Senior Officer, California State Lead, State and Local Government Relations, North America, 9-month LTE

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation • CA

97d • $186,400 - $288,800

About The Position

The Senior Officer, California State Lead position leads the foundation’s policy, advocacy and communications efforts and works to design, develop and help execute government relations strategies in support of the foundation’s domestic priorities. Reporting to the Deputy Director, State and Local, you will be a key member of NAT’s senior staff and provide strategic guidance and expertise to further our core mission in the U.S. of strengthening educational opportunities and improving economic mobility. Our ideal state lead is a creative problem solver, thoughtful and trusted partner, and intellectually curious government relations expert with a range of expertise to drive the work of diverse grantees. You will collaborate with colleagues using diplomacy and flexibility to help solve important issues in a dynamic environment. This is a remote based position located in Sacramento, California with an expectation of frequent on-site engagement at the state capitol, generally multiple times each week. Candidates must live within a commutable distance to the capital. This position is a limited-term position for 9 months. Relocation will not be provided.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience with 15+ years of state and/or local government relations experience.
• Must have at least 10 years’ experience working in or closely with at least one of the following; state legislatures, governor’s office and/or state education agencies (eg State Board of Education, State Education Agencies, Super Intendant Offices) or in established government relations firms or organizations.
• Established and proven leader in developing government relations strategies, designing and managing multifaceted projects and initiatives, and building strong partnerships around issues.
• Significant knowledge and experience developing government relations strategies in K-12 and higher education at the state and federal level.
• Demonstrated ability to develop written analysis and reports in response to internal requests as well as proactively around emerging priorities.
• Demonstrated success leading and managing change and cultivating strong cross-team relationships in a large, matrixed organization with a diverse array of internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Demonstrated expertise to manage, monitor, and evaluate grants.
• Agility to envision new ways to scale tools and solutions to complex and challenging problems.
• Outstanding writing and editing ability and excellent verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Strong initiative, analytical skills, organizational skills, and ability to work towards real results within and across teams while remaining adaptable and flexible in an environment with evolving priorities, tasks, and roles and responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of government relations strategies designed to advance the foundation’s perspective on issues such as education data access and privacy, K-12 math, higher education degree completion and value, education finance, early learning and high school-to-postsecondary pathways.
• Engage regularly in-person in state Capitols to establish and sustain relationships with key decision-makers (i.e. legislators, agency/institutional heads) and cultivate policy champions (key business, community and philanthropic leaders) that support policy solutions that align with our priorities.
• Liaise and collaborate regularly in-person with state-based advocates, influencers, advocacy organizations and other partners and stakeholders.
• Track state budget development processes and assess implications of changes for foundation priorities.
• Represent the foundation to key external constituencies including making speeches, attending conferences and other formal/informal meetings as necessary.
• Coordinate opportunities to use foundation leadership voices in advocacy activities in coverage states.
• Develop, implement and coordinate place-based advocacy strategies that support the adoption and scaling of K-12 education and Postsecondary education policy solutions.
• Work with key internal stakeholders to provide innovative government relations solutions to sophisticated and challenging problems.
• Assist Deputy Director and Director with the development, refinement and execution of high-impact, cross-team strategies.
• Collaborate with the NAT Policy and Finance Team to identify and adapt needed policy solutions to state policy contexts.
• Operate effectively in a highly dynamic and matrixed environment; Guide preparation for regular updates to NAT, GPA and foundation leadership on the direction and progress of team strategies and investments based on agreed-upon goals and measurable outcomes; also, brief leadership as needed on broader trends and developments at the state and local level affecting our issues and policies in education and economic mobility.
• Update NAT, GPA, and U.S. Program leadership about political and policy trends within coverage states.
• Prepare and manage investment portfolio, meeting all required milestones within the foundation’s annual budget cycle, and ensure clear and consistent communications with the leadership of our grantees and vendors.
• Identify potential advocacy partners; assess their alignment with foundation priorities; evaluate their capacity to advocate; manage resulting policy, advocacy, and communications grants; and then assess their performance over time.
• Create, review, and discuss funding proposals to ensure plans effectively and efficiently support and move program strategies forward towards impact.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums.
• Generous paid time off.
• Paid family leave.
• Foundation-paid retirement contribution.
• Regional holidays.
• Opportunities to engage in several employee communities.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree