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Government Relations Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Capitolis

Government Relations Lead

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$100 - $140/hr

As our first Government Relations Lead, you'll shape the strategy and build the relationships that allow us to operate, scale, and accelerate our growth across every state in the country. This role ...

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Government Relations Manager information

See California salary details

$50.8K

$105.1K

$167.3K

How much do government relations manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for government relations manager in California is $105,127.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $77,000.00 and $133,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Government Relations Manager do?

A Government Relations Manager is responsible for building and maintaining relationships between an organization and government officials, agencies, and legislators. Their main goal is to advocate for the organization's interests by monitoring legislation, analyzing policy changes, and communicating with key stakeholders. They also develop strategies to influence public policy, ensure compliance with regulations, and represent the organization at government meetings and hearings. This role often involves a mix of research, communication, and strategic planning.

What does a Government Relations Manager do?

Government relations managers promote legislative efforts that are beneficial to their organization and collaborate with public relations officers on campaigns to earn the backing of government officials and the public. As a government relations manager, your job duties include staying current on existing and proposed legislation, meeting with local, state, and federal government officials and lobbyists, and updating management on relevant laws and regulations. The qualifications for a career as a government affairs manager include a bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, or political science, experience in government affairs jobs, and excellent interpersonal skills.

What are some common challenges Government Relations Managers face when navigating legislative and regulatory processes?

Government Relations Managers often encounter challenges such as rapidly changing legislative landscapes, managing relationships with diverse stakeholders, and staying informed about complex policy developments. Balancing the interests of their organization with shifting government priorities requires adaptability and strong communication skills. Additionally, they must be able to quickly analyze and respond to new regulations or proposed laws, which often involves coordinating with internal teams and external partners to ensure timely and effective advocacy.

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

To thrive as a Government Relations Manager, you need expertise in policy analysis, legislative processes, and stakeholder engagement, usually supported by a degree in political science, law, or public administration. Familiarity with government affairs software, legislative tracking systems, and often certifications in public affairs or lobbying are typical requirements. Outstanding interpersonal skills, persuasive communication, and strategic thinking set top candidates apart in this role. These skills are crucial for influencing policy, building strong relationships, and advancing organizational interests effectively with government entities.

What is the difference between Government Relations Manager vs Public Affairs Specialist?

AspectGovernment Relations ManagerPublic Affairs Specialist
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in political science, public relations, or related field; often requires experience in government or lobbyingBachelor's degree in communications, public relations, or related field; may require experience in media or community outreach
Work EnvironmentCorporate or nonprofit settings, engaging with government agencies and policymakersMedia outlets, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations focusing on public communication
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by corporations, associations, and nonprofits to influence policyUsed by government agencies, PR firms, and advocacy groups to manage public perception

The main difference is that a Government Relations Manager primarily focuses on building relationships with government officials and influencing policy, while a Public Affairs Specialist handles communication strategies to shape public opinion and manage media relations. Both roles require strong communication skills and understanding of government processes, but their core functions and target audiences differ.

More about Government Relations Manager jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Government Relations jobs in California?

The most popular types of Government Relations jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Government Relations Manager jobs in California?

For Government Relations Manager jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Government Relations Manager jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Government Relations Manager jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Government Relations Manager jobs?

Cities in California with the most Government Relations Manager job openings:

Government Relations Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Government Relations Manager job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,127 per year, or $50.5 per hour.

Government Relations Manager/Public Affairs Advisor

Southern California Edison (SCE)

Rosemead, CA • On-site

$143K - $215K/yr

Full-time

Posted 29 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Supports the development and implementation of engagement plans to influence policy and infrastructure project outcomes.

  • Builds and maintains relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, community leaders, and business associations.

  • Prepares reports, briefing notes, and policy content, and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to communicate and refine information.

Job description

Join the Clean Energy Revolution
Become a Government Relations Manager/Public Affairs Advisor at Southern California Edison (SCE) and build a better tomorrow.
In this role, you will support the development and implementation of engagement plans that result in favorable policy and infrastructure project outcomes primarily in the San Gabriel Valley and parts of the broader Los Angeles region, to help safely deliver reliable, clean and affordable electricity. Core responsibilities include growing and maintaining relationships as well as building consensus with key stakeholders, including local government elected leaders and staff, government associations, community leaders, and business associations/coalitions.
The Advisor works closely with internal teams to understand policy priorities and key infrastructure projects. They collaborate on educating stakeholders, gathering feedback from customers, explaining complex internal processes, mitigating reputation/brand risks, developing advocacy messages and government relations approaches to drive favorable outcomes. The Advisor provides support in an assigned role for the Organizational Unit (OU) and company emergency response. After hours, night and weekend duty rotation may be required. The Advisor also develops and tracks performance metrics.
Incident Management Team Expected Participation: Employees are expected to support emergency response and/or business continuity efforts, including readiness to serve on an Incident Management Team (IMT) when needed. Employees will participate in an on-call rotation (approximately every four to six weeks), to support IMT activations during emergency events. IMT assignments may differ from an individual's regular responsibilities.
As a Government Relations Manager/Public Affairs Advisor, your work will help power our planet, reduce carbon emissions and create cleaner air for everyone. Are you ready to take on the challenge to help us build the future?
Responsibilities
  • Engages with a broader set of officials and maintains existing relationships; leads smaller strategic relationship building projects focusing on select SCE initiatives.
  • Proposes and shapes the content and topics of discussion, ensuring relevance to business activities; engages directly with government officials at gatherings.
  • Prepares and proofreads correspondence, forms and other documents, and coordinates the communication of information from the Government Affairs office to internal stakeholders interested in topics related to strategic initiatives, agency actions, and legislative proposals.
  • Manages sections or specific aspects of the reports; reviews data for accuracy ensuring all report criteria are met, and verifies that the reports adhere to the guidelines set by LDA and FEC.
  • Drafts and delivers reports for the corporate office as well as briefing notes for senior management to outline issues that may impact the company's operations and project developments.
  • Develops multiple pieces of policy content ensuring coherence and consistency; engages with internal and external stakeholders to refine content.
  • Implements and acts on opportunities to streamline administrative processes associated with managing the office.
  • Supports outreach to industry lobbying coalitions on priority issues.
  • Incident Management Team (IMT) Participation: When needed, incumbents in this job are required to serve as members of the Incident Management Team (IMT) to support emergency response and business continuity efforts. This essential function includes on-call availability on a rotating basis (approximately every four to six weeks), the ability to work extended hours up to 12-hour shifts during IMT activations, flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as operationally necessary during emergency events, readiness to report in person to the Irwindale location on short notice, completion and maintenance of required IMT training and qualifications, and the performance of assigned IMT duties that may differ from regular responsibilities. These requirements are considered essential functions of the role.
  • A material job duty of all positions within the Company is ensuring the protection of all its physical, financial and cybersecurity assets, and properly accessing and managing private customer data, proprietary information, confidential medical records, and other types of highly sensitive information and data with the highest standards of conduct and integrity.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Seven or more years of experience working in public affairs, government relations, or community relations.

Preferred Qualifications
    • Ability to follow Edison safety protocols and safe work practices.
    • Bachelor's Degree or higher in Political Science, Business, or related field.
    • Experience working closely with local governments and agencies in the San Gabriel Valley, City of Los Angeles, or Los Angeles County.
    • Experience in helping to manage candidate, ballot measure and/or issue advocacy campaigns.
    • Experience managing infrastructure and public outreach activities.
    • Strong strategic, analytical, and planning skills.
    • Effective decision making, results delivery, and team building.
    • Excellent written and oral communication skills with a strong attention to detail.
    • Experience working in the energy industry.
    • Ability to analyze, summarize and recommend ideas and concepts to senior management in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner.
    • Strong ethics, people skills, and the ability to optimally manage stress and engage in continuous learning.
    • Strong organizational skills with an elevated level of initiative and ability to effectively interface and collaborate with partners to help drive solutions and ensure stakeholder buy-in.
    • Ability to handle and support multiple projects concurrently.
    • Experience engaging with key stakeholders and building community engagement plans.

Additional Information
  • This position's work mode is hybrid. The employee will report to an SCE facility for a set number of days with the option to work remotely on the remaining days. Unless otherwise noted, employees are required to work and reside in the state of California. Further details of this work mode will be discussed at the interview stage. The work mode can be changed based on business needs.
  • Visit our Candidate Resource page to get meaningful information related to benefits, perks, resources, testing information, hiring process, and more!
  • Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
  • Position will require up to 20% traveling and being out in the field throughout the SCE service area.
  • Relocation does not apply to this position.

About Southern California Edison
The people at SCE don't just keep the lights on. Our mission is so much bigger. We're fueling the kind of innovation that's changing an entire industry, and quite possibly the planet. Join us and create a future with cleaner energy, while providing our customers with the safety and reliability they demand. At SCE, you'll have a chance to grow personally and professionally, making a real impact in Southern California and around the world.
Southern California Edison is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
We are committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodations at AskHR@sce.com or (626) 302-3456 and select option 2.

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