Dear City Council, I have mixed feelings about the City's plan to hire four new people for the below jobs. First I'm glad that these higher-level positions were openly posted . They also represent an opportunity to increase the diversity pipeline in the City Staff Organization and show an effort to respond to community concerns and to align the Staff more strategically. However, the public is still missing an overall performance and efficiency review of the entire Staff Organization. Three of the new positions were described as replacing prior positions that were now deemed unnecessary. So there could be other unnecessary positions. One way to obtain an overall review would be to apply for the What Works Cities Certification. https://whatworkscities.bloomberg.org/certification/ > That would deliver an objective, outside review. In contrast, the performance reviews of the City's departments were done by consultants working for the Staff. The reports were delivered to staff, for their review, before Council received any update. To date, Council has also not received the final report from Matrix Consulting on their organizational review of the Community Development and Public Works Departments. This approach is also not holistic. The four new positions raise more questions: 1. Are these new positions the highest priority? For example, Matrix Consulting flagged the need for more long-range planning. The City's lack of same in the Planning Department was one of the key recommendation. Long-range planning seems a more urgent priority than getting help for the Public Engagement Manager. The Finance Department also seems understaffed. 2. Why the short amount of posted time (Dec 16-Jan 9) during a busy Holiday season? Longer posting times would generate more responses.We also need diversity of thinking and approaches. 3. Why does the Public Engagement Manager need an assistant? Is he too busy to do his own writing/presentation development? Or does he lack the needed skills? I also point out that Council has received staff requests to add staff without also receiving a detailed job description that would help Council to better evaluate the need of the position. According to the latest CAFR (page 202), the City has added 9 new positions over last year. 4. Can the City first sincerely attempt to better use volunteers? A Volunteer Coordinator could develop a list of jobs (done in a day, monthly, etc.) and post them. More volunteers would also help in the City's stated goal of better public engagement. 5. With a recession predicted, and with the public's concerns regarding the amount of office development, is it a good idea to hire more staff? The new positions will add to the City's overall pension liabilities. More clarity as to the City's overall pension liability is needed before hiring more staff. Some members of the public believe that the liability is greatly understated. The Staff Organization takes the largest share of the City's annual operating budget (about 70%). Large scale development-related revenue pays for a significant number of staff positions. The more staff the City adds, the more the ongoing need for development money. Seeking to reduce the size of the Staff organization would make the City less dependent on ongoing development revenue. The development is also a major source of carbon emissions that contribute to global climate change. Less development would also help the City to better reach its goals to respond to the global climate change emergency. Lynne Bramlett ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Menlo Park Jobs: Full-time Date: Tue, Dec 17, 2019 at 8:17 AM Subject: Management Analyst I/II/Sr. (4 openings) To: View this in your browser https://www.menlopark.org/jobs.aspx?jobID=986 > Management Analyst I/II/Sr. (4 openings) https://www.menlopark.org/jobs.aspx?jobID=986 > Do you seek the opportunity to make a difference in how an organization delivers services to its customers? Are you fascinated by thought-provoking and challenging work that also offers a career path, professional development opportunities, and the ability to take on new and exciting projects? Are you interested in joining a team of dedicated and talented professionals? If so, apply to join the Menlo Park team and become part of a dynamic organization! The City of Menlo Park is recruiting four management analysts to help our organization better serve the community. The management analyst job family (I, II and Senior), provides an excellent opportunity to become a local government leader. Menlo Park’s current City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Administrative Services Director and Assistant Community Services Director (and others) all started their careers as management analysts with other local governments. As part of the recruitment, the City will evaluate candidate interests, experiences and education for four distinct assignments. Once the four vacancies are filled, the remaining qualified applicants will remain on an eligibility list for future hires, should a management analyst position become available. Accordingly, applicants interested in the management analyst job family, but not necessarily the four positions described below, are strongly encouraged to apply. In Administrative Services, the analyst will report to the human resources manager to administer and coordinate human resources functions and programs including performance evaluation, classification, job evaluation, benefits, leaves and compensation, employee relations, labor relations, employee safety and workers' compensation. The analyst may supervise staff, including prioritizing and assigning work, and ensuring staff is appropriately trained. The successful candidate will have a good sense of humor and approachability, and the ability to communicate proactively and exercise flexibility and focus on collaboration when dealing with others. The ability to champion eagerness in others and encourage positivity is highly desirable. Human resources experience is preferred but not required. The position is vacant due to an internal promotion. The City Manager's Office seeks to hire two analysts. One analyst will report to the Public Engagement Manager and support various city departments with citywide communications and marketing projects. The successful candidate will be a content strategist and writer who can support department communicators to meet communication needs. The analyst’s work will include creating brochures, toolkits, e-newsletters, feature articles, PowerPoint presentations, infographics and reports. The analyst will also write news articles, website content, social media posts, summarize key notes for speeches and proofread internal and external publications. The ability to lead and coordinate a communications project (such as those mentioned above) while keeping your supervisor and/or other communications team members in the loop is also important. The ability to write and speak in one or more languages other than English is highly desirable. This position is vacant due to reorganization of vacant staff positions to meet organization goals regarding communication. An additional analyst in the City Manager’s Office will work with department staff to support City Manager initiatives. The analyst will assist, and eventually manage, the City Council’s annual goal setting process including quarterly monitoring and reporting. The analyst will also provide special project support on a number of discrete projects including technology upgrades, updates to City Council procedures, and best practices analyses. The analyst will support the development and execution of policies and objectives; develop and present recommendations and strategies to the City Council in response to community issues; monitor and report on the City’s legislative platform, spearhead the department budget and address current and future needs of the department. This position is vacant due to attrition. In Community Services, the analyst will work closely with the department’s leadership team to move forward multiple collaborative initiatives simultaneously. The analyst must thrive in process improvement work and is experienced in interpreting complex data to facilitate decision-making. The analyst will manage the department’s budget; conduct market fee studies and recommend updates to the City’s Master Fee Schedule; and coordinate major service contracts. The analyst will support the department marketing efforts including coordination of marketing materials, ensuring brand consistency, execution of marketing plans, maintaining the department webpages and coordinating the production of the City’s Activity Guide. The analyst will also prepare a variety of reports, policies, proposals and correspondence, including requests for proposals, contracts and agenda reports. This position is vacant due to reorganization of vacant staff positions to better fulfill the department’s operational demands. View job classifications https://menlopark.org/jobclassifications > Ideal candidate The ideal candidate possesses a genuine desire to serve the Menlo Park community, exhibits curiosity and a strong desire to learn and grow professionally, and consistently executes methodical problem-solving skills. The ideal candidate is an independent thinker who thrives in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment; is successful collaborating vertically and horizontally in the organization; demonstrates a can-do attitude; and fosters a team environment. Finally, across all departments, our ideal management analyst candidates possess qualitative and quantitative skills acquired through any number of career paths. We actively seek candidates with for-profit, not-for-profit, nonprofit or military service and experience. Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: Management Analyst I * Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business or public administration or a related field * One (1) year of increasingly responsible experience performing administrative, operational, management, and/or financial analysis Management Analyst II * Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business or public administration or a related field * Three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience performing administrative, operational, management, and/or financial analysis Senior Management Analyst * Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business or public administration or a related field * Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience performing administrative, operational, management, and/or financial analysis Salary * Management Analyst I, $86,844 to $105,561 Annually (member of Service Employees International Union) * Management Analyst II, $99,250 to $119,643 Annually (member of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) * Senior Management Analyst, $111,656 to $134,599 Annually (Confidential, At-Will) Benefits In addition to offering flexible work schedules, hosting several employee recognition and engagement events throughout the year and offering excellent training and development opportunities to help you plan your short- and long-term career goals to advance in your career, the City offers an excellent benefit package consisting of: * A City-paid Caltrain Go Pass. The Menlo Park campus is centrally located within walking distance from Caltrain and downtown Menlo Park * For non-Caltrain riders, the City offers employees a commuter check program of up to $75.00 per month toward the purchase of a non-Caltrain monthly transit pass; or a transportation allowance program provides employees with $1.50 per day when they walk, bicycle or carpool to work at least once per week * Health Insurance: City contributes toward a medical cafeteria plan that can be used to purchase medical insurance and participate in a flexible spending account for health care and/or child care reimbursement. Monthly contribution: Management Analyst I - $2,284, Management Analyst II and Senior - $2,312 * Dental: City-paid coverage for employee and dependents * Vision: City-paid coverage for employee and dependents * Vacation: 88 - 176 hours of vacation leave accrual each year, depending on length of service * Sick Leave: 96 hours of sick leave accrued each year * Holidays: 11 official holidays and 34 hours of floating holiday time per year, prorated based on date of hire * Retirement: CalPERS: For classic members 2.0% _at_(domainremoved) * Deferred Compensation: Voluntary participation in City Plans. * Life Insurance: City-paid policy equal to 1-1/2 times regular annual wage * Long Term Disability: City-paid coverage * Educational leave and tuition reimbursement * Employees are provided with access to an on-site gym at no cost Employees work from the Burgess campus, which is surrounded by beautiful landscapes, a duck pond and several walking paths. City Hall is walking distance to downtown where employees enjoy many of the city's exquisite lunch locations. For additional benefit information, visit menlopark.org/mou http://menlopark.org/mou > and review the SEIU and AFSCME memoranda of understanding with the City of Menlo Park. Special instructions IMPORTANT: Please be sure to fill out the required City application completely through CalOpps, including all relevant work experience. If you submit your resume with your application please be sure to include all relevant information to discern you meet the minimum qualifications. Applications will be screened according to the qualifications outlined in this announcement. Not all applications which may meet the minimum requirements will proceed to the next phase of the recruitment process. The eligible candidates will be invited to participate in a skills assessment tentatively scheduled for the week of February 3, 2020. All applicants will be notified by email as to whether or not they are invited to participate further in the selection process. The City of Menlo Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Menlo Park not to discriminate against all qualified applicants or employees. We will make reasonable efforts in the selection process to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please contact Theresa DellaSanta at 650-330-6672 before the closing date for accommodation requests. Before receiving an offer of employment, the candidate must pass a thorough reference check, fingerprinting and OccuScreen background check. Applicants must be successful in all phases of the selection process to be considered for this position. Applicants must apply for this position online through the CalOpps website: https://www.calopps.org/menlo-park/job-19952085 In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, all potential employees are required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or authorization to work in the United States. Recruitment contact Theresa DellaSanta https://menlopark.org/directory.aspx?EID=258 >… Read on https://www.menlopark.org/jobs.aspx?jobID=986 > Status Open Category Menlo Park Jobs: Full-time Job ID Salary Management Analyst I, $86,844 to $105,561 Annually Management Analyst II, $99,250 to $119,643 Annually Senior Management Analyst, $111,656 to $134,599 Annually Published Dec 16, 2019, 08:00 AM Closing Jan 09, 2020, 05:00 PM You are receiving this message because you are subscribed to Menlo Park Jobs: Full-time on www.menlopark.org http://www.menlopark.org >. To unsubscribe, click the following link: Unsubscribe https://www.menlopark.org/list.aspx?mode=Unsubscribe&Email=lynne.e.bramlett_at_(domainremoved ) Received on Fri Dec 20 2019 - 08:52:24 PST
