Cannabis Federal State Policy Advisor Legislative Assistant Jobs

The Office of Vice Chair Nora Vargas, San Diego County Supervisor, District 1, is seeking an experienced Federal & State Policy Advisor.
The ideal candidate has an understanding and interest in politics, policy and advocacy on the local, state, and national level. This position requires a team player with strong policy, writing and organizational skills, a strong work ethic, an ability to think quickly in a fast-paced environment, and attention to detail.
Essential Job Functions

• Knowledge of federal and state legislation and budget process.
• 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 stakeholders to gather input and build support for the Supervisors' policy agenda.
• Drafting formal policy implementation proposals for consideration and vote by the Board of Supervisors.
• 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.
• Collaborating with County departments, community leaders and other agencies to obtain data, provide analysis and convey results that support the Supervisor’s policy agenda.
• Assist in the research, drafting, and creation of policies for the Supervisor.
• Support the Policy Director in reviewing current policies, keeping a pulse on national state and local policies, meetings, and community feedback all related to the Supervisor’s initiatives within the assigned policy areas.
• Recommend and develop more effective strategies to address policy priorities based on research, data and stakeholder buy-in.
• Draft talking points, fact sheet, letters of support, and policy memo’s in a timely manner.
• Present materials in a digestible way for different audiences.
• Work closely with the Policy Director to effectively communicate research developments and new insight with the Chief of Staff and the counterparts in the Community Engagement and Communications Teams.
• Flexibility with work schedule to attend various community events, press conferences, and board hearings.
• Handle and access confidential information and protect confidentiality of the data shared with the office.
• Assist in the research, drafting, and creation of policies for the areas of homelessness, cannabis, public safety and equity.
• Recommend and develop more effective strategies to address policy priorities based on research, data and stakeholder buy-in.
• Draft talking points, fact sheets, letters of support, and policy memo’s in a timely manner

Skills And Experience Required

• 3-5 years of policy and federal and state legislative experience.
• Proven ability to excellently manage teams and complex projects.
• Significant experience engaging with stakeholders, convening tables, and navigating political and relational landmines to drive policy agendas.
• Proven ability to move quickly and juggle multiple simultaneous projects over short & long-time horizons.
• Intuitive understanding of the intersection between policy, communications, and community organizing.
• Excellent judgement regarding strategic policy priorities, taking into consideration the political and communications landscape.
• Excellent writer and researcher, with the ability to connect complex ideas with the lives of real people and convey complicated concepts cogently and compellingly.
• Flexible thinker, with a proven ability to quickly build substantive expertise in new areas.

Salary and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $50,000.00-$65,000.00 annually. Compensation will be based on experience. Benefits include Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Flexible Spending Account, Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Transit Pass Voucher, Vacation/Sick Leave.
To Apply
Interested applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, 2 writing samples, as well as 2-3 professional references, to be considered.
Send to
[email protected]

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.
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.

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 Strategic Plan (sandiegocounty.gov) (Download PDF reader) as well as our commitment to serve everyone, to build a Framework for the Future 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.

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