Science Advisor to the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development

Science Advisor to the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development

Position type: Part-time, from September 2026 to August 2027, up to 29 hours per week. Limited term placement with an opportunity for extension pending funding availability and programmatic need.

Salary range:

Salary range: $150,000 – $170,000 annually, commensurate with expertise and experience.

Location:

Deadline:

Deadline: Applications received by July 24, 2026 will receive priority consideration. Timely applications are strongly encouraged.

The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that exists to make California’s policies stronger with science and technology. As part of its program portfolio, CCST offers science residency opportunities placing technical experts in state government. CCST is advertising for a part-time Science Advisor to be placed within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).

As the Governor’s lead economic development agency, GO-Biz works to attract, retain, and grow businesses in California while supporting innovation, workforce development, and long-term economic prosperity.

This part-time Science Advisor position, up to 29 hours per week, will provide expert technical guidance to GO-Biz and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) on the innovation economy, including key sectors identified in the California Economic Blueprint released by GO-Biz in February 2025 such as artificial intelligence, quantum, and semiconductors. The Science Advisor will be a trusted technical resource for GO-Biz and LWDA staff and leadership, supporting policy development, stakeholder engagement, grantee technical assistance, and the Governor’s Innovation Council.

Modeled after the position of Science Advisor to the President via the White House Office of Science Technology Policy (OSTP), this position builds upon the depth and breadth of expertise within GO-Biz and helps to support executive-level efforts on cross‑cutting issues, drawing upon an independent science perspective from external expertise when appropriate.

This position will be formally employed by CCST – a non‑partisan, nonprofit organization established by the State Legislature in 1988 with the goal of connecting leading experts in science and technology with California state policymakers – and placed in GO-Biz on a part‑time basis via a contract between CCST and GO-Biz.

The Science Advisor to GO-Biz will serve as a technical advisor on economic development policy at the intersection of science, technology, and innovation — with a particular focus on sectors identified in the California Economic Blueprint and the Jobs First Initiative, including artificial intelligence, quantum, and semiconductors. It is critical that the Science Advisor be highly regarded and trusted as an honest broker by leaders from industry, academia, communities, and the public sector.

This position requires an ability to exercise a broad range of knowledge on technical, executive management, policy, and governmental issues. The Science Advisor must also be adept at communicating complex ideas clearly and concisely and be well‑versed in diplomacy. Success in this position will depend greatly on the Science Advisor’s ability to convene and maintain partnerships across the breadth of disciplines and communities represented by GO-Biz.

CCST Director of Science, Eric Chu (eric.chu ), is available to respond to any questions on the scope of responsibilities.

• Provide on‑demand expertise to GO-Biz and LWDA staff and key leaders by offering policy recommendations, preparing confidential briefing materials, identifying workforce needs, and offering guidance to assist GO-Biz and LWDA in navigating California’s technology innovation ecosystem.
• Assist in the review of grantee applications, reports, and other documents associated with programs administered by GO-Biz, LWDA, and partners by providing expert knowledge regarding workforce and economic development in AI, quantum, semiconductors, and other relevant sub‑sectors.
• Provide…