Regional Director- Central Valley

Position Summary

The Regional Director is CAA’s principal representative and advocate within an assigned geographic region. The position anticipates and responds to local public policy and political developments affecting rental housing; builds trusted relationships with policymakers, members and community partners; and integrates advocacy, political strategy, communications, member engagement and membership development.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President, Local Government Affairs (or their designee) the Regional Director partners with CAA’s public affairs, marketing, legal, and communications teams and CAA’s members to deliver quality results for the industry, the association, and its members. Success requires sound political judgment, initiative, persuasive communication, creative problem solving skills, and the ability to translate complex policy into effective regional action.

Essential Responsibilities

Government Affairs and Strategic Advocacy

• Monitor city councils, county boards, housing authorities, rent boards and other local bodies for proposals affecting rental housing providers.
• Serve as a key point of contact to identified state legislators in the region, partner with CAA’s state government affairs team to identify opportunities to build relationships and advocate to identified key state legislators in their districts
• Analyze ordinances, regulations, ballot measures and administrative actions; identify emerging threats and opportunities before they become significant.
• Recommend CAA positions and advocacy strategies, including when an issue warrants coalition engagement, member mobilization, legal review, research, polling, communications or political involvement.
• Represent CAA before elected bodies, agencies, commissions and stakeholder groups; meet with policymakers and staff to advance CAA priorities.
• Prepare testimony, talking points, policy summaries, position letters and other advocacy materials.
• Track regional trends that may spread to other jurisdictions or have statewide implications, and coordinate an appropriate cross-department response.

Political Affairs

• Assess the regional political environment and elections that may materially affect rental housing policy.
• Develop relationships with candidates, elected officials, consultants and community leaders; participate in candidate recruitment, evaluation and interviews as appropriate.
• Prepare candidate background materials, political assessments and recommendations for CAAPAC and/or CAA Independent Expenditure Committee trustees.
• Coordinate political activity with CAA’s Political Affairs program and provide post-election analysis of implications for regional advocacy.

Regional Leadership and Member Engagement

• Work with EVP to prepare and present pertinent information to the CAA Local Government Affairs Committee.
• Identify and work with CAA members to identify emerging issues, gather member perspectives, strengthen advocacy strategies and cultivate future volunteer leaders.
• Help plan and conduct at least two regional membership meetings annually, plus briefings, webinars or calls when significant developments warrant additional engagement.
• Maintain regular contact with major rental housing providers and key members to understand concerns and deepen participation in CAA programs.

Member Communications and Grassroots Advocacy

• Prepare regular communicitaions to members in the region on important issues and promptly communicate significant developments to CAA leadership and members.
• Translate complex policy into clear, practical information and work with Communications to develop calls to action, testimony, letters, emails and talking points.
• Recruit and coordinate members for public hearings and policymaker meetings, identifying credible voices and operational examples that strengthen CAA’s advocacy.

Membership Development, Coalitions and Regional Intelligence

• Support recruitment and retention by demonstrating the value of CAA advocacy, legal and compliance resources, education, forms, communications and other member services.
• Partner with Membership and Marketing to identify prospects, growth opportunities and occasions where regional expertise can strengthen outreach.
• Build productive relationships with chambers of commerce, business and real estate groups, housing organizations, community partners and other regional influencers.
• Maintain current knowledge of the region’s rental housing market, regulatory landscape and political environment; provide regular strategic assessments to CAA management.
• Maintain appropriate records of major proposals, policymaker contacts, advocacy activities, political developments and outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience in government affairs, legislative advocacy, political campaigns, association management, public policy, real estate or a related field.
• Strong understanding of local government, legislative and political processes, with the ability to analyze complex ordinances, regulations and policy proposals.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills; ability to communicate persuasively with members, policymakers and the public.
• Strong political judgment, strategic thinking and relationship-development skills.
• Ability to work independently, collaborate across departments and manage multiple jurisdictions, issues, deadlines and priorities.
• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public policy, government, communications, business, real estate or a related field preferred.
• Knowledge of rental housing, real estate, housing policy or California local government highly desirable.
• Ability to travel regularly within the assigned region and attend evening governmental, political and community meetings as required.

Core Competencies

• Political and policy judgment — understands policy substance and the environment in which decisions are made.
• Strategic advocacy — builds long-term influence rather than focusing only on individual hearings or votes.
• Relationship building — earns credibility with policymakers, members, coalition partners and community leaders.
• Initiative and accountability — anticipates issues, recommends action, communicates promptly and follows through.
• Clear communication — explains complex issues concisely, practically and persuasively.
• Member orientation and collaboration — connects advocacy and service to membership value and works effectively across CAA.

Performance Expectations

Performance is measured by effectiveness in advancing CAA’s strategic objectives—not simply activity volume. Key indicators include early identification of threats and opportunities; advocacy outcomes; quality of policymaker, member and coalition relationships; timely political analysis; effective Regional Leadership Council and membership meetings; member participation in grassroots advocacy; clear and consistent regional communications; contribution to membership recruitment and retention; and timely collaboration with CAA leadership and departments.

Compensation and Benefits:

California Apartment Association offers a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience. Additional benefits include health insurance, 401(k) with employer contribution.

Office Locations:

CAA's headquarters is in Sacramento, with staff throughout California. This position will represent CAA primarily in Fresno and San Joaquin counties” for Central Valley