Manager, Government and Legislative Affairs

Job Type

Full-time

Description

The Manager of Government & Legislative Affairs leads CU SoCal's advocacy and government relations efforts, serving as the primary liaison with elected officials, regulatory agencies, trade associations, and advocacy partners. The Manager monitors legislative and regulatory developments, translates key issues into business insights, builds relationships with policymakers, and engages team members in advocacy initiatives.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday 8:30AM to 5:30PM*

*Due to the nature of the role, this position will require schedule flexibility to participate in events during business hours, including mornings, evenings, and on weekends. This is hybrid-remote position with the opportunity to work in-office, off-site and working from home or based on business needs.

This position is based in Anaheim Hills CA with the opportunity to work on a hybrid-remote schedule which consists of 2 days in-office and 3 days working remote from home.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• Three (3) years of relevant experience in government relations, legislative affairs, public policy, advocacy, regulatory affairs, community relations, Member engagement, business development, event management, communications, or a related field.
• Experience building productive relationships with external stakeholders, community partners, elected officials, or their staff.
• Experience researching and communicating complex information clearly through written materials, presentations, or briefings.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate events, meetings, campaigns, or programs and manage follow-through across multiple stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Political Science, Public Administration, Communications, Public Policy, Law, or a related field.
• Experience in financial services, credit unions, banking, trade associations, government, public affairs, or a related environment.
• Understanding of financial institution regulation and the credit union movement.

Skills and Abilities

• Proficiency in applicable Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.
• Working knowledge of legislative, regulatory, advocacy, political, or community-relations processes, with the ability to learn federal and California legislative and regulatory processes.
• Excellent written, verbal, listening, and presentation communication skills; ability to explain complex issues simply and tailor messages to different audiences.
• Strong relationship-building, networking, and strategic storytelling skills.
• Genuine warmth, empathy, diplomacy, sound judgment, political awareness, and discretion.
• Strong organizational and detail-management skills, including the ability to manage events, meetings, invitations, follow-up, reporting, and documentation.
• Ability to influence and build consensus without direct authority.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, maintain confidentiality, and represent CU SoCal professionally.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Advocacy and Government Relations

• Monitor and analyze federal and state legislation, regulatory proposals, public policy issues, and comment periods to identify potential impacts on CU SoCal, its Members, and the credit union movement.
• With the CCXO, establish annual legislative priorities and execute advocacy strategies aligned with CU SoCal's Strategic Plan.
• Translate complex legislative and regulatory developments into clear, actionable business insights for executive leadership and business leaders, including potential operational, financial, and Member impacts.
• Coordinate cross-functional input and support the development of comment letters, policy recommendations, legislative briefs, issue summaries, position papers, executive talking points, presentations, and persuasive messaging for policymakers.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with local, state, and federal elected officials, their staff, regulatory agencies, trade associations, advocacy partners, and peer credit unions.
• Maintain current profiles of elected officials representing CU SoCal's service areas, including committee assignments, policy interests, sponsorship history, and constituent priorities.
• Coordinate legislative meetings, branch visits, in-district engagements, advocacy forums, and participation in state and national industry conferences.
• Partner with California's Credit Unions, America's Credit Unions, and other industry organizations to support coordinated advocacy campaigns and amplify the credit union movement's collective voice.
• Promote informed, voluntary team member participation in approved advocacy programs, including PAC contributions and Connect for the Cause, and help develop future advocacy leaders.
• Establish goals and track legislative activity, policymaker engagement, advocacy participation, relationship development, and other meaningful outcomes.
• Manage advocacy-related budgets, events, communications, and program logistics as assigned.

Community Engagement and Representation

• Represent CU SoCal at selected community events, prioritizing those sponsored or supported by elected officials and opportunities that strengthen government, community, and advocacy relationships.
• Participate in additional CU SoCal community events that support the organization's mission, strategic priorities, and presence in the communities it serves.
• Serve as a visible and approachable CU SoCal representative, building trust and productive relationships with community leaders, nonprofit organizations, local agencies, chambers, schools, and other community partners.
• Identify community engagement opportunities that strengthen relationships with policymakers, expand CU SoCal's visibility, and support priority markets and communities.
• Coordinate with Community Engagement, Business Development, Marketing, branch leaders, and other business areas to ensure CU SoCal is represented appropriately and consistently at selected events.
• Support event planning and execution as needed, including invitations, attendance coordination, briefing materials, talking points, promotional needs, on-site representation, and post-event follow-up.
• Capture and share relevant insights, relationship opportunities, community needs, and potential partnership opportunities identified through event participation.
• Maintain records of key contacts, events, follow-up commitments, and relationship-building activities to support continuity and measure engagement.
• Represent CU SoCal professionally and with sound judgment, consistently demonstrating the C.A.R.E. 4 Guide expectations and Brand Communications Standards Accountability Philosophy.
• Must be able and available to work a "hybrid" schedule, per business operations requirement, as needed.
• Additional duties and responsibilities, as assigned.

We support Pay Transparency and are a pay-for-performance organization that benchmarks base pay to the 50th percentile of market data.

Pay Scale: Min. $80,105.69 / Mid. $103,226.76 / Max. $123,140.16 per year*

*Actual compensation will be based on geographical location, work experience, education and/or skill level.

The above statements are intended to describe the essential functions, nature and level or work to be performed as of the document preparation date; they are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. CU SoCal reserves the right to modify this job description at any time, without notice.

We foster an environment and culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, and fulfill our mission of Building Better Lives.