Senior Policy Advisor (Legislative Assistant II)-240373USPA – County of San Diego

Title of the Job: Senior Policy Advisor (Legislative Assistant II)-240373USPA

Location: San Diego, CA

Job Description: Job Summaryis a progressive leader serving San Diego County, home to over 3.3 million people with an $8 billion annual budget. After decisively winning re-election for a second term in San Diego’s purple district, she is now seeking a dedicated Senior Policy Advisor to join her in defending the values of fairness, opportunity, democracy, and the rule of law. Local governments are now the vital defenders of community rights, standing up against federal overreach from a second Trump Administration and initiatives like Project 2025 that threaten local autonomy and democratic safeguards.Representing six coastal cities and surrounding unincorporated areas, Supervisor Lawson-Remer has delivered meaningful results for her constituents, including:

• Expanding access to affordable healthcare, including mental health services.
• Holding corporate landlords accountable for driving up housing costs.
• Addressing environmental crises like the Tijuana River sewage contamination and safeguarding our coastline.
• Significantly improving labor protections, working conditions, and wages for tens of thousands of working families, and cracking-down on wage theft.
• Establishing the nation’s first ever Immigrant Legal Defense Program in a border county.
• Pioneering “alternatives to incarceration” to advance community safety through services to reduce recidivism.
• Strengthening gun safety laws and using red flag laws to protect public safety.
• Combatting homelessness through shelters, tiny homes, and safe camping sites.
• Protecting reproductive rights and ensuring access to legal, safe abortions.

In her next term, she will continue this critical work and safeguard San Diego County from any potential threats under a second Trump presidency.is an economist, attorney, community organizer, and educator. Before running for elected office, Terra worked as a senior advisor in the Obama Administration; as a professor of public policy in San Diego and New York; as an economist and attorney for the World Bank and global advocacy organizations including Amnesty International, Avaaz, and Namati; and as a political strategist for the labor movement and the Open Society Institute. She got her start in community organizing as a direct-action coordinator and founder of a national student organization fighting against inequality and for a more just and sustainable future.Join Terra in this critical fight for San Diego’s future. For more, visit .Job Title: Senior Policy AdvisorSummary: Seeking a Senior Policy Advisor with significant political experience to help drive the Supervisor’s policy agenda. This position will be responsible for developing and implementing policies and strategies that promote a transformative, progressive agenda in San Diego County. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding and demonstrated track record of advancing policies in one of the following areas: environment and climate, health, fiscal and budget, legal or labor policy.Significant expertise in one or multiple of the following areas is essential:

• Environment and Climate Policy: Environmental Justice, Land Use, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Renewable Energy, Environmental Justice, Ecosystem Restoration, State and Federal Policies.
• Health Policy: Healthcare Access, Health Equity, Public Health Services, Medicaid/Medi-Cal, Behavioral Health Services, and related areas.
• Fiscal Policy: Budgeting, Financial Management, Economic Analysis, and related fields.
• Public Safety Policy: Criminal Justice, and Alternatives to Incarceration
• Legal: Deep understanding of public interest law, both at the state and federal levels.
• Labor Policy: Worker’s Rights, Labor Unions, Labor Contracts, Labor Advocacy, and related labor policy areas.

Are you ready to make a substantial impact and contribute to the betterment of our community? Join us to advance a progressive agenda at the forefront of policy and movement builders.We are looking for experienced visionaries, creative and dogged problem-solvers, and great team players.Skills and Experience Required:

• 10+ years of policy, legal, finance, and/or operations experience in the listed topics above.
• Excellent judgment regarding strategic policy priorities, taking into consideration the political and communication landscape.
• Intuitive understanding of the intersection between policy, communications, and community organizing
• A strong history of successfully driving and owning complex projects independently.
• Nimble and quick thinker with an entrepreneurial mindset, constantly looking for opportunities to uplift key policy areas.
• Ability to quickly build expertise in new issue areas.
• Significant experience organizing diverse stakeholders to drive a policy agenda, convening groups, and navigating political and relational complexities.
• Proven ability to juggle multiple simultaneous projects over short and long-time horizons.
• Excellent writer and researcher, with the ability to connect complex ideas with the lives of real people, and convey complicated concepts cogently and compellingly
• Experience working with government and community-based organizations, with a focus on equity and social justice.

Essential Job Functions:

• Providing ongoing policy briefs on diverse, complex, and often unanticipated issues that come before the Board of Supervisors for a vote.
• Producing deep-dive policy and operational research and analysis on priority initiatives.
• Consulting with community partners to gather input and build support for the Supervisors’ policy agenda.
• Drafting formal policy proposals for consideration and vote by the Board.
• Meeting with County staff to gather policy input and monitor and supervise policy implementation.
• Managing cross-functional teams that include communications specialists and community organizers.
• Translating complex policy ideas into talking points, emails, briefs, and other publicly accessible communications.

Salary and Benefits:

• $115,000 – $155,000, based on experience.
• Defined benefit pension plan with additional savings options through 457 and 401 accounts
• County-paid flexible credits that allow you to choose from a variety of benefit plans, including medical, dental and vision insurances, short term disability and critical illness programs (some costs may be out of pocket depending upon individual elections).
• County-paid life and accident insurance and long-term disability.
• Transit pass reimbursement program
• 15 days of vacation a year, 14 County-paid holidays, floating holidays, paid sick leave, and discretionary executive time off.
• Growth and personal development opportunities.

To Apply:Please send a cover letter and resume to using the subject line “Senior Policy Advisor Application: Full Name” Please name your files as in this example: Name_Surname_Resume.pdf. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until position is filled.Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.Please to view the complete job description for this position.Persons serving in positions in the Unclassified Service do not accrue tenure and serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. The provisions of this job announcement may be modified or revoked and do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable an individual with qualified disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.Condition of Employment:As part of the County of San Diego’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. (Current employees may be exempt from this process.)As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce. We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.The County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego.Do you need assistance translating your military experience into civilian experience? This tool can help!The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of: a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of which are infused throughout our operations. While also embracing a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce. Click here for more information on our as well as our commitment to serve everyone, to build a that will create a County that works for all.Under California Government Code Sections 3100 – 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers. The term “public employees” includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset and our customers are our number one priority.

Company Name: County of San Diego

Salary: $115000 – 155000 per year

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