Government Affairs - Associate Director, Director or Deputy Director

California Immigrant Policy Center•Los Angeles, CA

2d•$100,000 - $180,000

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 position translates community priorities and policy expertise into effective advocacy, builds relationships with decision-makers, and leads staff and lobbyists in securing policies and investments for immigrant communities. The appointment level—Associate Director, Director, or Deputy Director—will be based on the candidate’s qualifications, leadership, and readiness to take on the relevant scope of responsibility. The role 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. Across all levels, the position advances CIPC’s approved legislative, budget, and administrative agenda; develops advocacy plans; cultivates relationships with government officials and allied organizations; represents CIPC in meetings, hearings, briefings, and negotiations; monitors legislative and budget developments; coordinates advocacy materials; and maintains a legislative scorecard. It also supports coalition partnerships and community participation, supervises assigned staff and lobbyists, maintains work plans and tracking systems, contributes to budgeting and fundraising materials, and coordinates required lobbying records and reporting. At the Associate Director level, the role leads day-to-day execution of assigned advocacy campaigns under senior leadership, translates organizational priorities into campaign tactics and work plans, manages assigned relationships and negotiations within established parameters, supervises assigned staff and lobbyists, and contributes to funding and reporting materials. At the Director level, it adds department-wide responsibility for strategy, personnel, administration, budgeting, and fundraising, including leading annual strategy, major negotiations, departmental systems, and fundraising efforts. At the Deputy Director level, it adds executive-level strategy and management, oversight of designated teams or departments and an approximately $2 million or larger portfolio, advice to executive leadership and the Board, experience applying work within a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, and leadership of CIPC’s broader presence and relationships in the Sacramento region. Sacramento is the preferred location. Candidates based in the Bay Area or other locations within commuting distance must be able and willing to work in Sacramento at least three to four days per week. Additional attendance may be required during key legislative and budget periods. The position requires meetings, hearings, and events as needed, including outside regular business hours, and periodic travel within California for partner meetings and organizational activities.

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 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 a department’s administrative 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 in partnership with executive, policy, organizing, and communications teams; develop advocacy plans, identify champions and targets, assess opportunities and opposition, and coordinate timely action.
Build and maintain relationships with legislators, legislative leadership, committee and budget staff, the Governor’s Office, state agencies, local lawmakers and their staff, and allied organizations.
Represent CIPC in meetings, hearings, briefings, and negotiations; secure commitments and follow through while keeping advocacy aligned with approved positions and decision-making processes.
Monitor legislative and budget developments, assess amendments and political dynamics, identify implementation opportunities, and provide actionable recommendations to staff and leadership.
Coordinate 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 accompanying 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 advocacy 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 relationships with public officials.
Supervise, coach, mentor, and evaluate assigned government affairs staff; establish goals, workloads, professional 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 increasing 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.
At the Associate Director level, lead day-to-day government affairs execution and assigned campaigns, translate priorities into tactics and work plans, manage assigned legislative relationships, supervise assigned staff and lobbyists, and track assigned expenditures and deliverables.
At the Director level, develop and lead annual government affairs strategy; recommend priorities, resource allocations, and measures of success; lead major negotiations; oversee departmental staffing, hiring, performance management, consultants, systems, budgeting, spending, grant deliverables, reporting, and fundraising.
At the Deputy Director level, partner with the Executive Director on multiyear government affairs and political strategy; oversee government affairs and additional assigned teams or departments; supervise directors and managers; lead consequential negotiations; advise executive leadership and the Board; oversee a portfolio budget of approximately $2 million or more; lead multiyear resource planning and funding efforts; apply 501(c)(4) nonprofit experience; and strengthen CIPC’s Sacramento-area presence, advocacy, community partnerships, and funder relationships.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package including health coverage, retirement contributions, paid time off, and professional development support.
Paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; CIPC pays 100% of the full insurance premium for qualified employees and 75% of premiums for dependents.
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 7 years of service.
Generous time off policy.
Up to 26 paid holidays a year, including 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.