Federal Legislative Manager

Job Description and Duties

Under the general direction of the Federal Liaison, the incumbent serves as the Federal Legislative Manager and a subject matter expert on federal transportation legislative and policy matters, managing complex and highly sensitive aspects of Caltrans’ federal legislative, policy, and strategic outreach portfolio. The incumbent functions as a key departmental resource on federal transportation policy and independently performs complex, critical, and specialized assignments with department-wide and statewide impact. The incumbent independently tracks, research, evaluates, and analyzes federal transportation legislation, regulations, notices, policies, funding programs, and emerging federal initiatives to determine potential impacts on Caltrans operations, programs, funding, and the statewide transportation system. In coordination with Caltrans programs and districts, the incumbent develops strategies, recommendations, and policy options that advance Caltrans’ mission, vision, values, goals, and other guiding principles while preserving the Department’s operational capability and flexibility. The incumbent serves as a project leader and coordinates cross-functional efforts involving Caltrans programs and districts and other internal and external partners on complex federal legislative, regulatory, and policy initiatives. This includes coordinating the development and implementation of strategies related to federal surface transportation legislation; supporting implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and future federal surface transportation reauthorization legislation; evaluating new or changing federal requirements and operational processes; and developing strategies and recommendations to improve departmental programs, policies, processes, and approaches in response to evolving federal requirements and priorities. As a subject matter expert, the incumbent independently, and in coordination with Caltrans programs, develops federal legislative concepts and proposals; conducts complex legislative, policy, and programmatic analyses and research; and prepares recommendations, reports, white papers, briefing materials, memoranda, presentations, and other products for executive-level consideration. The incumbent serves in a consultative and advisory capacity to the Federal Liaison, Caltrans Directorate and Executive Management, and other senior officials regarding significant federal transportation policy, legislative, regulatory, programmatic, and funding matters and presents complex information, policy options, and recommendations to executive leadership and other internal and external audiences. The incumbent develops and maintains effective working relationships and coordinates extensively with the Caltrans Directorate and Executive Management statewide, Caltrans Legislative Affairs, headquarters programs and districts, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), the Governor’s Office, other state agencies, federal agencies, Congressional offices, national transportation organizations, and other transportation stakeholders. The incumbent represents and advances Caltrans’ interests on federal transportation matters and identifies opportunities for strategic collaboration, innovation, and policy development. The ability to exercise a high degree of independent judgment, provide expert-level analysis and recommendations, coordinate the work of others on complex initiatives, and establish effective relationships with internal and external partners is critical to the successful performance of the position.

Eligibility for hire may be determined by your score on the Analyst IV exam. For those who do not have current eligibility (e.g., transfer, permissive reinstatement, or voluntary demotions) and/or who will be new to state civil services employment, you must be on the state examination list to be eligible for these positions.  To apply for the exam, please click CalCareers and search by typing in the classification title.

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PARF#85-27-0005 JC#531655

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Position located at 1120 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Multiple positions  may  be filled from this recruitment.

This position is eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on Caltrans’ current telework policy.  While Caltrans supports telework, in-person attendance may be required based operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksite with minimal notification if an urgent need arises. The selected candidate may be required to conduct business travel on behalf of the Department or commute to the headquarted location. Business travel reimbursements considers an employee's designated Headquarters location, primary residence, and may be subject to CalHR regulations and applicable bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the headquarted location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

Working hours will be set sometime between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The incumbent may be required to travel in-state and possibly out-of-state. Incumbent may be required to sit for long periods of time using a keyboard and video display terminal.

Special Requirements

The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) serves as documentation of each applicant’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. Please follow the instructions below; failure to include and complete the SOQ as instructed may result in the SOQ not being considered and in disqualification from the interview. Each question must be numbered and addressed in the same order as the questions below. The SOQ must be typed, no more than two pages in length, and 12-point Arial font.

1. Provide specific examples that demonstrate your knowledge of the federal legislative policy/regulatory process (i.e., researching federal legislation/regulations, congressional hearings etc.).

2. Provide specific examples that demonstrate your knowledge or experience with federal transportation programs.

3. Provide specific examples that demonstrate your ability to work cooperatively with/build partnerships internally among Caltrans’ Executive Management, as well as with Caltrans’ partners, (i.e., local, state/federal agencies, rail/transit operators, industry reps. and special interest groups, etc.)

4. Provide specific examples that demonstrate your experience communicating effectively in writing and verbally on a variety of complex transportation issues and to a range of different audiences.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment.  If you are basing your eligibility on education, you must include your unofficial transcript(s)/diploma for verification.  Unofficial, original, or official sealed transcripts will be accepted and may be required upon appointment.  Applicants with foreign transcripts/degrees must provide a transcript/degree U.S. equivalency report evaluation that indicates the number of units and degree to which the foreign coursework is equivalent.  Please visit either of the following two websites for a list of evaluation agencies: or .  Please redact birthdates and social security numbers.

Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions ranging from 2% to 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) hours. Please note that the salary ranges listed in this Job Control may not reflect these reductions associated with the 2025 Personal Leave Program. Please follow the link for more information regarding the 2025 Personal Leave program: .

Possession of a valid driver’s license is required when operating a state owned or leased vehicle.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Must be knowledgeable of Caltrans' mission, goals and programs; laws, rules and policies of the State of California and the federal government regarding transportation issues. Must be able to communicate effectively in both writing and speaking in respond to the steady flow of inquiries from interested citizens, legislators, other State agencies, other states, foreign governments, and the federal government on a wide variety of transportation issues. Must be able to perform effectively under rigid time constraints and pressure.

The ability to plan, organize and direct outreach efforts through the use of consultants and cooperate with governmental agencies and other partners. Conduct completed staff work, including analysis of major issues; work effectively with advisory and steering committees, governmental agencies, the private sector, other institutions and the general public; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and present controversial and complex reports clearly and succinctly. Effectively recommend policy and know computer applications of Microsoft Word (word processing), Microsoft Excel (spreadsheet) and Microsoft PowerPoint, and be able to navigate the World Wide Web.

Benefits

to view the Benefits Summary for Civil Service Employees in the State of California.

Important Application Instructions:

The State application (STD. 678) is required, and each section must be filled out completely and thoroughly. For mailed or hand delivered applications to be considered for this position, the Job Control number (JC-531655), PARF#85-27-0005 and title of the position (Analyst IV) must be included on the STD. 678 form.

Electronic applications through your CalCareers account are highly recommended and encouraged.

Candidates that meet the minimum qualifications based on possession of EDUCATION, LICENSE, OR CERTIFICATE must include a copy of your DEGREE/TRANSCRIPTS, LICENSE, or CERTIFICATE, along with your State application (STD. 678), to be considered for this position.

NOTE: Do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (page 5) with your completed State application (STD. 678). This page is for examination use only. Do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for this job vacancy, such as your state application, resume, or educational transcripts.  Confidential information that should be  excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, your Social Security Number, birth date, driver’s license number, examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age.  The job application packet checklist is not required to apply for this position.  Failure to follow these instructions may result in your application not being considered for this position.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Statement of Qualifications -

  Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required. Please see the Special Requirements section for SOQ instructions.