Planning and Strategy Manager (PCS 0923) - Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing

Company Description

• Application Opening: March 6, 2026
• Application Deadline: March 27, 2026
• Work Location: Hybrid with onsite and remote weekly schedule
• Salary Range: $146,718 and $187,252 (Range A)

Who We Are
Through the provision of coordinated, compassionate, and high‐quality services, the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) strives to make homelessness in San Francisco rare, brief, and one-time. The Department provides assistance and support to homeless and at‐risk youth, adults and families to prevent imminent episodes of homelessness and end homelessness for people in San Francisco. Services including outreach, homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, drop‐in centers, transitional housing, supportive housing, short‐term rental subsidies, and support services to help people exit homelessness. For more information on the department, please visit our https://hsh.sfgov.org.

What We Do
San Francisco is a pioneer in homeless services and a leader in providing supportive housing as a permanent exit from homelessness. The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH), founded in 2016, is a national leader in the movement to end homelessness by developing a coordinated, equity-driven, client-focused system of compassionate services while piloting innovative models, and implementing best practice solutions with measurable results. HSH’s Homelessness Response System (HRS) funds, oversees and implements a system of care that shelters, houses, and serves approximately 15,000 people daily. Major programs include: street outreach and service connection through the Homeless Outreach Team (SFHOT); 3,600 +bed shelter system for transitional age youth, adults and families including shelters for members of the LGBTQ community; rapid rehousing rental subsidies for families, adults, older adults, and transitional aged youth; the Problem Solving and flexible financial assistance programs; and robust supportive housing programs with over 14,500 units which provide housing and services to formerly homeless transitional age youth, individuals, and families.

Job Description

What You’ll Be Doing

This position sits within HSH’s Planning, Performance, and Strategy Division and is led by a member of HSH’s executive team, the Deputy Director of Planning, Performance and Strategy. This Division is a centralized team of staff that guide equity-driven and data-informed decision-making intended to improve homeless system outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.

Under general administrative direction, the Planning and Strategy Manager oversees a team of analysts who: manage the department’s strategic plan; conduct program and system design, analysis and evaluation; and  project manage new initiatives. The team uses strategic planning, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, research, policy analysis, facilitation, stakeholder and community engagement, and project management skills to support a coordinated homelessness response system for unhoused people in San Francisco.

The Planning and Strategy Manager directs and oversees the development of program-specific and community-wide strategic plans to prevent and end homelessness that HSH leads and implements. The position supervises the development of reports and presentations focused on homelessness trends, program and system outcomes, demographics, population impacts, equity, and program evaluations.  The Planning Manager project manages special initiatives, particularly those that necessitate the involvement of stakeholders from across the Department’s divisions and programs.

Essential duties include but are not limited to: 

• Oversees and guides the development of HSH’s strategic plan and its related implementation frameworks, progress reports, and supporting materials in collaboration with HSH divisions, other City partners, service providers, people with lived experience of homelessness, and external consultants.
• Leads and supervises a team of analysts, setting priorities, assigning work, and allocating staff and project resources to meet timelines and strategic objectives while adjusting workplans to respond to emerging needs.
• Directs and oversees structured program and system design processes that include project management, program evaluation, policy and operational analyses, research, and facilitation of stakeholder input. Synthesizes findings into clear, strategic recommendations that guide program design, service models, and policy direction.
• Oversees the development of reports, presentations, and briefing materials that inform policy, program design, and strategy, in coordination with internal subject-matter experts and City partners.
• Manages consultant-led planning, evaluation, and technical assistance projects, including scope development, timelines, and deliverables.
• Oversees the Planning and Strategy budget, monitoring expenditures and financial reporting and developing budget requests.
• Represents HSH at public meetings, interdepartmental forums, and stakeholder convenings, facilitating discussions and communicating complex strategic concepts to diverse audiences.
• Builds and maintains strong working relationships with other City departments and community stakeholders to support coordinated system planning and implementation.
• Leads the project management of special strategic initiatives, as assigned by executive leadership.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; AND

Experience: 
Three (3) years of full-time equivalent experience performing qualifying project management work in public health and/or human services administration as described below.

Qualifying project management work experience must be in one or more of the following functional areas: complex program analysis, development and administration; complex program evaluation and planning; or other functional areas where the primary focus of the job is complex professional-level analysis for evaluation, recommendation, development and implementation of major programs and functions of department/organization.

Education Substitution: Additional qualifying full time work experience (2,000 hours equal one year) as described above may substitute up to two (2) years of the required education. One (1) year of work experience equals to 30 semester units or 45 quarter units.

Experience Substitution: Possession of a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Public Heath, Public Administration, or Business Administration may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.

Desirable Qualifications:
The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify finalists at the end of the selection process when applicants are referred for hiring:

• Masters degree with coursework in public administration, public policy, or other related field
• Two (2) years of supervisory experience
• Experience proximal to programs that serve people experiencing homelessness
• Experience facilitating community processes and decision-making
• Experience working with vulnerable populations
• Project management experience
• Public policy experience
• Ability to creatively problem solve, consider new approaches, and work collaboratively  
• Familiarity with social justice projects
• Mission and strategy driven
• Outstanding written, analytical, and communication skills

How To Apply

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.sf.gov/ and begin the application process.

• Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen.

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from notification@careers.sf.gov that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Additional Information

Selection Procedures
This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A. After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ) (no weight): Candidates will be required to complete a MQSQ as part of the employment application. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQ) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

Supervisory Test Battery (STB) (Weight: 40%): Candidates will be invited to participate in a computer-based examination designed to measure competencies in job-related areas which may include but not be limited to: Problem Solving; Leadership; Decision Making; Interpersonal Skill; Human Resources Management; Team Building; Communication & Conflict Management.

• For more information about this Supervisory Test (and a suggested reading list) please visit www.sf.gov/supervisory-test-battery. A passing score must be achieved on the Supervisory Test Battery in order to continue in the selection process. This is a standardized examination, and, therefore, test questions and answers are not available for public inspection or review.

Training and Experience Evaluation (Weight: 60%): Candidates who pass the STB will be sent a Supplemental Questionnaire that must be completed by the set date. Candidates will be evaluated on their relevant knowledge, skill and ability levels in job-related areas which may include but not be limited to the following. Knowledge of business improvement processes, and administration. The ability to: manage, administer and coordinate the complex analytical work of a team of analysts;  analyze and report on performance and trends of programs operated and funded by HSH; deal tactfully and effectively with personnel at all levels and the general public; prepare and present comprehensive reports; conduct analysis of system homeless system performance; direct work of subordinate personnel; coordinate and collaborate with teams and data analysts across the department; manage a team in alignment with principles of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion                        

A passing score must be achieved on the Training and experience evaluation in order to be placed/ranked on the Eligible List

Tuberculosis Screening: Prior to appointment, applicants may be required to take a tuberculosis (TB) screening test.

Score Banking: Scores attained on the Supervisory Test Battery will be valid and 'banked' for three years, starting from the date of the examination. This means that, during this three-year time period, you will not be required to take the Supervisory Test Battery. The Supervisory Test Battery may be used for many other classes; therefore your test score may be applied to one or more of these classes if you choose to apply to future recruitments. If the selection process for the future announcement is held within one year of the date of this examination and it includes the Supervisory Test Battery, your score will be automatically applied to that announcement. However, after one year, you have the option to either (a) apply your test score to the other announcement or (b) re-take the Supervisory Test Battery. Re-testing is permitted no sooner than one year from the date of the examination and only in association with your eligibility for another announcement for which the Supervisory Test Battery is used. Please note that, should you re-test, your re-test score would become your official score since it is the most recent.

Eligible List/Score Report: A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission. 

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be six (6) months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Certification Rule - The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of the List. Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights
Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by the posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov/.

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is ‘abuse of discretion’ or ‘no rational basis’ for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule. Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director. Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams 
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst Radha Mehta at radha.mehta@sfgov.org.

To find Departments which use this classification, please see: https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Position-Counts-by-Job-Codes-and-Department-FY-2023-24.pdf

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.