Risk Manager - Finance

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY) , or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov .

About the Department

The City
Known as the “Capital of Silicon Valley,” the City of San José plays a vital economic and cultural role anchoring the world’s leading region of innovation. Encompassing 181 square miles at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay, San José is Northern California’s largest city, third largest in the State, the 12th largest city in the nation, and ranked the #1 safest major City in the U.S. With almost one million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world, including major tech headquarters like Cisco, Adobe, Zoom, Samsung, and eBay as well as start-ups and advanced manufacturing. Reflecting its dynamic and supportive business environment, San José was ranked #1 among U.S. cities for small business by Forbes in 2024, recognized for its robust ecosystem that drives entrepreneurial success and sustainable growth. The City of San José has twice been named “The Most Innovative Large City in America” by the Center for Digital Government.
Surrounded by the Diablo and Santa Cruz Mountain ranges and enjoying an average of 300 days of sunshine
a year, San José residents have easy access to the beaches along the California coast including Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Carmel-by-the-Sea; Yosemite and Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada; local and Napa Valley wine country, and the rich cultural and recreational life of the entire Bay region.

City Government
The City of San José is a full-service Charter City and operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council consists of ten (10) council members elected by district and a mayor elected at large. The City Manager, who reports to the Council, and her executive team provide strategic leadership that supports the policy-making role of the Mayor and the
City Council and motivates and challenges the organization to deliver high quality services that meet the community’s needs. Department heads are appointed by the City Manager with confirmation by the City Council. The City actively engages with members of the community through Council-appointed boards and commissions.
In addition to providing a full range of municipal services including police and fire, San José operates an airport, a municipal water system, a regional wastewater treatment facility, some 200 neighborhood and regional parks, and a library system with 25 branches. The City also oversees convention, cultural, and hospitality facilities that include the San José McEnery Convention Center, Center for the Performing Arts, California Theater, Mexican Heritage Plaza, and the SAP Center San José - home of the National Hockey League San José Sharks.
City operations are supported by 6,994 full-time equivalent positions and a total operating and capital budget of $6.13 billion for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Extensive information regarding San José can be found on the City website at www.sanjoseca.gov.

The Department
The Finance Department’s mission is to manage, protect and report on the City of San José’s financial resources to enhance the City’s financial condition for residents, businesses and investors. The Finance Department has five core divisions:
» Accounting
» Administration
» Debt & Treasury Management
» Purchasing & Risk Management
» Revenue Management
The Finance Department works in partnership with the departments of Human Resources, Information Technology, and Public Works as the City’s Strategic Support City Service Area to effectively develop, manage, and safeguard City fiscal, physical, technological, and human resources to enable and enhance the delivery of City services and projects.

Position Duties

This an exceptional opportunity that offers a unique opportunity for a seasoned risk management leader to drive a citywide risk program and implement strategies that safeguard the City’s most critical financial, physical, and natural assets.

The Position
The Risk Manager plans, organizes, and leads a comprehensive risk management program to protect the City’s financial, physical, and natural assets from loss. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Finance, Purchasing and Risk Management Division, this role recommends and implements strategies to mitigate the City’s financial exposures and operational risks.
The Risk Manager is responsible for safeguarding City properties and assets with a replacement value of $7.1 billion through broker selection and the procurement of insurance coverage. This includes protecting against catastrophic and unpredictable events where potential losses could significantly impact City operations and where insurance coverage is cost effective.
Working closely with the City’s insurance broker, the Risk Manager annually reviews risk exposures, analyzes coverage needs, and secures competitive insurance proposals to ensure the most effective coverage. Insurance programs include:
»Property
»Airport Owners and Operators Liability
»Secondary Employment Law Enforcement Professional Liability
»Automobile Liability for Airport and Regional Wastewater Facility fleets
»Auto Physical Damage for Airport Shuttle Buses
»Aircraft Hull and Liability for Police and Fire aircraft, including drones
»Government Crime
»Fiduciary Liability
Additional responsibilities include coordinating property appraisals and risk engineering studies; implementing carrier-recommended loss control measures; overseeing contractual risk transfer and insurance compliance; pursuing subrogation recoveries; supporting the establishment and administration of owner-controlled insurance programs (OCIPs); managing property and casualty claims; assisting with budget planning; and supporting public assistance recovery claims.

The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is an experienced risk management professional with a strong background in a complex organization, preferably within a public agency or a large, multifaceted private-sector environment. Deep technical expertise is essential, along with a proactive, forward-thinking approach to identifying and mitigating risk. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong ethical standards, effective leadership, and a collaborative work style.
This role requires a customer-focused leader who builds trusted partnerships across City departments to anticipate risk and safety concerns while remaining responsive as issues arise. The ideal candidate is a knowledgeable, results-oriented professional with excellent communication, fiscal management, and critical-thinking skills.

Key competencies and characteristics include:
»Strategic mindset aligned with organizational vision, values, and evolving trends
»Energetic, creative, and solutions-oriented approach
»Open, accessible leadership style with strong consensus-building skills
»Proven success in collaborative environments
»Willingness to pursue innovative solutions and calculated risks
»Ability to inspire trust and communicate difficult information when necessary
»Commitment to continuous improvement and high-quality customer service
»Technological proficiency in risk management and safety practices
»Clear, effective communication and active listening skills
»Leadership by example, fostering learning and accountability
»Strong understanding of the relationship between budget, resources, and strategic planning

Minimum Qualifications

»Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public or business administration, insurance, finance, risk management or a closely related field.
»Experience: Six (6) years of progressively responsible work experience in managing insurance and risk program for public entities, including two (2) years with supervisory and management authority over staff, and financial responsibility within the program area or division.
»Required Licensing: Associate in Risk Management (ARM) certification
»Highly desirable qualifications and certifications: Experience with Owner Controlled Insurance Programs (OCIP), disaster recovery claims, Certified Risk Management Professional (CRMP) certification, and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) certification.

Other Qualifications

Compensation and Benefits
The approved salary range for this position is $148,064.80 - $209,211.60 annually. In addition to the starting salary, employees in this classification will also receive an approximate five percent (5%) on-going non-pensionable pay. The actual salary will be determined by the final candidate’s qualifications and experience. The salary is supplemented by an attractive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to:
»Retirement - The City has its own competitive defined benefit retirement plan separate from and with full reciprocity with CalPERS.
»Health Insurance - The City contributes 90%towards the premium for the lowest-priced non-deductible plan. Several plan options are available.
»Dental Insurance - The City contributes 100% of the premium of the lowest-priced plan for dental coverage.
»Personal Time - Vacation is accrued initially at the rate of three weeks per year with amounts increasing up to five weeks after 15 years of service. Vacation accrual may be adjusted for successful candidates with prior public service to reflect a vacation accrual rate commensurate with total years of public service. Executive Leave of 40 hours is granted annually and depending upon success in the Management Performance Program, could increase to up to 80 hours. Sick Leave is accrued at the rate of approximately 8 hours per month.
»Holidays - The City observes 15 paid days annually.
»Deferred Compensation - The City offers an optional 457(b) plan.
»Flexible Spending Accounts - The City participates in Dependent Care Assistance and Medical Reimbursement Programs.
»Insurance - The City provides a term life insurance policy equal to two times annual salary. Long-term disability and AD&D plans are optional.
»Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - The City provides a comprehensive range of services through its EAP.
»Executive Management Benefits - https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument?id=21323
»Health Benefits - https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/human-resources/benefits
Federal Law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in the country. Please be informed that the City of San José will not sponsor, represent, or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa that requires an employee application.

How to Apply:
Please submit your resume and a cover letter explaining why you would like to be hired to this position. Resumes and cover letters will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Apply online by Sunday, February 22, 2026 at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cpshrrs/jobs/5188694/risk-manager

For questions and inquiries, please contact:
Maricarmen Peoples
(916) 471-3365
E-mail: mpeoples@cpshr.us
Website: www.cpshr.us

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

Closing Date/Time: 2/22/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of San Jose

• 408-535-1285

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