Inspector General Policy Analyst

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 to 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 Office of the Inspector General?
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is an independent, non-partisan oversight agency whose mission is to assist in increasing community trust and ensuring public accountability and transparency in the City of Oakland police force by implementing a fair, thorough, and independent system of civilian oversight of law enforcement.
 
The City of Oakland is currently recruiting to fill one (1) Inspector General Policy Analyst vacancy within the Office of the Inspector General. The ideal candidate will be able to audit, review, identify, and evaluate risks related to police performances, programs, and investigations. The ideal candidate will act cautiously yet expeditiously in making decisions and understands the factors associated with decision-making and recommendations as they relate to police reform and oversight. The ideal candidate will also be able to manage systems and processes with little oversight without compromising the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of these information assets.
 
 Are you looking to make a difference and have an impact on your community?  Join the City of Oakland and become part of a diverse organization dedicated to the community and employees whom we serve!
 
We are looking for someone who is: 

• Self-motivated and inspired. Your interest in policy analysis and providing the public with needed services creates enthusiasm and a drive to achieve.
• Organized. You can balance multiple assignments and priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Your attention to detail ensures work products are timely and accurate.
• Adaptable. You respond to change in a positive manner, quickly adapting work methods or learning and implementing new work methods or procedures. Versatility is important.
• A strong relationship builder. You develop and maintain work relationships and continuously work to improve relationships, contacts, and networks. You are adept at proactively maintaining contact and staying in touch with key stakeholders.
• Interested in detailed research! You understand how to conduct policy research and draft recommendations based on policy reviews, national best practices, and the law. It is important to recognize relationships and trends in the data and draw credible conclusions, inferences, and generalizations. 
• Interested in developing their career. You will be given opportunities to attend conferences, trainings, webinars, and special events that bring benefit to you and the Office of the Inspector General. Seeking learning opportunities and applying the lessons to your work is important.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Reviewing and analyzing existing police policies and training materials to provide recommendations on improving police and community relations.
• Preparing written staff reports for the OIG, Police Commission, and City Council, as needed, and in accordance with the City Charter, Ordinances, and policies.
• Conducting special studies and researching to ensure the OIG makes recommendations in accordance with national best practices.

A few reasons you might love this job:  

• You will be a part of a growing and dynamic Office of the Inspector General and help in establishing the City as an employer of choice.
• Your work will have a direct impact on the OIG’s ability to provide important public services to a community with a rich and dynamic history.
• You will collaborate with dedicated professionals who are passionate about their craft and deeply committed to their work.
• You will have excellent learning opportunities to grow and develop your public administration skills and abilities.
• As a full-service City, Oakland will continually provide you with daily challenges and variety that keep things exciting.

A few challenges you might face in this job:  

• You will have to handle multiple tasks with competing and critical deadlines.
• You will need to foster collaborative relationships with employees, elected officials, boards and commissions, and the public. 
• You will have to navigate complex rules, policies, and labor agreements that govern the Oakland Police Department.

Competencies Required:

• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Analyzing & Interpreting Data: Drawing meaning and conclusions from quantitative or qualitative data
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Critical Thinking: Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims
• Fact Finding: Obtaining facts and data pertaining to an issue or question
• Industry Monitoring: Grasping the external political, economic, competitive, and social factors affecting the industry
• Influencing: Affecting or changing others’ positions and opinions
• Legal & Regulatory Navigation: Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Thinking & Acting Systematically: Formulating objectives and priorities, and implementing plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization in a global environment
• Valuing Diversity: Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing

This is a public contact position. Although no current vacancies require a specific language, bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin are highly desirable. Under the authority of Civil Service Rules Section 5.03, if a position requires bilingual language skills, only those candidates who have indicated they are bilingual in the required language(s) will be referred. Bilingual candidates will be required to successfully pass a language proficiency test if selected for hire.

*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 

• Bachelor's degree in legal studies general
• Three (3) years of professional experience in data research and analysis, and investigative reviews of closed police misconduct cases.

• Must pass a thorough background investigation. 

The Recruitment Process:

The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the “minimum qualifications” listed for each position.

Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas.

Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.

In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.

For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be invited to the structured interview (sometimes referred to as an Oral Exam).  The tentative date of the structured interview is the week of May 15, 2025.

For some recruitments, more than one type of assessment may be used. Depending on the number of candidates who pass the first assessment (multiple-choice test, structured interview, writing exercise, performance exam) you may be asked to complete a secondary assessment before the recruitment is finalized. If a secondary assessment is scheduled, you will be notified by email with specific details. If a secondary assessment is not scheduled, department hiring interviews will occur during this time frame.

Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you’re applying to a “restricted” posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.

The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

What’s in it for you? 

• 37.5 hour work weeks
• 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 the full 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: Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Vision: 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, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.

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 Mary Ann Gonzales at mgonzales@oaklandca.gov.  

Salary : $135,526 - $166,387