Legislative Affairs Manager

Job Description:

Legislative Affairs Manager

Description

CAREER DESCRIPTION

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS MANAGER
(Public Information and Affairs Administrator)

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This recruitment will establish an open eligible list that will be used to fill current and future Public Information and Affairs Administrator positions. The eligible list established may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY
This recruitment will be open for a minimum of five (5) business days and will close on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 11:59pm PST.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE
The County of Orange, County Executive Office, Government and Community Relations (G&CR) provides corporate support and guidance to the Board of Supervisors and across the County. G&CR has two divisions: Communications and Legislative Affairs.

Office of Legislative Affairs
Reporting to the Director of Government Affairs and Communications, the County Executive Office of Legislative Affairs (CEO-LA) is responsible for protecting the County’s interests in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., serving as the primary representative between the Board of Supervisors, County departments, and the County’s state and federal elected officials and their staff. The Board adopts a Legislative Platform document in advance of each two-year legislative session, which includes legislative priorities, policy statements and bill proposals that benefit the County. Additionally, the Legislative Platform identifies resources and programs that need to be protected from potential reallocation or elimination.

CEO-LA uses the Legislative Platform to direct the County’s legislative advocacy strategies with its state and federal lobbyists to deliver positive outcomes on legislation that benefit the County, defeat legislation that hurts the County, and secure millions of state and federal grant funding to provide the critical services to our residents. These core functions are managed through the Legislative Affairs Program and the Grants Administration Program.

THE OPPORTUNITY
Reporting to the Legislative Affairs Director, the Legislative Affairs Manager plays a highly visible leadership role in the Department’s ongoing strategic alignment with the County Budget and Finance Office and the Chief Operating Officer (COO.) This position co-manages the day-to-day responsibilities of the County’s legislative affairs program, with specific legislative and fiscal analysis responsibility for County Budget Programs III (Infrastructure & Environmental Services) and IV (General Government Services). The Legislative Affairs Manager maintains consistent communication with each of the County departments in Programs III and IV in a client-servicing role.

This position’s major responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Researching and preparing bill analyses and recommended legislative actions for the Board of Supervisors.
• Monitoring bill proposals by the State Legislature and the United States Congress, and leading ongoing discussions with assigned County departments, the County’s state and federal advocates, and other stakeholders to develop initial strategies for addressing potential County impact.
• Tracking legislative bill activity of interest to the County and preparing a weekly status report to the Board and County Executive Office.
• Coordinating with the County’s legislative advocates and trade associations to execute legislative advocacy strategies that achieve desired outcomes, including real-time monitoring of policy committee meetings and/or floor sessions.
• Assessing operational and fiscal impacts to County departments of proposed legislation or regulations.
• Drafting proposed bill language with County Counsel and County departments for potential sponsored legislation.
• Coordinating the ongoing training and development of County department legislative coordinators.
• Coordinating with the County Budget & Finance Office and county departments to develop and enact proposals for County-sponsored budget requests and grant funding opportunities at the federal and/or state levels.
• Preparing presentations, talking points, and executive level briefings for the Board of Supervisors, the County Executive Officer and senior staff, and county departments.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES
In addition to the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will have at least four (4) years of experience developing, analyzing, or advancing legislation before the State of California, serving in a capacity such as a policy committee analyst, legislative staff to a member of the California Legislature, or within a California state department, agency, or comparable federal government or local government entity.

While not required, a bachelor’s degree or higher in political science, public administration, public policy, public relations, communications, business administration, or a related field is highly desirable.

In addition, the ideal candidate will demonstrate extensive knowledge, skill, and functional expertise in the following core competencies:

Technical Knowledge | Technical Experience

• Conducting legislative, policy, budget, and program analysis to assess impacts on County operations, resources, and objectives.
• Preparing high-level communications documents including legislative bulletins, white papers, and reports under competing deadlines.
• Leading and coordinating projects and teams, providing technical expertise, strategic advice, and resolving issues to ensure successful outcomes.
• Building partnerships with stakeholders to advance County priorities while maintaining confidentiality on sensitive matters.
• Applying advanced problem-solving and functional expertise to develop sound recommendations and solutions.

Leadership | Supervision

• Leading with integrity and accountability, making courageous decisions, resolving conflicts objectively, and consistently applying high ethical standards.
• Aligning organizational vision and resources with County strategic goals, fostering innovation, continuous improvement, and adaptability to change.
• Building and sustaining strong relationships and teamwork, creating an empowered, collaborative, and supportive work culture.
• Developing and guiding employees, recognizing and cultivating talent while ensuring provision of resources needed for success.

Effective Communication

• Communicating recommendations accurately, logically, and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrating political astuteness and an understanding of how to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes from a factual and non-partisan perspective, exercising diplomacy and sound judgement to find solutions.
• Building consensus among diverse groups for the purpose of meeting business objectives.

Planning | Organization

• Setting challenging, measurable project goals aligned with broad County strategies and departmental business objectives, ensuring a clear focus on outcomes and continuous improvement.
• Improving organizational effectiveness by reengineering processes, adopting best practices, integrating changes smoothly, and balancing short- and long-term needs.
• Planning, prioritizing, and managing resources effectively, anticipating needs, meeting deadlines, and communicating potential delays proactively.
• Demonstrating accountability and cost-consciousness, maintaining the technical knowledge and urgency needed to achieve high-quality, efficient results.
• Leading and organizing project teams, delegating tasks, setting clear expectations, and monitoring progress to ensure successful completion.

Problem Solving and Analysis

• Demonstrating initiative by identifying new opportunities, barriers that hinder success and unneeded bureaucracy.
• Making sound business decisions based on limited, complex, or contradicting information, while applying relevant public service ethical principles.
• Exhibiting innovation and creativity in identifying and resolving problems as they occur.
• Recognizing potential adverse consequences of actions and recommending alternative solutions.
• Incorporating educated risk management and mitigation strategies into planning.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Please click here to learn about the minimum qualifications for the Public Information and Affairs Administrator classification as well as the physical & mental requirements and the environmental conditions.

NOTE: Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Services (N.A.C.E.S.).

LICENSE REQUIREMENT
Must have a valid California Class C Driver’s license.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After the screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the recruitment.

Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)
Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Recorded Structured Oral Interview | rSOI (Weighted 100%)
The recorded Structured Oral Interview (rSOI) is a timed, recorded assessment conducted via an online platform. Applicants will answer job-related questions on video, which will be reviewed and rated by a panel of subject matter experts using standardized evaluation criteria. Only the most qualified candidate will advance in the recruitment process or be placed on the eligible list.

Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Based on the County's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

Veterans Employment Preference Policy (VEPP)
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here (Download PDF reader) to review the policy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EMAIL NOTIFICATION

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions. For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Chisom Okafor at chisom.okafor@ceo.ocgov.com or (714) 834-7312.

EEO INFORMATION


Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Administrative Management *
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits -- such as a variety of health plan options, sick and vacation time and paid holidays -- we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as:

• Retirement: Benefits are provided through the Orange County Employees' Retirement System (OCERS). Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
  http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information.
• Paid Leave: Twelve holidays per year plus sick and vacation time
• Health & Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts
• Dental Insurance: County pays 100% of employee and dependent premiums
• Paid Life Insurance: $100,000 life insurance policy
• Paid Accidental & Death and Dismemberment Insurance: $100,000 AD&D insurance policy
• Paid Short & Long Term Disability insurance programs
• 457 Defined Contribution Program

*Effective 07/01/20, management employees who are sworn Public Safety Managers receive health insurance benefits through the AOCDS Medical Benefit Plans.

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

Closing Date/Time: 8/27/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$105,684.80 - $146,390.40 Annually