on special projects as assigned by the City Manager.
- Responds to public inquiries and complaints and assists with resolutions and alternative recommendations; serves as a spokesperson for the department at a variety of community events, meetings, and other public relations activities.
- Ensures staff observe and comply with all City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONSKnowledge of:- Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, and evaluation, and project management.
- Principles and practices of budget development and administration.
- Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures.
- Principles and practices of effective leadership.
- Principles and practices of LEAN Six Sigma, human-centered design thinking and other innovation frameworks.
- Principles and techniques for working with groups, cultivating inclusive collaboration, and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
- Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned areas of responsibility.
- Organization and management practices as applied to the development, analysis, and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs of the assigned area of responsibility.
- Principles and practices of contract administration and management.
- Generalprinciplesofriskmanagementrelatedtothefunctionsoftheassigned area.
- Functions, authority, and responsibilities of an elected City Council.
- Principles and techniques of conducting analytical studies, evaluating alternatives, and making sound recommendations.
- Principles and practices of sustainability, urban mobility, and community resilience.
- Principles and practices of grant strategy and management.
- Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances.
- Proceduresforplanning, implementing,andmaintainingavarietyofstrategicandinnovativeactivities and programs through community participation.
- Financial, statistical, and comparative analysis techniques and formulas.
- Current social, political, and economic trends and challenges of municipal government.
- Project management principles and practices.
- Technical, legal, financial, and public relations issues associated with the development, implementation, and management of public programs.
- Methodsandtechniquesofdevelopingtechnicalandadministrativereportsandbusiness correspondence.
- City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
- Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
- Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging concepts and principles, including their significance in organizational dynamics and the functioning of the City and their impact on fostering innovation and collaboration.
- The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Current equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
Ability to:- Plan, organize, oversee, and manage the staff and operations of the Civic Innovation & Sustainability Division.
- Develop and implement goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards.
- Prepare and administer large and complex budgets; allocate limited resources in a cost-effective manner.
- Provide administrative, management, and professional leadership for the division.
- Select and supervise staff, provide training and development opportunities, ensure work is performed effectively, and evaluate performance in an objective and positive manner.
- Interpret,apply,explain,andensurecompliancewithfederal,state,andlocalpolicies,procedures,laws, and regulations.
- Learn principles, practices, and procedures of public administration in a municipal setting.
- Evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, or methods.
- Research,analyze,andevaluatenewservicedeliverymethods,procedures,and techniques.
- Effectivelyadministerspecialprojects and grantswithcontractualagreementsandensurecompliancewith contractual obligations.
- Establish plans and programs around sustainability, urban mobility, resilience, and innovation.
- IdentifyandrespondtocommunityandCityCouncilissues,concerns,and needs.
- Cultivateandfosteracultureofcontinuouslearningand improvement.
- Coordinateandcollaboratewithavarietyofinternalandexternalstakeholdersonemerging projects.
- Performquantitativeandqualitativeanalysestoevaluateassignedprojects,programs,and activities.
- Performcomplexandaccuratemathematical calculations.
- Prepareclearandconcisereports,correspondence,policies,procedures,andotherwritten materials.
- Conduct complex research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.
- Direct the establishment of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems.
- Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-upon assignments.
- Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
- Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
- Engage with a diverse public and workforce, facilitating inclusive service delivery, and implementing equitable city policies.
- Establish, maintain,andfosterpositiveandeffectiveworkingrelationshipswiththosecontactedinthe course of work.
Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a relevant field and five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in the development and administration of strategic initiatives, sustainability initiatives, and/or implementation of innovative projects in a municipal or large organization, including two (2) years of lead or supervisory experience.
Licenses and Certifications:
- Possessionof,orabilitytoobtainbythetimeofappointment,anappropriatevalidCaliforniadriver’s license. This requirement may be waived for individuals who are unable to obtain a driver’s license due to a disability.
- Possession of, or ability to obtain within one year of appointment, LEAN Six Sigma Green or Black Belt certification.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to operate a motor vehicle to visit various City and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Standing in and walking between work areas is frequently required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to perform assigned duties, as well as push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals with disabilities who are qualified to perform essential functions of a position or positions within this classification.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Employees may be expected to work extended hours, weekends, and evenings as required.
FLSA Status: ExemptThe information listed above is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract. The City of Elk Grove is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and professionalism. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, should special accommodations be necessary at any stage of the selection process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (916) 478-2230.
