Government Affairs Analyst

POSITION SUMMARY:
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Government Affairs (COO), the Government Affairs Analyst will foster and steward Academy relationships with the City and County of San Francisco, as well as external community and civic partners. This individual must stay abreast of all major developments in policy and events relevant to the Academy. This person will also manage City funded grants, cultivate projects with aligned City agencies, and direct the internal process for developing City capital requests. They will also partner with Finance to manage the annual City budget process and advise on local and state policy and strategy. Duties include stakeholder engagement, data management, professional writing, grant writing and project management. This position may include evening and weekend hours.

The California Academy of Sciences welcomes people of all backgrounds, identities, and beliefs to join us in achieving our mission to explore, explain, and sustain life on Earth. We place diversity, equity, and inclusion at the heart of our recruiting efforts and strive to build a culture centered on mutual respect, equal treatment, and the opportunity to succeed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and act as liaison for funded and in-kind projects with City agencies, including but not limited to San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), Treasure Island Development Authority (TIDA), and Department of Children, Youth, and their Families (DCYF)
• Research government agencies and develop strategy that could further the Academy’s mission and provide additional funding opportunities
• Track and analyze City funding to advise internal strategy
• Draft work orders, quotes, and MOUs for funded projects with City agencies
• Serve as primary liaison with City and County of San Francisco (CCSF) Capital Planning department for all Academy capital requests and direct internal process
• Partner with Academy Finance team to manage City budget process requirements
• Prepare and accompany Academy Senior Leadership Team for important city meetings and provide relationship and content backup for any meetings, proposals, etc
• Partner with Chief Public Engagement Officer & Roberts-Wilson Dean of Education on cultivating funded partnerships with Bay Area utilities and waste haulers
• Write grant applications for City-funded programs that align with Academy goals and priorities, as applicable
• Assist program managers in writing grant reports, including statistics, program descriptions, and financial reports
• Input data and information into City required record keeping and reporting systems
• Attend required City trainings related to work orders and grants and relay requirements to program managers
• Research for and advise COO and the City Relations team on strategy related to local legislation that may impact the Academy’s ability to pursue its mission
• Host VIP tours and events for City leadership, partner departments, and elected
• Serve as liaison to community organizations and groups as directed by COO
• Coordinate attendance of various city and community events by members of the SLT and City Relations Team
• Attend community meetings and civic events on behalf of the Academy
• Work collaboratively with COO and Executive Assistant & Government Affairs Project Manager, to organize behind-the-scenes tours and Government Affairs hosted events at the Academy that deepen existing political relationships or forge new ones
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders at the Academy, including the Executive Director’s office, SLT, Finance, Development and Education
• Coordinate the Academy review process for local, state, and federal legislation and policy pertinent to the Academy’s mission, in addition to researching and compiling relevant legislation and reporting relevant impacts to COO and City Relations Team
• Facilitate and chair monthly City Relations Team Meetings, including agenda creation and materials
• Track City and community events and keep COO and City Relations Team informed (e.g., Board of Supervisors and commission meetings, key personnel changes, community feedback, etc)
• Write and edit a variety of documents such as factsheets, briefings, formal letters and presentations for internal and external uses
• Create high level presentations for SLT to present at City and community meetings
• Maintain Government Affairs Standard Operating Guidelines
• Serve as back-up for Executive Assistant & Government Affairs Project Manager, including COO calendaring and event management
• Follow all Academy safety regulations
• Work important weekend and evening events (1-2 per month at most)
• Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
A qualified candidate will have a combination of the following experience and/or equivalent education:

• Bachelor's degree
• Familiarity with CCSF departments and strategic goals and personnel preferred
• 1-2 years’ experience working with a municipal agency preferred
• Excellent writer of reports, funding proposals, and marketing materials

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Outstanding collaborator and demonstrated experience successfully partnering with diverse stakeholders to represent their programs and initiatives externally to funders
• High tolerance for working with bureaucracy and complex City agency reporting systems
• Financial acumen and ability to synthesize and communicate complex project budgets to internal and external stakeholders
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills including experience working closely with senior institutional leaders, trustees, and elected officials; demonstrates extreme discretion with private or confidential information
• High degree of emotional intelligence, demonstrating ability to discern and solve for complex interpersonal interactions with external parties of varying levels
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills; ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and deadlines; ability to manage projects and see them through to completion; ability to shift responsibilities quickly as circumstances require
• Ability to successfully manage multiple short and long-term projects simultaneously with a high degree of independence
• Ability to excel both under individual leadership and as a contributing team member
• Advanced computer skills, including high proficiency in Google office suite and social media
• Ability to anticipate and maintain confidentiality
• Ability to modify work schedule as circumstances dictate

LANGUAGE SKILLS:  
The successful candidate will be able to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals; will be able to write routine reports and correspondence, and will be able to communicate and speak effectively to both groups and individuals. Bilingual (spoken and/or written) in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, or other non-English language preferred but not necessary.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, walk, and reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. Must be able to perform repetitive motions up to 75% of the time. Must be able to lift up to 20 lbs.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:  
Please submit your cover letter and resume online on our Careers page. Note that the recruitment timeline for positions vary and depend on many factors, so it is impossible to accurately predict when a position will close. We appreciate your patience during this process. No phone calls please.

The California Academy of Sciences will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

The California Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to ensure that all employees and applicants receive equal consideration and treatment, regardless of race, color, creed, gender (including gender identity or gender expression), religion, marital or domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical, mental or medical disability, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship, military service status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law or local ordinance.

The California Academy of Sciences is a non-smoking facility. There is also no smoking in Golden Gate Park.