Job Description

About the California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is a globally renowned scientific and cultural institution located in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Home to a world-class planetarium, aquarium, research center, and natural history museum—all under one living roof—our mission is to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration.

Our extensive collections span plants, animals, fossils, and cultural artifacts from across the globe and throughout history. We are a diverse team of leading biodiversity scientists, educators, storytellers, designers, and communicators who work collaboratively to advance knowledge and inspire action through science and storytelling.

When you join the California Academy of Sciences, you become part of a mission-driven community that values curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. Whether you're working behind the scenes in research or engaging the public on the museum floor, your work will help connect people to the natural world and empower them to protect it.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Managing Director and Chief of Strategy, the Director, Government Affairs provides leadership and management of the institution’s legislative and advocacy work. The position is primarily responsible for developing and executing the Academy’s external strategy at all levels of government including city, state, federal, international, and indigenous governments.

Position Duties and Responsibilities: The Director of Government Affairs will lead the Academy’s governmental agenda. They will recommend, develop, and implement, strategies on policy, regulatory, and funding opportunities primarily at the city, state, and federal levels. They will serve as a liaison and partner with indigenous and international governments and representatives.

The Director will collaborate with all levels of government and with colleagues across the Academy on key institutional objectives, to obtain public support and funding for the Academy’s scientific research, educational programming, exhibitions, and operations. The Director will also develop and leverage internal and external partnerships and communication networks to maximize the Academy’s presence in the city and state, as well as nationally and internationally.

Government Relations & Advocacy

• Heads the Academy’s federal, state, and local government relations, including public policy matters, grants, earmarks, and other sources of revenue as well as any relationship building, advocacy, and lobbying efforts.
• Lead the Academy’s engagement with City & County of San Francisco (CCSF) elected officials, department leadership, and staff.
• Serve as the primary liaison with the Mayor’s Budget Office, partnering with the Academy Finance team and Building Operations Team to ensure requirements are met for the annual CCSF budget process.
• Advocates in support of the Academy and its exhibits, programs, and curricula by meeting with federal, state, and local government officials.
• Builds and cultivates professional relationships with members of federal, state, local, international, and indigenous government entities and agencies.
• Research and monitor government activities that could affect the organization's mission and vision.
• Participates and testifies before government committees in support of the organization and/or industry.

Public Policy & Strategy

• Partner with senior management and leadership on strategic planning for known and potential regulatory activities related to the business and industry.
• Directs the policy platform and stakeholder relationships to further the department’s objectives.
• Identify opportunities to shape potential government funding through legislation, regulations, or other avenues.
• Develop public policy and funding proposals to support Academy operations, research, and programs.

External & Association Engagement

• Joins trade associations and industry committees and seeks leadership roles.
• Collaborates with industry advocates to build areas of common interest.
• Host events that showcase the Academy’s work and build relationships with government stakeholders.
• Attend events to represent the Academy and advance its mission.
• Other duties as assigned.

Department Management

• Provide management and strategic direction for the Government Affairs team, working with staff and external consultants as appropriate to achieve institutional objectives.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Strong political skills and understanding of political processes.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information.
• Established network of government contacts at local, state, and/or federal levels and ability to meet directly with officials at any level of government.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Outstanding people skills and a strong substantive ability to converse on complex public policy.
• A keen sense of protocol and the ability to work comfortably, effectively, and with a high degree of diplomacy with top-level government officials and with the senior leadership.
• Strong ethical foundation and commitment to transparency, integrity, and compliance in all government relations activities.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to work effectively across diverse functions and levels of seniority, and internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to work as part of a team or collaborate well with team members, and external collaborators to accomplish mutual goals.
• Ability to work efficiently and communicate with staff, cross-functional teams, and external stakeholders from different identities and experiences.
• Humility: Customer-service minded, attention to detail to ensure projects are completed with satisfaction from all parties involved.
• Passion for the Academy mission: Knowledge of and passion for the Academy’s mission, vision, and strategic plan.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion.

EXPERIENCE and/or EDUCATION:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Political Science, Public Relations, or related field required; MBA or law degree preferred.
• 10 years of professional experience developing and/or implementing policy, advocacy, or government affairs; experience in San Francisco and/or California preferred.
• 5 years in a supervisory or leadership position.
• Science background or experience with public policy issues affecting cultural institutions preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to meet the job’s essential functions. Include any language that describes the position's regular work environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, use a computer, and communicate on the phone, in person, and online meetings/calls. Must be able to perform repetitive motions 75% of the time.

Compensation and Benefits:
The hourly rate for this position is $155,000 - $165,000. Actual compensation will be commensurate with experience, skills/knowledge set, and internal equity. We believe in fair and equitable compensation practices and are committed to providing competitive salaries within the industry and market standards. The Academy offers a total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and comprehensive benefits based on the hours per week worked. Further details regarding compensation and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week

Physical Environment: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. (Cut and paste from the Job Description adding other requirements relevant to the position's responsibilities.)

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a resume and application through our CareersPage portal.

The California Academy of Sciences will give full consideration for employment to all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).

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