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Government Affairs Jobs in San Jose, CA (NOW HIRING)

Supermicro

Sr. Public Affairs Manager

San Jose, CA · On-site

$135K - $160K/yr

This position reports directly to the Senior Director of Government Affairs. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Under the general direction of the Senior Director of Government Affairs, the ...

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Government Affairs information

See San Jose, CA salary details

$36.4K

$124.8K

$191.5K

How much do government affairs jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for government affairs in San Jose, CA is $124,775.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $91,100.00 and $155,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Are Jobs in Government Affairs?

Working in government affairs involves being in the employ of a large firm who has interests related to government policy. In a government affairs department, you work as part of a team to network with politicians and influence legislation for the benefit of your firm. Your responsibilities also include liaising with public officials to coordinate and plan an initiative or program that helps establish policy or law. Other duties involve managing or directing services that make your firm more visible to policymakers. As a government affairs manager, you compile data and research to target legislative priorities and policymakers effectively.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Government Affairs professional, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Government Affairs professional, you need a solid understanding of public policy, regulatory frameworks, and legislative processes, typically supported by a degree in political science, law, or a related field. Familiarity with legislative tracking systems, stakeholder management tools, and sometimes certifications like the Public Affairs Council Certificate are valuable. Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and negotiation skills are crucial for effectively influencing policy and representing organizational interests. These competencies enable professionals to navigate complex political environments, advocate successfully, and build strong alliances that advance organizational goals.

How does a Government Affairs professional typically collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders?

Government Affairs professionals often serve as a bridge between their organization and governmental or regulatory bodies. They regularly collaborate with internal teams—such as legal, public relations, and executive leadership—to develop unified policy positions and strategies. Externally, they engage with policymakers, advocacy groups, and industry associations to communicate organizational interests and monitor legislative developments. Effective collaboration and communication skills are essential, as the role involves coordinating input from various departments and building relationships with key external stakeholders to advance the organization's objectives.

What are Government Affairs professionals?

Government Affairs professionals are specialists who manage the relationship between an organization and government entities. They monitor legislative and regulatory developments, advocate for policies that benefit their organization, and ensure compliance with government regulations. Their responsibilities often include lobbying, building relationships with lawmakers, and communicating the organization's position on various public issues. These professionals help organizations navigate complex political environments and influence policy decisions that affect their business or mission.

What is the difference between Government Affairs vs Public Relations?

AspectGovernment AffairsPublic Relations
Required CredentialsTypically requires a degree in political science, public policy, or related fields; often benefits from government or policy experienceUsually requires a degree in communications, marketing, or journalism; experience in media or corporate communications is common
Work EnvironmentOften involves lobbying, policy analysis, and government interactionsFocuses on media relations, brand management, and public messaging
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by corporations, associations, and government agencies to influence policyUsed by companies, nonprofits, and agencies to shape public perception

While both roles involve communication and strategic outreach, Government Affairs primarily focuses on influencing legislation and policy through government engagement, whereas Public Relations centers on managing a company's public image and media relations. Understanding these differences helps professionals choose the right career path or job focus within the industry.

More about Government Affairs jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Government Affairs jobs in San Jose, CA? The most popular types of Government Affairs jobs in San Jose, CA are:
What job categories do people searching Government Affairs jobs in San Jose, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Government Affairs jobs in San Jose, CA are:
What cities near San Jose, CA are hiring for Government Affairs jobs? Cities near San Jose, CA with the most Government Affairs job openings:
Government Affairs jobs near you
Infographic showing various Government Affairs job openings in San Jose, CA as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $124,775 per year, or $60 per hour.
VP, Government Affairs

VP, Government Affairs

Peregrine Technologies

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

Backed by leading Silicon Valley investors, Peregrine helps public safety organizations, state and local and governments, federal agencies, and private-sector institutions address society's challenges with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Our AI-enabled platform turns siloed and disconnected data into operational intelligence - instantly surfacing mission-critical information to empower better, faster decisions that improve outcomes at every touchpoint. Today Peregrine supports hundreds of customers across 30+ states and two countries, serving more than 125 million people - and we're amplifying our impact as we expand into the enterprise and internationally.
The Role
Peregrine is seeking a Vice President of Government Affairs to build and lead the company's federal, state, and local government engagement strategy as we transition from early-stage execution to scaled programs, increased government visibility, and deeper engagement with federal, state, and international stakeholders. In this role, you will report to the Company's Chief Legal Officer and be a trusted advisor to the CEO and the Executive Team.
You will be responsible for building a disciplined policy and engagement strategy for both our US federal business and our long-standing and growing State and Local Government business, managing relationships across the executive and legislative branches, supporting government-funded programs and contracts, and ensuring consistent alignment between public policy objectives and business priorities as the company grows in size and complexity.
This leader will skillfully balance organizational leadership and strategic judgment with hands-on execution. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of US public safety and/or law enforcement policy and players; established relationships across key federal agencies and Capitol Hill; and the ability to translate complex business and technical issues into effective advocacy positions.
This is not a traditional policy or compliance-only role. It's a senior, operator-minded position for someone who can build and lead a Government Affairs department that functions as a growth-aligned force multiplier across the federal landscape as well as in priority states-while managing political, regulatory, and reputational risk.
You will own Peregrine's external federal, state and local political infrastructure (lobbyists, associations, advisors), establish clear compliance guardrails, and partner closely with federal and state strategy and growth leaders to ensure government affairs can accelerate execution.
Your North Star
Build a disciplined, outcome-driven Government Affairs function that supports Peregrine's priority US Federal and State strategies, unlocks funding and market access, and protects the company as it scales across complex political and regulatory environments.
What You'll Do
  • Lead Lobbyist & External Partner Strategy: Own strategy, oversight, and performance management for all contract lobbyists, Public Affairs/Government relations firms, and external advisors.
  • Establish Political Compliance & Guardrails: Build a practical, scalable political compliance framework for federal, state and local activities including political contributions, lobbying registrations and sales team policies in partnership with Legal team.
  • Support US Federal Business team: Design and execute the company's federal government relations strategy aligned with top business priorities, including U.S. government customers, program execution, policy and legislative developments, regulatory considerations, and future growth.
  • Support Priority State Strategies: Partner with state strategic owners (e.g., AZ, FL, TX) to align government affairs activity with revenue, funding, and deployment goals; helping to design and execute legislative, budget, and regulatory strategies in target states.
  • Risk & Crisis Response: Partner with Legal and Communications to lead Peregrine's GA response to political, regulatory, or public-sensitivity issues involving government stakeholders.
  • Build Event, Association & Relationship Infrastructure: Develop a clear engagement strategy for organizations such as RAGA, DAGA, NCSL, NLC, USCM, and key state-level associations. Recommend where Peregrine shows up, why, and with what objectives-and who should attend.

What Success Looks Like
  • Government affairs is viewed internally as a strategic growth partner, not a blocker.
  • Lobbyists and external partners are high-performing, accountable, and aligned to outcomes.
  • Priority state teams have clear legislative, budget, and political strategies supporting growth.
  • Political and regulatory risks are anticipated early and managed effectively.
  • Peregrine shows up in the right rooms, with the right message, for the right reason.

About You
  • 12+ years of experience in government affairs, public policy, political campaigns, or related roles with ownership of complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
  • Background in public safety policy or aligned industries.
  • Demonstrated experience managing lobbyists and federal-level strategies.
  • Strong working knowledge of state legislative, regulatory, and budget processes.
  • Proven ability to operate as a partner to revenue-owning and market-development teams.
  • Comfortable building from scratch in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; able to translate complexity into clear narratives and operator-ready tools.
  • Located in San Francisco and willing to work in our office 4x/week.

Salary Range: $300,000 - $385,000 Annually + Benefits + Equity (if applicable) + Bonus (if applicable)
Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and specific work location. Information on the benefits offered is here.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Peregrine Technologies is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We celebrate diversity and are a proud equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

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