Description

The Director of Legislative & Governmental Affairs performs highly responsible, complex, and sensitive legislative, governmental affairs, advocacy, communications, and public policy work on behalf of PRISM. While not a lobbyist, this position serves as a key representative in advancing PRISM's legislative priorities, strengthening relationships with policymakers and external stakeholders, advancing strategic communications, supporting PRISM's Legislative Committee, and coordinating advocacy efforts that impact PRISM programs and member agencies.

The position requires substantial independent judgment, political acumen, strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with PRISM leadership, staff subject matter experts, lobbyists, member agencies, advocacy coalitions, and legislative offices. The initial focus of the position will be on legislative activity, bill tracking, advocacy coordination, public agency coalition work, and development of legislative and public relations communications.

Selected candidate will have the option to work full time in our Folsom office, or remotely from a home location within a commutable distance from our Folsom, CA office, or a hybrid of both options. Candidates must be able and willing to report in person to our Folsom location, attend offsite meetings and travel as the position requires.

The first review of applications will be on October 6, 2026, with tentative in-person interviews scheduled for the week of October 26th.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as PRISM's primary staff liaison to the Legislative Committee, including coordinating meeting materials, preparing agendas and reports, tracking committee direction, supporting policy discussions, and ensuring timely follow-up on legislative priorities.
• Serve as PRISM's primary contact to PRISM's contracted lobbyists.
• Review, analyze, and track bills introduced, amended, or otherwise moving through the legislative process that may impact PRISM, its programs, or its member agencies.
• Monitor legislative calendars, committee hearings, bill amendments, floor actions, regulatory developments, and other governmental activity relevant to PRISM's operations and strategic interests.
• Coordinate with PRISM's Lobbyists to maintain legislative tracking systems, reports, summaries, and status updates to support timely decision-making by PRISM staff, leadership, committees, and members.
• Coordinate with PRISM's Lobbyists to prioritize advocacy efforts, focus attention on key bills, and ensure alignment between legislative strategy, PRISM's policy positions, and member interests.
• Assist Lobbyists and PRISM staff with drafting, reviewing, and refining bill language, amendments, position letters, talking points, legislative summaries, and other advocacy materials.
• Coordinate and gather technical content from PRISM staff subject matter experts to ensure position letters and advocacy materials accurately reflect program operations, risk management considerations, fiscal impacts, and member agency concerns.
• Engage with industry associations through working groups and coalitions.
• Play a key role in preparing PRISM representatives, staff, committee members, or other stakeholders for legislative meetings, hearings, testimony, or outreach efforts.
• Support the development and coordination of future PRISM-sponsored legislation, including concept development, stakeholder engagement, drafting assistance, legislative strategy, coalition-building, and communication planning.
• Play a key role in educating legislators, legislative staff, agency representatives, and external stakeholders regarding PRISM's mission, programs, membership, public entity focus, and role in supporting local government risk management.
• Develop and strengthen PRISM's visibility, credibility, and name recognition within the legislative and public policy environment.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with legislative offices, state agencies, public entity organizations, association partners, member advocacy teams, and other external stakeholders.
• Represent PRISM in meetings, coalition discussions, legislative briefings, workgroups, and other forums involving public policy issues relevant to PRISM and its members.
• Develop informational communications regarding specific legislation, policy issues, PRISM programs, and advocacy priorities, including bill summaries, issue briefs, flyers, talking points, alerts, reports, presentations, and member-facing updates.
• Prepare clear, accurate, and persuasive written materials for diverse audiences, including PRISM members, legislative offices, external partners, committees, and other stakeholders.
• Develop communications relating to general public relations for PRISM's membership and external parties, including materials that explain PRISM's programs, public agency role, legislative priorities, and value to members.
• Support consistent messaging across legislative, advocacy, public relations, and member communication efforts.
• Work collaboratively with PRISM staff to translate technical program information into accessible communications that support advocacy, education, and member engagement.
• Analyze proposed legislation, policy proposals, and public agency issues to evaluate potential operational, legal, fiscal, governance, or programmatic impacts on PRISM and its members.
• Prepare reports, recommendations, presentations, and briefing materials for PRISM leadership, committees, and other internal or external audiences.
• Exercise sound judgment in identifying sensitive legislative, political, operational, or member-related issues and elevate matters appropriately.
• Maintain awareness of emerging legislative trends, public agency advocacy issues, and policy developments that may affect PRISM or its membership.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job responsibilities.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible Governmental Affairs experience.
• Experience in public sector environments strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

This is an advanced-level governmental affairs position responsible for performing complex legislative advocacy, policy coordination, stakeholder engagement, and public relations work with a high degree of independence.

• Demonstrated ability to function as a strategic business partner and trusted adviser to senior leadership.
• Knowledge of legislative processes, public agency operations, advocacy strategy, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and governmental affairs practices
• The ability to analyze complex legislation, identify potential impacts, communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences, draft persuasive and accurate advocacy materials, coordinate multiple stakeholders, and exercise sound political and organizational judgment.
• Strong writing, research, organization, collaboration, project management, and public presentation skills required, along with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-moving legislative environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; ability to represent the organization professionally in external settings and translate complex regulatory requirements into clear, practical guidance.

Licensing Requirements

A valid California Driver's license is required. Proof of auto insurance with no business exclusion is required.

Physical Requirements

• See well enough to read fine print and view a computer screen; speak and hear well enough to understand, respond, and communicate clearly in person and on the phone or via Zoom; independent body mobility sufficient to stand, sit, walk, stoop and bend to access the work environment and a standard office environment; manual dexterity and sufficient use of hands, arms and shoulders to repetitively operate a keyboard and to write; and the ability to sit or walk for prolonged periods of time.
• Mobility to work in a typical office setting, use standard office equipment, and to drive a motor vehicle for occasional travel.