Associate Vice President for Government Relations
Turlock, CA
Posted 4 months ago
Job Description
Department: President's Office
Work type: Management (MPP)
Location: Stanislaus - Turlock
Categories: MPP, Administrative, At-Will, Full Time, On-site (work in-person at business location)
- Serve as the primary liaison to local, state, and federal elected officials and government agencies.
- Represent the University in governmental, community, and systemwide forums.
- Coordinate campus visits, briefings, and events involving public officials.
- Build and sustain strategic relationships with policymakers, community leaders, and external partners.
- Coordinate University participation in CSU systemwide advocacy efforts.
- Lead and coordinate advocacy visits to Sacramento and Washington, D.C.
- Engage external stakeholders to advance workforce development and regional priorities.
- Support collaboration with internal stakeholders to align advocacy with institutional priorities.
- Coordinate and facilitate engagement between University leadership and government officials, including meetings, briefings, and communications.
- Facilitate engagement with CSU leadership, including the Chancellor’s Office and Board of Trustees.
- Represent the University at community forums, public events, and regional convenings.
- Provide strategic leadership for the University’s government relations and advocacy functions.
- Serve as principal advisor to the President and Cabinet on legislative, regulatory, and public policy matters.
- Develop and implement comprehensive advocacy strategies aligned with institutional and CSU priorities.
- Advise senior leadership on political dynamics, risk assessment, and policy implications.
- Lead institution-wide initiatives in support of governmental and public policy priorities.
- Establish frameworks to assess effectiveness of advocacy and government relations efforts.
- Provide counsel to senior leadership on emerging legislative trends, policy developments, and potential impacts to the University.
- Contribute to institutional positioning, external engagement strategy, and long-term planning efforts.
- Identify, pursue, and advance public funding opportunities at the local, state, and federal levels.
- Coordinate development of legislative proposals, budget requests, and policy positions.
- Monitor and analyze legislative and regulatory activity impacting the University.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable lobbying, ethics, and reporting requirements.
- Align government relations efforts with University Advancement and institutional resource strategies.
- Develop tracking and reporting tools for legislative activity and advocacy outcomes.
- Utilize data and analytics to inform advocacy strategy and decision-making.
- Support coordination of advocacy-related travel, briefings, and engagement activities.
- Prepare and coordinate development of issue briefs, funding proposals, and advocacy materials.
- Establish metrics and reporting mechanisms to evaluate the effectiveness of government relations efforts.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Master’s degree or terminal degree from an accredited institution strongly preferred.
- Experience working in a higher education or complex public-sector environment, preferably within the California State University system.
- Experience securing public funding or advancing legislative or policy initiatives at the local, state, or federal level.
- Experience supporting institutions serving diverse student populations, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
- Familiarity with issues affecting regional universities, including workforce development and economic mobility.
- Experience aligning government relations with advancement, communications, or external affairs functions.
- Experience representing an organization in systemwide, governmental, or external forums.
- Experience managing or coordinating complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, practices, and standards within government relations, public affairs, and legislative processes.
- Knowledge of strategic planning, organizational development, and institutional policy implementation.
- Knowledge of public policy development, governmental budgeting, and regulatory environments affecting higher education.
- Ability to develop and implement divisional policies and procedures.
- Ability to align operational objectives with institutional and systemwide strategic goals.
- Ability to oversee complex programs and integrate multiple initiatives related to governmental relations and advocacy.
- Ability to manage financial, human, and organizational resources in support of programmatic goals.
- Ability to lead initiatives and guide staff or cross-functional teams.
- Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and advance strategic advocacy initiatives.
- Ability to analyze legislative, regulatory, and institutional data and apply findings to strategic decision-making.
- Skill in executive-level communication, presentations, and reporting.
- Ability to build effective partnerships across divisions and with elected officials, government agencies, and external entities.
- Ability to exercise broad discretion and sound judgment in high-impact and politically sensitive situations.
- Position will be required to travel.
Position Summary
This position’s responsibilities are carried out independently under general direction. Provides strategic leadership for the University’s government relations and public policy functions. Serves as the chief government relations officer and principal advisor to the President and Cabinet on legislative, regulatory, and political matters affecting the University. Supports executive leadership and campus stakeholders in advancing student success, workforce development, research, and the acquisition of public resources essential to the University’s long-term vitality through effective governmental engagement.
Job Duties
Minimum Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
Physical Requirements
Salary Range
Anticipated starting salary will be $12,750 - $16,675 per month plus excellent paid benefits. Salary will depend on the qualifications of the successful finalist.
Compensation & Benefits
Commensurate with qualifications and experience. As a member of the 23-campus CSU System, we offer an extremely competitive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, outstanding vacation, health, dental, and vision plans; a fee waiver education program; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS); and 15 paid holidays a year.
How to Apply
To be considered, qualified candidates should submit a completed Stanislaus State online employment application, cover letter, and resumé. Applications are accepted electronically only. Please note that failure to completely fill out each section of the online application may result in your application not receiving consideration. To apply online, please click the “” button on this page.
Application Deadline
OPEN UNTIL FILLED; SCREENING TO BEGIN ON OR AFTER JUNE 5, 2026. (Applications received after the screening date will be considered at the discretion of the university.)
Background Clearance Notice
Satisfactory completion of a background check (which includes checks of employment records, education records, criminal records, civil records; and may include motor vehicle records, professional licenses, and sex offender registries, as position requires) is required for employment. CSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.
Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.
Additional Information
Applications close: Open Until Filled
California State University, Stanislaus
Over more than 50 years, California State University, Stanislaus, has grown to be a touchstone of higher learning, intellectual pursuit, artistic excellence and cultural engagement for California’s Central Valley and beyond. We serve our diverse student body, region and state with programs, partnerships, and alumni responsive to an evolving and interconnected world. To learn more about us go to www.csustan.edu.
Salaries
Posted range
$13K/mo – $17K/mo
Taken straight from the job posting.
Associate Vice President for Government Relations
California State University Stanislaus · Turlock, CA
