Director OF Government Affairs

Job Title: Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Director – Housing California

Position Type: Full Time

Location: Sacramento

Position Summary
The Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Director will lead the development and oversee the execution of Housing CA’s legislative and regulatory strategy at the state level. This senior leadership role translates policy ideas into legislative outcomes by engaging policymakers, converting evidence‑based solutions into actionable initiatives, collaborating closely with partners, and driving cross‑organizational efforts toward systems and policy change. The Director manages a team dedicated to advancing state policies and regulatory reforms and champions the integration of legislative strategy with grassroots organizing, narrative change, and long‑term movement building.

What You Will Do
Legislative Policy Advocacy Strategy

Bring deep knowledge of the legislative landscape to advise on and identify strategic pathways for advancing policies.

Cultivate and maintain relationships with legislators, legislative staff, caucuses, the Governor’s office, administrative agency representatives, and fellow advocates. Engage these stakeholders through education, meetings, and collaboration to inform, develop, and advance effective policies.

Plan, advise, and oversee the activities of a team to implement legislative, administrative, and regulatory strategies aimed at achieving both short‑ and long‑term policy goals. The Director ensures Staff and consultants are present at hearings, briefings, and coalition meetings, and oversees the development of position papers, testimony, fact sheets, and other advocacy materials in close collaboration with internal team members and coalition partners.

Provide leadership and input in the planning and execution of key organizational initiatives and events where policy and legislative issues are central, including the Residents United Network Annual Summit, Housing CA’s Annual Advocacy Day, quarterly policy town halls, and Roadmap Home–focused convenings.

Collaborate with the Narrative and Strategic Communications team, the Power Building team, Residents United Network, Strategic Initiatives and campaign teams, and the Policy Committee to build public support and political will for Housing CA’s annual policy agenda. This includes supporting media strategy, public‑facing communications, and political strategy to engage cross‑sector partners and strengthen relationships with policymakers.

Coalition and Network Engagement

Oversee Housing CA’s engagement in legislative and regulatory focused networks and coalitions to shape strategy, align influence, and build consensus.

Build, support, and grow collaborative networks and coalitions to advance Housing CA’s policy priorities, with a focus on, and in alignment with, the Roadmap Home agenda.

Address policy and regulatory barriers through actionable policy proposals, advancing the Roadmap Home and addressing the most pressing issues prioritized by the Residents United Network.

Plan and lead a collaborative process of forming Housing CA’s policy agenda through our Policy Committee by engaging and consulting partner organizations, coalition partners, and other groups to seek clarity on relevance, urgency, feasibility, and impact of potential policy positions.

Organizational & Team Development

Represent Housing CA as a member of the senior leadership team in external events and press engagements.

Collaborate with the leadership team to shape and advance the organization’s strategic objectives, ensuring that legislative and regulatory work is fully integrated into organizational planning, budgeting, and outcomes tracking.

Lead a productive and collaborative team by hiring, managing, mentoring, and coaching staff.

Partner with fellow leadership team members to cultivate an organizational culture that reflects our values, advances racial equity, promotes open communication, disrupts institutional racism, and fosters a strong sense of belonging.

Contribute to fundraising efforts and compliance reporting at the state and federal levels to support and sustain mission‑driven work.

Support additional organizational responsibilities and initiatives that align with and advance Housing California’s strategic goals.

Who You Are

Committed to Justice: Demonstrate a deep and ongoing commitment to racial, gender, disability, economic, and housing justice and consistently work to uphold these values.

Policy and Systems Experience: Have 7+ years of relevant experience in policy, advocacy, and/or campaign work—preferably on behalf of low‑income communities and communities of color. In‑depth knowledge of California politics and the state’s budget, legislative, and regulatory processes.

Mission Aligned: Bring experience in housing justice or a related field such as community development, urban planning, health equity, criminal justice reform, education, disability justice, food insecurity, climate justice, or labor.

Strategic Leadership: Substantial, hands‑on experience managing a legislative program and team, able to articulate and implement a strategic vision within a cross‑functional organization.

Agile and Adaptable: Tenacious, flexible, and thrive in dynamic environments, comfortable navigating ambiguity while maintaining focus on driving change.

Clear and Effective Communicator: Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to engage effectively with policymakers, media, community‑based organizations, residents of affordable housing, people experiencing homelessness, advocates, funders, and cross‑sector partners.

Collaborative and Inclusive: Demonstrated ability to build trust and collaborate across lines of difference. Skilled facilitator who brings groups together to learn, manage conflict, and make collective decisions that lead to justice‑oriented outcomes.

Learning‑ and Outcomes‑Oriented: Embrace learning and adapting as part of your work, thriving in an environment where continuous improvement and flexibility are valued.

Willingness to Travel: Willing and able to travel and attend early‑morning or evening obligations.

Additional Experience (Welcomed but not Required)

Familiarity with affordable housing and homelessness programs or policy.

Experience working in the California State Capitol.

Knowledge of the different levers of change, including the role of movements, organizing, advocacy, and campaigns.

Lived experience of homelessness or housing insecurity or experience working with people with lived experience of homelessness or housing insecurity.

Experience using online advocacy, data tracking, and project management tools.

Fluency or high proficiency in Spanish.

Compensation, Benefits, and Location
This is a full‑time, exempt position that reports to the Deputy Director of Programs. The salary range is $150,000, depending on experience. Benefits include fully paid medical, dental, and vision for the employee and 25% paid medical, dental, and vision for dependents, paid parental leave, long‑term disability and group life insurance coverage, a commuting subsidy, a cell‑phone/at‑home internet subsidy, a 403(b) retirement plan with a 3.5% employer contribution, generous vacation (3+ weeks, depending on tenure), sick leave (8 hours per month + an additional 8 hours of leave at start), 12 paid holidays, organization‑wide closure during the last week of December, a shortened workweek during the summer legislative break, training and professional development opportunities, and a hybrid work environment.

The position is based in our office in Sacramento and requires a significant in‑person presence in and around the office and the State Capitol in downtown Sacramento. Remote work is possible from home when the presence in the office is not required.

Expected travel includes twice yearly Board of Directors meetings, annual 2‑3 day staff retreat, annual 3‑day Housing California conference, annual 2‑3‑day statewide RUN summit, and various conferences or partner meetings as needed.

Our Culture
Housing California is committed to creating a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace that fosters a culture of belonging, ongoing learning, and collaboration. We value staff from communities most impacted by the issues we address and especially encourage Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and people of color; people who have immigrated to the U.S.; those who have experienced housing instability; women; LGBTQIA+ individuals; system‑impacted people; and people with disabilities to apply. Our work is both effective and sustainable, balancing required travel with a commitment to the team’s mental and physical health.

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