Office of the County Executive
The Office of the County Executive heads the administrative branch of County government and is responsible for the coordination of work in all departments, both elective and appointive. The Office provides information, guidance, and support to the Board of Supervisors and all County departments, and serves as liaison to other agencies, businesses, and private industry to build partnerships and encourage economic opportunities.
Led by the County Executive and Chief Operating Officer, the Office sets the tone for safeguarding civil rights and providing equitable safety net services for everyone in the community, including those who are most vulnerable, underserved, and marginalized.
In April 2023, the Board of Supervisors and County Administration introduced and adopted the following policy priorities: enhancing support for children and families, expanding behavioral and medical care access and quality, increasing access to affordable housing, strengthening community safety and reforming criminal justice, and promoting sustainability. The Office of the County Executive implements these Board policy priorities through its day-to-day work providing analytical support, strategic planning, policy analysis, and budgetary oversight for the entire County organization.
The Office of the County Executive is composed of the following divisions:
- The Administration and Internal County Support Division provides business and operations services within the County Executive’s Office and to County departments and agencies in areas including budget, information security, safety, and compliance.
- The Asset and Economic Development Division supports development of underused and surplus County assets, and coordinates development efforts between the County and cities.
- The Division of Equity and Social Justice plans for the needs of a dynamic community, centering children, women, workers, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, individuals with Limited English Proficiency, individuals with disabilities, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and the historically underserved, to promote a healthy, safe, and prosperous community for all.
- The Division of Interdepartmental Placed-based Services and Collaboratives includes multi-departmental collaborative programs that provide a spectrum of services and meet people where they are. This includes the Vietnamese American Service Center, the Office of Diversion and Reentry Services, Jail Reforms, and the Office of Sustainability and Resilience.
- The Division of Legislative Advocacy, Intergovernmental Relations and Communications includes the Office of Communications and Public Affairs, which coordinates media responses across all media platforms and produces stories about programs and services for residents, and the Office of Intergovernmental Relations, which directs the County’s legislative activities, including coordination of advocacy efforts on federal, State, and regional issues.
- The Learning Organization Division creates an environment to actively engage County employees at all levels through countywide communities and leadership development.
- The Local Agency Formation Commission oversees the boundaries of city and special districts in Santa Clara County.
- The Office of Children and Families Policy ensures that all children in Santa Clara County have the resources to be safe, healthy, and successful, through equity-based recommendations for policies, programs, and system coordination.
- The Office of Emergency Management is the lead agency within the county for federal Department of Homeland Security and other emergency activity grants and is responsible for the Emergency Operations Center, maintaining the operational readiness to support disaster response, recovery, mitigation, and preparedness, as well as the County’s emergency notification and alert systems.
- The Risk Management Division oversees the administration of various safety compliance programs, loss prevention services, and self-insured programs such as workers’ compensation.