Government Relations Chief*

San Bernardino County is seeking a passionate, dynamic, and high-performing Government Relations Chief to provide senior-level professional, strategic, and operational leadership supporting the County’s government relations and external affairs priorities. The role reports to the Director of Legislative Affairs and serves as a trusted advisor to the Deputy Executive Officer. The official title is Administrative Analyst III. Responsibilities Assist the DEO in developing and implementing comprehensive external engagement and government affairs strategy, including stakeholder mapping, political landscape analysis, and alignment with the County’s policy goals. Lead or participate in complex political and administrative analyses and make recommendations on issues affecting County operations and strategic priorities. Coordinate with the Director of Legislative Affairs to ensure alignment across the Government Relations and Legislative Affairs divisions, supporting unified messaging and collaborative execution of shared responsibilities. Represent the County to federal, state, regional, and local elected officials, legislative offices, agencies, associations, and stakeholder groups, exercising discretion, professionalism, and advanced political judgment. Serve as a key point of contact for non-legislation-specific inquiries from legislative offices, agencies, and stakeholders; triage and route casework and one-off requests to appropriate County departments, ensuring accurate and timely responses. Collaborate with the DEO, Director of Legislative Affairs, and County departments on advocacy campaigns supporting Board priorities. Assist in managing communications with elected officials, legislative offices, and Board offices during emergencies to maintain consistent, accurate, and timely information flow. Lead major projects and initiatives assigned by the DEO, including multi-agency partnerships, regional initiatives, and strategic planning efforts. Conditions of Employment Travel: Travel throughout the County is required. Employees may be required to use personal vehicles with mileage reimbursement available, and must provide a valid California Class C driver license and proof of automobile liability insurance. Background: Candidates must pass a background investigation and medical examination including drug screening. Sponsorship: San Bernardino County does not consider candidates who will require visa sponsorship at the time of application or in the future. Education Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Behavioral or Social Science, Political Science, Public Policy, Law, or other relevant field. Experience Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in government relations, legislative affairs, intergovernmental relations, or public policy within a public agency, with responsibilities conducting complex research, managing projects, and specialized analysis of programs, legislation, and/or policies that impact government, nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholder agencies. A Master’s degree (MPA, MPP) or Juris Doctor is desirable. Key Attributes of the Ideal Candidate Federal, state, and local legislative and governmental processes Intergovernmental relations, political dynamics, and public sector operations County government structure, functions, and administrative procedures Principles of policy analysis, strategic communication, and stakeholder engagement Communicating effectively through polished writing, presentations, and briefings Researching complex issues and preparing clear, actionable recommendations Adapting quickly to changing political and operational environments Benefits Exempt C level benefits are available to qualified candidates. The County also offers a Modified Benefits Option (MBO) that provides a wage differential. For more details, refer to the Summary of Benefits for Exempt Group and Compensation Plan for Exempt Group. Equal Employment Opportunity San Bernardino County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, dedicated to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants. ADA Accommodation If you have a disability and need accommodations during the testing process, please submit the Special Testing Accommodations Request Form within one week of the recruitment filing deadline. Veterans' Preference Eligible veterans and their spouses or widows/widowers who are not current County employees may receive additional Veterans' Preference points. For details, refer to the Veterans' Preference Policy. #J-18808-Ljbffr