Government Affairs - Associate Director, Director or Deputy Director

California Immigrant Policy Center•Statewide, CA

About The Position

The California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) seeks an experienced government affairs leader to advance its legislative, budget, and administrative priorities and strengthen its influence in Sacramento. The role translates community priorities and policy expertise into advocacy, builds relationships with decision-makers, and leads staff and lobbyists in advancing policies and investments for immigrant communities. The position works with executive leadership and the Policy, Organizing, Communications, and Development teams to connect government relations and policy advocacy with coalition building, community leadership, and long-term movement goals. The appointment level—Associate Director, Director, or Deputy Director—is based on the selected candidate’s qualifications, leadership, and readiness. At all levels, the position advances CIPC’s approved agenda; maintains government and coalition relationships; represents CIPC in meetings, hearings, briefings, and negotiations; monitors legislative and budget developments; coordinates advocacy materials; supports community participation; supervises assigned staff and lobbyists; and maintains advocacy systems and reporting. Responsibilities and decision-making authority increase by level. The Associate Director leads day-to-day execution and assigned campaigns. The Director has department-wide responsibility for strategy, personnel, administration, budgeting, and fundraising. The Deputy Director adds broader executive leadership, oversight of assigned teams or departments, Sacramento-region leadership, and accountability for a portfolio of approximately $2 million or more. Sacramento is the preferred location. Candidates based in the Bay Area or elsewhere within commuting distance must be able and willing to work in Sacramento at least three to four days per week, with additional attendance possible during legislative and budget periods. The role requires attendance at meetings, hearings, and events as needed, including outside regular business hours, as well as periodic travel within California. CIPC is a statewide, nonpartisan nonprofit founded in 1996 and dedicated to upholding the humanity of immigrant communities and transforming systems to achieve racial, social, and economic justice. It works with partners across California on policy, organizational capacity, rapid response, and narratives about immigrants. CIPC is a unionized workplace, but this position is not in the bargaining unit.

Requirements

Deep commitment to immigrant rights, racial and economic justice, and leadership by directly impacted communities.
Strong command of California legislative, budget, and administrative processes, with demonstrated success advancing policy or funding priorities and navigating complex political environments.
Ability to cultivate trusted relationships with public officials, staff, and coalition partners; exercise sound political judgment; and negotiate effectively while honoring organizational commitments.
Excellent writing, public speaking, analysis, and project management skills, including explaining complex proposals clearly and recommending actionable strategies.
Demonstrated ability to supervise and develop staff, direct lobbyists, manage competing deadlines, and collaborate across teams and differences in perspective.
Ability to meet the stated Sacramento attendance, event, and travel requirements.
Associate Director: At least 9 years of government affairs experience and at least 3 years supervising staff and lobbyists.
Director: At least 12 years of government affairs experience; at least 5 years supervising staff and lobbyists; and at least 3 years leading departmental administration and fundraising responsibilities.
Deputy Director: At least 15 years of government affairs experience; at least 7 years of staff supervision, ideally across multiple departments, and demonstrated experience directing lobbyists; at least 5 years leading departmental administration and fundraising, including management of an approximately $2 million or larger departmental budget and related grants, deliverables, and reports; and experience working within a 501(c)(4) nonprofit.

Nice To Haves

Experience advancing immigrant rights, health and public benefits, economic justice, or protections from detention and deportation.
Established California government and coalition relationships.
Experience supporting advocacy led by communities in underserved regions.

Responsibilities

Advance CIPC’s approved legislative, budget, and administrative agenda with executive, policy, organizing, and communications teams; develop advocacy plans, identify targets and champions, assess opportunities and opposition, and coordinate action.
Build and maintain relationships with legislators, legislative leadership, committee and budget staff, the Governor’s Office, state agencies, local lawmakers and staff, and allied organizations.
Represent CIPC in meetings, hearings, briefings, and negotiations; seek concrete commitments and follow through while aligning advocacy with approved positions and decision-making processes.
Monitor legislative and budget developments, assess amendments, political dynamics, and implementation opportunities, and provide actionable recommendations.
Coordinate the preparation and review of position letters, testimony, fact sheets, briefing materials, and legislative updates with policy and communications staff.
Develop and maintain CIPC’s legislative scorecard and analysis of lawmakers’ voting records and support for CIPC priorities.
Coordinate advocacy with immigrant rights, labor, health, economic justice, grassroots organizing, and other partners; build coalition alignment and address disagreements constructively.
Partner with organizing staff so directly impacted communities and regional partners shape priorities and participate in engagement with decision-makers.
Prepare partners and community leaders for legislative meetings, testimony, and advocacy activities, including the annual Immigrant Day of Action, and strengthen their ongoing relationships with public officials.
Supervise, coach, mentor, and evaluate assigned government affairs staff; establish goals, workloads, development plans, and accountability for results.
Direct and assess retained lobbyists and consultants, aligning assignments, deliverables, and communications with CIPC priorities.
Maintain work plans, legislative tracking systems, relationship records, and internal updates; coordinate across teams to resolve competing priorities and meet deadlines.
Document advocacy outcomes and contribute to departmental budgeting, fundraising materials, grant reports, and organizational planning, with responsibility varying by appointment level.
Coordinate with operations staff and advisers on required lobbying records and reporting; exercise sound judgment and confidentiality and support a respectful, equitable workplace.
Contribute to CIPC’s Management Team, organizational planning, and assessment of campaign outcomes and departmental performance.
As Associate Director, lead day-to-day government affairs execution and assigned campaigns; translate priorities into tactics, work plans, assignments, and lobbyist activity; manage assigned relationships and negotiations within established parameters; supervise assigned staff and lobbyists; and track assigned expenditures and deliverables.
As Director, develop and lead annual government affairs strategy and recommend priorities, resource allocations, and measures of success; lead major negotiations and high-level relationships; oversee department staffing, administration, systems, budgeting, spending, reporting, and fundraising.
As Deputy Director, partner with the Executive Director on multiyear strategy; oversee government affairs and additional assigned teams or departments; supervise directors and managers; lead delegated high-consequence negotiations; advise executive leadership and the Board on strategy and risk; and oversee an assigned portfolio budget of approximately $2 million or more.
As Deputy Director, lead CIPC’s broader Sacramento-region presence, including local City and County advocacy, community partnerships, and funder relationships; lead multiyear resource planning and major funding efforts; and apply experience in a 501(c)(4) nonprofit to partnership strategy and organizational planning.

Benefits

Paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; CIPC pays 100% of the full insurance premium for qualified employees and 75% of dependent premiums.
3% contribution to a 401(k) retirement plan.
Commuter benefit or paid parking access.
Monthly reimbursement for cell and internet usage.
$1,500 professional development allowance.
Four-week paid sabbatical after seven years of service.
Generous time-off policy, including up to 26 paid holidays a year and summer and winter collective breaks.
Vacation: 10 days during the first year of service, 15 days after completion of the first year, and 20 days after completion of the fourth year.
Five personal days per year.

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