California State Manager - REMOTE

LOCATION: Remote, but based in California

REPORTS TO: Director of Government Affairs and Partnerships

COMPENSATION: $90,000 - $110,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications

The crisis in local news poses a severe threat to democracy and the civic health of communities. Rebuild Local News believes that in addition to improved business models and increased philanthropy, public policy plays a crucial role. Our pathbreaking set of policy initiatives, which we advocate for alongside partners, has helped advance effective, First Amendment-friendly legislation across the country. Together, these policies have established programs directing hundreds of millions to local newsrooms.

Rebuild Local News develops public policies to strengthen local news – and then works on the state and national level to pass effective legislation. Rebuild Local News also runs the Rebuild Local News Coalition, which unites newsrooms, labor unions, and civic organizations committed to revitalizing local journalism. Collectively, the groups in the Coalition represent over 3,000 newsrooms and thousands of journalists, working together to safeguard the future of local news. We focus on policies that are nonpartisan, and platform and content neutral.

Within this landscape, California is facing major challenges. Looking at the number of journalists per 100,000, California is one of the ten worst states in the country, according to the study by Muck Rack and Rebuild Local News. In 2002, there were 40 journalists per 100,000 residents in the United States; this year, in California there are 6.1. Most California communities are not being adequately covered. This makes it harder for residents to address their problems and makes it more likely they’ll have increased corruption, polarization, misinformation, and taxes.

This year, Rebuild Local News sponsored AB 2222, the Community NEWS Act, introduced by Assemblymember Chris Ward, an ambitious plan to revive California local news through a refundable tax credit supporting the retention and hiring of local reporters, and alongside it the state created new grant programs for ethnic media and for public broadcasting stabilization. Together, these programs will direct hundreds of millions to California newsrooms over the next five years. Getting there required a coalition of more than 180 local, state and national organizations that we built and held together across labor unions, press associations, independent and nonprofit publishers, ethnic and community media, public broadcasters and university journalism leaders.

That win rests on years of work in the state. Our Senior Advisor, former Senator Steven Glazer, set up the California Local News Fellowship, renewed and expanded this year, and led outside efforts to fund both it and the state’s Civic Media Program. Two years earlier, Rebuild Local News built the coalition behind SB 1327, which secured a 27-7 vote in the California Senate and would have provided $500 million to California local media.

Passing these laws was only half the work. What remains is making sure the money reaches the newsrooms these programs were written for, defending and reauthorizing them in future sessions, and charting the next generation of local news policy in California.

THE ROLE

Rebuild Local News is seeking a government affairs professional to lead our work in California. This person will serve as the lead advocate for the organization in the largest state we operate in, and it comes at a moment of opportunity to secure and expand on our first generation of public policy. The successful candidate will lead implementation of the Community NEWS Act, win renewal of the California Local News Fellowship and defend these critical programs in future legislation, and represent Rebuild Local News before the regulators including the Franchise Tax Board and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.

Building and holding together a coalition of newsrooms, labor unions, and civic organizations will be central to the job, as will directing our contract lobbyists in Sacramento. This role will also oversee our local-level advocacy in Los Angeles, San Francisco and elsewhere. The individual in this role will play a key part in advancing our mission and helping demonstrate the impact and value of this work.

This position is funded through a grant currently secured through 2028. While the role is initially structured as a term-limited position aligned with grant funding, Rebuild Local News is committed to pursuing ongoing funding and organizational growth to sustain this role beyond the grant period.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee and manage efforts to advance state level legislative proposals in California aligned with Rebuild Local News priorities.

• Build and maintain relationships with state legislators, staff, and administrative leadership across the political spectrum.

• Oversee implementation of enacted California legislation, owning that work for the organization and coordinating it across teams, including marketing the benefit to eligible newsrooms, securing the tax and legal support they need to claim it, mobilizing connected philanthropic investment, and analyzing program results and impact.

• Sustain and expand the California coalition of newsrooms, press associations, labor unions, and public media, converting it from a bill-specific coalition into permanent advocacy infrastructure.

• Coordinate external lobbyists or other contractors deployed at the state level.

• Identify, recruit, and coordinate relationships with partners from outside the news industry whose interests align with our policy goals, including small business, education, and economic development leaders.

• Monitor and respond to existing and developing legislative and regulatory policies to ensure benefits are distributed equitably and in a First-Amendment-friendly way.

• Communicate updates, progress, or setbacks internally and with stakeholders.

• Serve as the organization's authority on California legislative process and procedure.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 7 years in advocacy, government affairs, or legislative affairs, including leadership roles.

• Direct experience working within the California legislative process, including passing or defending legislation.

• Demonstrated experience with state agency engagement, rulemaking, and regulatory advocacy;

• Demonstrated experience with state tax policy and appropriations;

• Demonstrated experience in county or municipal government relations

• Experience leading large stakeholder coalitions, including recruiting members, setting shared priorities, and turning their support into legislative action through testimony, sign-on letters, and constituent contact with legislators.

• Experience directing contract lobbyists or outside consultants.

• Experience working in a fully remote or hybrid work environment.

QUALITIES:

• Outstanding at building relationships with diverse stakeholders.

• Ability to grasp the complexities of policy in this local news sector.

• Ability to navigate conflict with professionalism.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy and the ability to meet deadlines.

• Comfortable working independently on a fully remote team.

• Willingness to travel as necessary for conferences or events.

• Passion for the cause of reviving community news.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, professional references and two professional writing samples via our hiring portal here. Please provide all requested information to be considered. Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

The compensation range for this position is $90,000 - $110,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Rebuild Local News’ benefits package includes generous time off, employer-paid medical, vision, and dental insurance plan options, and a 401(k) retirement plan with an employer contribution. Employees are also offered voluntary enrollment in a full suite of other health coverage options, including disability insurance, life insurance, Health FSA / Dependent Care FSA and more.

Rebuild Local News values equity and inclusion, recognizing that a variety of backgrounds and experiences strengthens our ability to create positive change. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that embraces equity and ensures everyone feels valued and heard.

Rebuild Local News is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.

Rebuild Local News believes in fair, transparent, and equitable compensation. Please note that actual salaries may vary within the range, or be above or below the range, based on factors including, but not limited to, education, training, experience, professional achievement, business need, and location.