California political, policy and government affairs jobs

University of California, Berkeley is hiring an Associate Vice Chancellor for Government and Community Relations who will report directly to the Chancellor, cultivate partnerships across local, state, federal, and Tribal governments, and manage complex governmental, legislative, regulatory, and community engagement activities that support the University's mission, strategic priorities, research agenda, and public service objectives. Position is located in Berkeley, California.

Associate Vice Chancellor for Government & Community Relations, Chancellor's Office (5995U) #89316

UC Berkeley seeks a strategic, collaborative executive to serve as Associate Vice Chancellor for Government and Community Relations (AVC GCR). Reporting directly to the Chancellor, the AVC GCR cultivates enduring, trusted partnerships across local, state, federal, and Tribal governments, elected officials, and regional community stakeholders. Operating within a decentralized, shared-governance environment, the AVC GCR proactively navigates sensitive political issues and positions the office as a coordinated institutional partner/resource. The position manages complex governmental, legislative, regulatory, and community engagement activities that support the University's mission, strategic priorities, research agenda, and public service objectives. Candidates should possess exceptional political acumen, sound judgment, emotional intelligence, a strong sense of collaboration, resilience, and proven experience leading and developing high-performing team. To learn more and to see the job posting, please visit https://apptrkr.com/9922649

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California Association of REALTORS is hiring a Chief of Staff, Governmental Affairs who will serve as the principal integrator for its Governmental Affairs department, providing operational leadership and strategic coordination across its three divisions while working closely with the CEO, with compensation of $220,000 to $250,000 annually. Position is located in Sacramento, California.

The California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) is seeking a strategic, highly organized Chief of Staff, Governmental Affairs to serve as the principal integrator for the Association’s Governmental Affairs department. Working closely with the CEO and Governmental Affairs leadership, this executive will provide operational leadership and strategic coordination across the department’s three divisions, connecting people, priorities, and information while establishing the structures and processes that help the department operate effectively.

We are looking for an experienced leader who excels at navigating complex organizations, building alignment across teams, and creating the conditions for timely, well-informed decision-making. The successful candidate will combine strong government affairs and advocacy experience with the operational discipline, political acuity, and judgment necessary to work effectively with senior leaders in a fast-moving environment.

Based in Sacramento, this role offers the opportunity to work at the center of a statewide Governmental Affairs operation, strengthening coordination and information flow while supporting the substantive policy and programmatic leadership of the department’s division heads.

POSITION SUMMARY
The Chief of Staff for Governmental Affairs serves as the department’s principal integrator, providing operational leadership and ensuring strategic alignment across its three divisions. Based in Sacramento, this role is accountable for the systems, processes, and governance structures that enable the department to function effectively, including planning, meeting rhythms, and decision-making processes.

As a trusted extension of the CEO within Governmental Affairs, the role maintains situational awareness of departmental activities, strengthens communication and collaboration, and promotes alignment around priorities. The position enhances coordination and organizational effectiveness while supporting, rather than directing, the substantive policy and programmatic work of division leaders.

Compensation Range: $220,000 to $250,000 annually
Benefits: Competitive benefits package including health, dental, vision, 401(k) retirement plan with generous company profit-sharing contribution (historically 10-15% per year), 12 Paid Holidays, PTO, life insurance, EAP, and more!

KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Direct reports: Three Governmental Affairs division heads
Other key relationships
• Governmental Affairs leadership and staff
• Corporate Communications
• C.A.R. executive leadership
• California policymakers, regulators, and other government affairs stakeholders
• Association and industry partners

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Own the master operating calendar, the weekly reporting cadence and compiled roundup, and the decision-rights framework.
• Line-manage the three division heads; resolve cross-divisional conflicts and remove obstacles.
• Serve as the single, integrated channel of escalation to the CEO; filter what genuinely requires the CEO.
• Drive cross-divisional initiatives and the intelligence-flow interface to corporate Communications.
• Oversee departmental administration and the enabled adoption of operating tools and AI-supported workflows.
• Serve as a conduit on political and PAC matters, ensuring information flows.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE
Government affairs and advocacy experience
8–10+ years of progressively responsible government affairs and/or advocacy experience, ideally within a trade association, corporation, campaign organization, or government environment.

Leadership and management experience
7+ years of management and/or project/program management experience, with demonstrated success leading people, complex initiatives, and cross-functional work.
Experience managing senior professionals or functional leaders and coordinating priorities across multiple teams, divisions, or functional areas.

Executive and organizational operations
Experience establishing or managing organizational planning, reporting, meeting, workflow, and decision-making processes. Demonstrated ability to connect strategic priorities with the structures and operating practices needed to move work forward.

Education
Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, Government, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.

California government and association environment
Knowledge of California government, politics, advocacy, public policy, or the legislative and regulatory environment is preferred. Experience with a trade association, membership organization, public affairs organization, government entity, or similarly complex organization is also preferred.

CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES
Strategic Thinking and Organizational Alignment
• Sees both the broader strategic picture and the operational details necessary to move priorities forward.
• Synthesizes complex topics into clear, executive-level communications that support timely decision-making.
• Connects priorities and information across functions and identifies dependencies, barriers, and issues requiring senior-level attention.
• Establishes effective planning and operating practices that create clarity and accountability across a complex organization.

Leading and Coordinating Across Teams
• Builds alignment across teams, divisions, and leadership groups with different priorities and areas of expertise.
• Successfully works with varied leadership styles to advance shared objectives.
• Drives execution across cross-functional teams, including circumstances where influence and coordination are as important as formal authority.
• Resolves cross-divisional obstacles while respecting the substantive expertise and decision-making responsibilities of division leaders.

Judgment and Political Acuity
• Demonstrates exceptional judgment, discretion, and political acuity in handling confidential, politically sensitive, and executive-level matters.
• Understands what requires escalation to the CEO and what can appropriately be resolved within the department.
• Operates effectively in high-stakes, fast-moving environments with competing priorities.
• Maintains situational awareness across the department and anticipates emerging issues that may require attention or coordination.

Communication and Influence
• Communicates clearly and effectively with executive leaders, staff, policymakers, stakeholders, and organizational partners.
• Distills complex information into concise, actionable communications for senior audiences.
• Builds productive working relationships across organizational levels and functional boundaries.
• Promotes effective information flow among Governmental Affairs, the CEO’s office, and corporate Communications.

Operational Leadership
• Brings discipline and consistency to planning, reporting, workflows, meeting rhythms, and decision-making processes.
• Maintains focus across multiple concurrent priorities and initiatives.
• Uses technology, operating tools, and AI-supported workflows to strengthen departmental effectiveness.
• Supports an operating environment that enables Governmental Affairs leaders to focus on substantive policy, advocacy, political, and programmatic priorities.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS
If you wish to submit application materials to apply for this position, please email: carsearch@car.org
Please include a resume and cover letter outlining your interest in the position and relevant experience.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
The California Association of REALTORS® is one of the country’s most influential statewide trade associations dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. comprises 95 local member associations and more than 200,000 REALTORS®, REALTOR®-associates, and affiliate members. The Association develops products, programs, and services for its members and advocates on public-policy issues affecting real estate and property ownership.

C.A.R. Mission Statement
Shape, promote and protect an environment for the entire real estate industry, one in which California REALTORS® can succeed in meeting the real property needs of consumers.

C.A.R. Vision Statement
C.A.R. drives innovation and opportunity in the real estate profession and market.

C.A.R. Operating Values
Property Ownership. We believe property ownership builds financial security and thriving, sustainable communities. We strive to make property ownership attainable for all who are committed to working toward it.

Property Rights. We believe that the freedom to buy, sell, maintain, and improve real property is a fundamental right.

Inclusion. We believe that a conscious, persistent effort to further diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging within our community and our organization will drive greater success and innovation through the contribution of different perspectives and ideas.

The REALTOR® Difference. We believe that REALTOR® signifies:
• Professionalism: a commitment to the highest ethical standards in the real estate profession.
• Competence: a commitment to lifelong learning and a high level of knowledge and expertise in the ever-changing profession of real estate.
• Trust: reliable, credible real estate guidance and accurate, comprehensive data.
• Community: belief in the power of community and the commitment to engage, contribute, educate and lead.

Collaboration and Trust. We believe we are stronger when we collaborate and form relationships based on mutual goals, open communication, fairness, and transparency.

Key C.A.R. Programs and Services
• Legal services: Provides summaries of legislation and real estate cases, as well as a Legal Hotline for transaction questions.
• Political advocacy: C.A.R. advocates for REALTOR® issues in Sacramento and Washington D.C. and works with local associations to advocate for property rights.
• Transaction support: Development and continuous updating of standard forms available to members.
• Education: Develops and supports a wide array of real estate educational courses and certifications.
• Meetings and events: Virtual and in-person educational and networking events, including the annual REimagine! Real Estate Conference & Expo, AI NOW and Woman Up!
• Knowledge center: Centralized information on California’s housing market, economy, and issues impacting the industry.
• MLS and professional standards: Guidelines about MLS rules and professional standards.
• Community and foundation programs: A range of programs in which C.A.R. members may participate, including Californians for Homeownership, the Scholarship Foundation, and Diversity and Inclusion Programs.
• Marketing tools and resources: Develops and partners with third parties to provide materials to educate consumers about the intricacies of buying and selling a home and the value of using a REALTOR® as well as tools to help members personalize their own marketing.

FURTHER INFORMATION
The California Association of REALTORS® is headquartered in Sacramento, California, with a staff of 160. For further information, please visit https://www.car.org/.

State Bar of California is hiring a Fiscal Grants Supervisor who will lead fiscal compliance for its legal aid grant portfolio, which distributes approximately $300 million annually to more than 110 legal aid nonprofit organizations, and supervise a fiscal compliance team of approximately five, with a salary range of $126,222 to $168,276. Position is located in Los Angeles, California and San Francisco, California.

ABOUT THE ROLE
The Fiscal Grants Supervisor is part of the State Bar of California's Office of Access & Inclusion's (OA&I’s) leadership and management team and performs the most complex financial analysis and fiscal oversight work for OA&I’s grant programs and provides direct supervision of professional fiscal staff. The position is responsible for directing fiscal monitoring of grantees, including the review of audited financial statements, budgets, and expenditure reports; developing and maintaining fiscal compliance policies, procedures, and internal controls; analyzing complex and sometimes novel fiscal compliance issues and developing recommendations for resolution; and preparing financial reports and presentations for the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission (LSTFC) and its committees.

This role requires a strong financial professional who can lead people, strengthen grant compliance and monitoring, improve cross-team collaboration, and effectively navigate organizational leadership while remaining grounded in OA&I’s mission of expanding access to justice.

The Ideal Candidate
We are seeking a detail-oriented, analytical fiscal leader with deep financial expertise—ideally with a background in accounting, auditing, or financial management, such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or equivalent experience. The ideal candidate should have deep expertise in nonprofit fiscal compliance, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and the Code of Federal Regulations for management of federal funds. The ideal candidate should also have a strong understanding of grantmaking and compliance in a public or nonprofit setting, and have the capacity to ensure fiscal integrity, accuracy, and accountability across complex grant programs supported by multiple funding sources.

Strong team leadership is essential. The successful candidate will have a track record of developing staff, fostering high-performing teams, and implementing change management. Candidates should be able to explain complex fiscal issues clearly to non-fiscal audiences, including grantees, colleagues, and commissioners. While not required, experience working in grantmaking and with legal aid organizations or other nonprofits in California—along with familiarity with IOLTA, EAF, and grants-management systems such as SmartSimple—is highly desirable. A commitment to access to justice, equity, and public service is core to this role.

This role demands a fast-learning curve. The successful candidate will be expected to quickly gain fluency in the State Bar's grant programs, compliance requirements, and stakeholder landscape in order to provide sound leadership and continuity for the grants team and its partners.

Key Responsibilities
Compliance, Monitoring, and Fiscal Integrity
• Oversee fiscal compliance and financial monitoring across a portfolio of 110+ legal aid nonprofits, in close collaboration with grants administration leadership, to ensure compliance with grant terms, statutory and program requirements, accounting standards, and reporting deadlines.
• Direct the review of grantee audited financial statements, budgets, expenditure reports, and other fiscal submissions; identify findings and risks and ensure timely, appropriate follow-up.
• Oversee and perform fiscal monitoring visits and desk audits, ensuring consistent application of grant rules and fiscal standards across grantees and grant programs.
• Oversee fiscal eligibility checks, including verification of grantees’ 501(c)(3) and good-standing status.
• Analyze complex and sometimes novel fiscal compliance issues—such as questioned or disallowed costs, cost allocation, and use of restricted funds—and develop clear, well-reasoned recommendations for LSTFC approval.
• Establish and maintain strong fiscal and internal controls across the grants portfolio, including adherence to GAAP throughout the grant lifecycle using the State Bar’s grants-management system.
• Lead and draft the codification of grant rules related to fiscal and internal-control processes, and ensure adopted rules are properly implemented.
• Support the accurate and timely disbursement of grant funds, including reconciliation of payments and grant balances across funding sources.
• Serve as key staff support to the LSTFC — OA&I's governing body for grantmaking — delivering presentations, analysis, and recommendations that enable informed, mission-aligned decisionmaking.
• Potentially oversee and serve as staff support to the LSTFC’s Grant Eligibility and Support Committee, which is charged with ensuring comprehensive oversight and support of grantee compliance across all grant programs while maintaining consistent standards and promoting accountability.

Reporting, Audits, and Operations
• Write financial reports and memos and present to the LSTFC or its relevant committees—including the Grant Eligibility and Support Committee—on fiscal compliance issues, as needed.
• Prepare fiscal analyses supporting grant allocations, funding recommendations, and program design.
• Contribute to the development and management of the OA&I grants administration budget.
• Support State Bar internal and external audits related to grant funds, including preparing documentation and implementing corrective actions.
• Support fiscal reporting obligations under contractual and interagency agreements, including those with the Judicial Council and CalHFA.
• Oversee various OA&I related-audits.

Team Development & Leadership
• Lead, develop, and motivate a fiscal team of approximately five staff with varying levels of fiscal and compliance expertise, fostering a culture of accuracy and accountability.
• Assign and review work, set performance standards, and provide coaching, professional development, and performance management.
• Promote a supportive work environment focused on staff well-being, performance, and growth.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and service-oriented team culture.
• Build team capacity through coaching, mentoring, and cross-training.
• Partner with OA&I and State Bar leadership to prepare staff for new mandates, systems, or policy updates.
• Develop productive and positive working relationships within OA&I and across offices to support work of the office and the State Bar.

Grantee Support & Stakeholder Engagement
• Serve as a resource to grantees on fiscal requirements, building strong, collaborative relationships with grantee finance and executive staff.
• Develop and deliver fiscal compliance trainings and technical assistance to grantees, including content for annual grantee trainings.
• Partner with the State Bar’s Office of Finance and other offices to align grant fiscal processes with organization-wide financial practices.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The salary range for this role is $126,222 - $168,276. This is an FLSA Exempt/Non-Union Represented role.

To learn more and apply: https://www.npag.com/sbc-fgs