Government Affairs - Associate Director, Director or Deputy Director

Job title: Associate Director of Government Affairs, Director of Government Affairs, or Deputy Director of Government Affairs
Location: Sacramento preferred; candidates in the Bay Area and other locations within commuting distance of Sacramento will also be considered.

Term: Full-time; occasional evenings and weekends required
Pay range: $100,000–$180,000 annually, depending on appointment level, skills, and experience
Reports to: Executive Director
CIPC will determine the appointment level based on the selected candidate’s qualifications, demonstrated leadership, and readiness to assume the responsibilities described below.

ORGANIZATIONAL SUMMARY
The California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) is a statewide, nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to upholding the humanity of immigrant communities and transforming systems to achieve racial, social, and economic justice. Founded in 1996, CIPC has helped win landmark advances, including Health4All, the California Values Act, expanded access to the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), and One California’s investment in immigration legal services. We bring immigrant rights organizations and community partners together to improve health access, advance economic mobility, and protect immigrant communities from detention and deportation.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, CIPC maintains offices and a significant presence in Sacramento and Fresno, with staff also based in the Bay Area and San Diego. Our work advances local and state policy, builds power across the immigrant rights movement, strengthens organizations’ capacity for policy advocacy and rapid response, and changes narratives about immigrants. We work with partners across California, including underserved communities in the Central Valley, Central Coast, Inland Empire, Imperial Valley, and North State, to build a more inclusive and prosperous future for all Californians.

POSITION SUMMARY
CIPC seeks an experienced government affairs leader to advance our legislative, budget, and administrative priorities and strengthen our influence in Sacramento. This position translates community priorities and policy expertise into effective advocacy, builds relationships with decision-makers, and leads staff and lobbyists in securing meaningful policies for and investments in immigrant communities.

Working closely with executive leadership and the Policy, Organizing, Communications, and Development teams, this leader will connect government relations and policy advocacy with coalition building, community leadership, and long-term movement goals. The scope expands by appointment level: the Associate Director leads execution and staff supervision; the Director leads departmental strategy, administration, and fundraising; and the Deputy Director adds executive-level strategy, broader management, and oversight of a multimillion-dollar portfolio.

LOCATION AND TRAVEL
Sacramento is the preferred location. Candidates based in the Bay Area or other locations within commuting distance must be willing and able to work in Sacramento at least three to four days per week and attend meetings, hearings, and events as needed, including outside regular business hours. Additional Sacramento attendance may be required during key legislative and budget periods. Periodic travel within California is also required for partner meetings and organizational activities.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
The following responsibilities apply at all three levels, with increasing independence, decision-making authority, and organizational accountability as outlined below.

Government Relations, Legislative Advocacy & Budget Strategy

• 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 law makers and their staff, and allied organizations.
• Represent CIPC in meetings, hearings, briefings, and negotiations; secure concrete commitments and follow through while keeping advocacy aligned with approved positions and decision-making processes.
• Monitor legislative and budget developments; assess amendments, political dynamics, and implementation opportunities; provide actionable recommendations to staff and leadership.
• Coordinate preparation and review of position letters, testimony, fact sheets, briefing materials, and legislative updates with the relevant policy and communications staff.
• Develop and maintain CIPC’s legislative scorecard and accompanying analysis to assess lawmakers’ voting records and support for CIPC’s priorities, inform advocacy strategy, and strengthen accountability to immigrant communities.

Coalition Partnerships & Community Power

• Coordinate advocacy with immigrant rights, labor, health, economic justice, grassroots organizers and other partners; build alignment across coalitions and address disagreements constructively.
• Partner with organizing staff to ensure directly impacted communities and regional partners shape advocacy priorities and participate meaningfully in decision-maker engagement.
• Help prepare partners and community leaders for legislative meetings, testimony, and advocacy activities, including our annual Immigrant Day of Action; strengthen their ongoing relationships with public officials.

Staff Leadership, Coordination & Accountability

• Supervise, coach, mentor, and evaluate assigned government affairs staff; establish clear goals, manageable workloads, professional development plans, and accountability for results.
• Direct and assess the work of retained lobbyists and consultants; align assignments, deliverables, and communications with CIPC’s priorities.
• Maintain work plans, legislative tracking systems, relationship records, and regular 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 level.
• Coordinate with operations staff and appropriate advisers on required lobbying records and reporting; model sound judgment, confidentiality, and a respectful, equitable workplace.
• Contribute to CIPC’s Management Team, organizational planning, and assessment of campaign outcomes and departmental performance.
  

SCOPE OF LEADERSHIP BY APPOINTMENT LEVEL

Associate Director of Government Affairs
Leads day-to-day government affairs execution and assigned advocacy campaigns under the strategic direction of designated senior leadership.

• Translate organizational priorities into campaign tactics, weekly work plans, staff assignments, and coordinated lobbyist activity.
• Manage assigned legislative relationships and negotiations within established parameters; elevate significant policy tradeoffs and strategic decisions to senior leadership.
• Supervise assigned staff and lobbyists, monitor performance, and strengthen team systems and professional skills.
• Track assigned expenditures and deliverables; contribute program narratives, outcome data, and other materials for proposals, funder updates, and grant reports.

Director of Government Affairs
Carries the responsibilities above with department-wide accountability for strategy, personnel, administration, and fundraising, in partnership with executive leadership.

• Develop and lead the annual government affairs strategy and recommend legislative and budget priorities, resource allocations, and measures of success.
• Lead major negotiations and high-level government relationships; make tactical decisions within approved policy positions and identify decisions requiring executive review.
• Oversee departmental staffing, hiring, performance management, consultant scopes, and internal systems; coordinate priorities with other department leaders.
• Own departmental work planning, budgeting, spending oversight, and grant deliverables; ensure timely and accurate programmatic and financial reporting with finance and development staff.
• Lead departmental fundraising in partnership with Development and executive leadership, including funding plans, proposal development, funder engagement, stewardship, and renewals.

Deputy Director of Government Affairs
Carries the Director-level responsibilities with expanded executive leadership, management of designated teams or departments, and accountability for a multimillion-dollar portfolio. Leads CIPC’s broader presence in the Sacramento region, including local City and County advocacy, community partnerships, and funder relationships.

• Partner with the Executive Director to shape a multiyear government affairs and political strategy that connects policy, organizing, communications, and organizational growth.
• Oversee government affairs and additional assigned teams or departments; supervise directors and managers, align shared goals, resolve competing priorities, and develop future leaders.
• Lead CIPC’s most consequential government negotiations and relationships as delegated by the Executive Director, and advise executive leadership and the Board on strategy and risk.
• Oversee a departmental or assigned portfolio budget of approximately $2 million or more, including staffing, contracts, grants, spending forecasts, and programmatic and financial reports.
• Lead multiyear resource planning and major departmental funding efforts with Development and executive leadership; ensure commitments are achievable, funded, and delivered.
• Apply experience working within a 501(c)(4) nonprofit to partnership strategy and organizational planning, in coordination with leadership and appropriate advisers.
• Lead and strengthen CIPC’s broader presence in Sacramento, including relationships and advocacy with Sacramento City and County officials, engagement with local community partners, and cultivation and stewardship of funder relationships throughout the region.
  

QUALIFICATIONS
Required at All Levels

• Deep commitment to immigrant rights, racial and economic justice, and leadership by directly impacted communities.
• Strong command of California’s 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 without losing sight of organizational commitments.
• Excellent writing, public speaking, analysis, and project management skills, including the ability to explain complex proposals clearly and recommend 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 Sacramento attendance, event, and travel requirements described above.

Minimum Experience by Level
Experience requirements may overlap in time; they are not additive. Candidates must meet the requirements for the level at which they are appointed.

Associate Director

• At least 9 years of government affairs experience.
• At least 3 years of experience supervising staff and lobbyists.

Director

• At least 12 years of government affairs experience.
• At least 5 years of experience supervising staff and lobbyists.
• At least 3 years of experience 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 experience, ideally across multiple departments, and demonstrated experience directing lobbyists.
• At least 5 years of experience leading departmental administration and fundraising, including management of an approximately $2 million or larger departmental budget and related grants, deliverables, and reports.
• Experience working within a 501(c)(4) nonprofit.

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

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Associate Director: $100,000–$115,000 annually.
• Director: $116,000–$150,000 annually.
• Deputy Director: $151,000–$180,000 annually.

Salary within the applicable range will reflect skills, experience, and the scope of the appointment. CIPC offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health coverage, retirement contributions, paid time off, and professional development support.

CIPC is a unionized workplace and is represented by Immigrant Advocates United-United Auto Workers. This position is not in the bargaining unit. CIPC provides a comprehensive benefits package to its employees:

• Paid medical, dental, vision insurance, and life insurance (100% of the full insurance premium for qualified employees and 75% of the premiums for their dependents)
• 3% contribution to 401 (k) retirement plan
• Commuter benefit or paid parking access
• Monthly reimbursement for cell and internet usage
• $1,500 professional development allowance
• 4-week paid sabbatical after 7 years of service
• Generous time off policy
  • Up to 26 paid holidays a year (includes summer and winter collective breaks)
  • Vacation: 1st year of service: 10 days, after completion of 1st year: 15 days, after completion of 4th year: 20 days)
  • 5 personal days per year

APPLICATION INFORMATION
Submit a resume and cover letter through CIPC’s careers page at https://caimmigrant.org/about-us/careers/. In your cover letter, identify the level or levels for which you wish to be considered, describe your relevant advocacy and management experience, and confirm your ability to meet the Sacramento attendance requirements. Director and Deputy Director applicants should also describe their departmental administration and fundraising experience, including budget scope. Deputy Director applicants should address their experience working within a 501(c)(4) nonprofit.

CIPC is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from people of color, immigrants, and individuals from diverse backgrounds. CIPC is committed to building and maintaining a diverse and welcoming workplace. We do not discriminate in our hiring based on an individual's race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, color, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, veteran status, political affiliation, Union activity, appearance, gender presentation or identity, marital status, or parental status, and in accordance with all other applicable laws.