STRATEGIC PROGRAMS CHIEF - OFFICE OF MAJOR EVENTS

Mayor

Exempt | Location: Civic Center

Annual Salary

$109,500.00 - $160,200.00

contact information

Cynthia Castellanos
cynthia.castellanos@lacity.org

job description

LOCATION: Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles 90012

TERMS: Full-time, Exempt Internal Transfer

SALARY: $109,500 - 160,200 (Mayoral Aide VII)

SUMMARY

The City of L.A. Office of Major Events (OME) works to welcome the world to Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and other events of global significance. OME is charged with coordinating City departments and engaging external stakeholders to deliver safe, successful, and fiscally responsible major events while ensuring that all Angelenos benefit from a lasting positive legacy long beyond 2028.

Specifically, OME leads comprehensive planning and works closely with the LA28 Organizing Committee, City departments, and key regional partners to maximize the public benefit of these events while mitigating any negative impact to communities, in particular those located near 2028 Games venues. The Mayor has stated that the 2028 Games will be a “Games for All,” with activities, cultural institutions, celebrations, and competition events accessible to all Angelenos, no matter where one lives or how much money they have. To that end, the Office of Major Events’ Strategic Programs Chief will oversee planning and implementation of key programs that embrace the charge of the Games for All and will be implemented and delivered before, during, and after the Games. Those key programs, instrumental to the success of the “Games for All” Vision, include the Community Celebrations and Fan Fest Program, the Volunteer Program, and the Social Ticketing Program.

OME seeks a results-driven Strategic Programs Chief to provide strategic vision and oversee the development, implementation, establishment, and delivery of these programs during the 2028 Games, with the intent that these programs will continue to exist and be utilized after the close of the Games for the benefit of all Angelenos.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Strategic Programs Chief is a high-profile position of impactful leadership relating to the world’s biggest events. Reporting directly to the OME’s Executive Director and Associate Executive Director, and with support from one or more Strategic Programs Leads, the Strategic Programs Chief’s responsibilities include the following:

Visioning and Strategic Planning: Inform the vision and civic narrative of the Strategic Programs key to delivering successful Games that include all Angelenos.
Stakeholder Coordination: Facilitate communication among City project teams and external stakeholders; provide strategic coordination to streamline efforts, reduce conflict, and achieve objectives in a timely fashion.
Program Monitoring and Management: Oversee the progress of all projects and programs, initiate action with the responsible entity to ensure alignment with requirements, priorities, timelines, and budgets.
Creative Problem Solving: Approach all work and its challenges creatively with focus on providing impact-maximizing solutions in a cost-effective and timely manner.
Communication and Reporting: Provide regular verbal and written updates to leadership on program status, challenges, and achievements. Identify potential issues early and recommend mitigation strategies to keep projects on track.
Administrative: Utilize computer technology (Google Suite, Word, Excel, Project Management tools) to schedule meetings, plan and document work activities; develop, edit, and maintain forms; and support the execution of contracts and drafting of policies and protocols.
Resource Recommendations: Advise City agencies on budget development and personnel allocation relevant to Legacy-related work.
Other Relevant Duties as Assigned

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

The Office of Major Events is looking for candidates who possess the following skills, knowledge, and capabilities:

Minimum of 5 years of experience in project management, analysis, policy, community organizing, administration, or other work relevant to the responsibilities detailed above.
Ability to organize, prioritize, and simultaneously manage multiple projects with attention to detail and high level of professionalism within the City of L.A. organizational environment.
Independent completion of complex tasks with positive outcomes.
Ability to work collaboratively with a positive attitude.
Familiarity with City of L.A. government operations, policymaking process, rules, plans, and functions of departments, agencies, and commissions.
Demonstrated ability to communicate complex ideas clearly in written and verbal formats.
Passion for improving the lives of Angelenos through strategic initiatives.

ROLE EXPECTATIONS

This position may be filled by individuals in all relevant classifications.
This role may supervise additional individuals within the Office of Major Events, and will work closely with Mayor’s Office policy shops and City departments.
This role is based in an office environment at Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring Street 90012, and it will require reporting to the office for in-person collaboration and meetings, as well as working outdoors and at off-site meeting locations at times.

How to apply

HOW TO APPLY

Interested individuals should send a cover letter and resume by email to Cynthia Castellanos (cynthia.castellanos@lacity.org) with the subject line OME STRATEGIC PROGRAMS CHIEF no later than October 31, 2025.

This is an exempt, at-will position. The individual appointed to this position will not accrue any civil service tenure, contractual employment rights, or due process rights. The incumbent may be removed, without any finding of cause, by the hiring authority.

The City of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities. Please call (213) 744-9300 if you need assistance

exempt employment

If employment is said to be exempt, it is meant that the employment is exempted from the civil service provisions of the City Charter. In order to receive a regular civil service appointment, employees must have successfully participated in a civil service examination, received a high enough score on the examination to be placed on and receive an appointment from an eligible list, and they must serve a probationary period. Exempt employees do not compete in a civil service examination, they are not placed on an eligible list and receive an appointment from that list, nor do they serve a probationary period. As a result, exempt employees do not have what is referred to as a “property interest” in their job. Exempt employees serve at the will of the appointing authority and can be terminated at any time without cause. Employees with a property interest in their job, i.e. civil service employees, cannot be deprived of their employment(discharged or suspended) without due process.

General Information About Exempt Employment

Exempt employees serve at the will of the appointing authority, and as such, they may be discharged, suspended or otherwise disciplined without cause. Exempt employees have no property interest in their employment, and any procedural benefit or other prerogative extended to them by their appointing authority is not intended to create and does not create any such property interest. No officer or employee of the City may make to any other officer or employee any representation of a property interest in employment which does not correspond to Charter provisions unless the City Council, by ordinance, permits such representation. No unauthorized representation can serve as the basis of an employee's reliance on, or expectation of, a property interest.

Employees Seeking To Become Civil Service Employees

There is no protective leave for an exempt employee appointed to a civil service position. Upon receiving a civil service appointment and passing probation, the former exempt employee will be subject to the Civil Service provisions described in Article X of the City Charter. Upon appointment, the civil service employee will begin to accrue displacement and layoff seniority on the first day of his/her civil service appointment and may file for promotional examinations for which s/he qualifies. A full or half-time exempt employee appointed to a full or half-time civil service position continues to: contribute to the Retirement System; accrue vacation time; accrue sick time; receive anniversary date salary increases; and, receive health and dental benefits identical to those received in the civil service position.

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