Director of Governmental Relations and Strategic Engagement

Director of Governmental Relations and Strategic Engagement

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Classification: Administrator II
Hours: Full-time / 40 hours per week
FLSA: Exempt
Anticipated Hiring Salary Range: $9,261 to $10,416
* mo.

Priority Screening Date: December 7, 2025
Recruitment Status: Open Until Filled

California State University, Monterey Bay is a mid‑sized university in California’s Central Coast that grants undergraduate and graduate degrees. Powered by an inspiring Founding Vision Statement
, CSUMB is part of the nation’s largest four‑year public university system,
California State University
, which educates nearly 460,000 students every year. With a vibrant, diverse student body of over 7,000 students, CSU Monterey Bay is both a Minority Serving Institution and a Hispanic Serving Institution. Our staff and faculty transform students’ lives with a focus on student success and engagement through experiential learning, service learning, and a strong emphasis on multicultural and global perspectives CSUMB’s sustainability goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030.

The university’s Strategic Plan prioritizes inclusive excellence through recruiting and investing in developing a diverse body of faculty, staff and administrators. Many appreciate living and working close to the shores of beautiful Monterey Bay, with easy access to recreational areas from Big Sur to Santa Cruz. Nearby opportunities for collaborative research include working in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Silicon Valley, and with colleagues at local research universities, including UC Santa Cruz and Stanford University.

As one of the 23 campuses in the CSU system, CSUMB offers excellent benefits, including access to below‑market‑rate rental housing on East Campus, and competitive salaries for faculty and staff. With proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area and San Jose, opportunities for faculty, staff and students are as endless as the shores of the nearby Pacific Ocean.

Under the general supervision of the Vice President of University Advancement with collaboration from Cal State Monterey Bay Vice Presidents, the Director of Government and External Relations is responsible for representing the university to a wide range of external constituencies on issues that affect the support of the mission of the campus. The position requires sound judgment, confidentiality, knowledge of political processes and broad experience with university operations and community networks.

Consequences of error may critically affect the university's image, budget, and external support.

• Leads and advances CSUMB’s government relations strategy at the local, state, and federal levels, including advocacy on policy, budget, capital outlay, legal affairs, bond campaigns, and land use.
• Collaborates with the President, senior leadership, and the Chief Research Officer/Sponsored Programs Office to identify and pursue legislative and agency opportunities that support university priorities, research initiatives, and institutional funding goals.
• Builds and maintains strategic relationships with elected and appointed officials, legislative staff, and relevant agencies across all levels of government, with a focus on the Central Coast delegation.
• Monitors, analyzes, and interprets legislation, regulations, and policy developments, advising senior leadership on potential impacts, risks, and opportunities for collaboration, innovation, or funding.
• Coordinates closely with the CSU Chancellor’s Office Government Affairs team to align campus priorities with systemwide legislative strategies at both the state and federal levels.
• Prepares and manages CSUMB’s annual submissions for the CSU legislative and appropriations agenda, and organizes campus visits, briefings, and engagement with policymakers, including the development of issue briefs, talking points, and follow‑up materials.

• Develops and executes a community relations and external affairs plan that complements the government relations program, engaging business, regional…