Oakland city administrator takes post at UC Santa Cruz

By Keith Burbank | Bay City News

OAKLAND  — Oakland City Administrator Ed Reiskin is leaving the city next month to take over as chief financial officer at the University of California at Santa Cruz, city and university officials said.

Reiskin will leave Oakland at the end of January, when his agreement with the city ends, and will start at UC Santa Cruz in early February.

Reiskin took over the post of city administrator three years ago under Mayor Libby Schaaf. He had worked for Oakland 22 years ago and before his return, Reiskin worked for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.

“This has not been an easy decision for me,” Reiskin said in a statement. “But the timeline of my agreement necessitated I plan forward, while at the same time providing the new mayor an opportunity to engage in her own process to select a new leader.”

Reiskin pledged his support for the smoothest transition possible for Mayor-elect Sheng Thao’s administration.

Reiskin’s official title in his new role is vice chancellor for finance, operations and administration and chief financial officer. He was selected following a national recruitment effort, university officials said.

In his role in Oakland, Reiskin oversaw an operating budget of more than $2.2 billion and about 4,500 employees. He was also responsible for executing and enforcing the city’s laws and policies.

In his role at the university, Reiskin will oversee units including colleges; housing and educational services; financial affairs; physical planning, development and operations; risk and safety services; staff human resources; and sustainability.