Chief of Policy- Hybrid

Job Description and Duties

The Position is headquartered in Sacramento. We offer free parking.

Effective July 1, 2025, The California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025). PLP 2025 directs that each employee shall receive a 3 percent reduction in pay in exchange for 5 hours PLP 2025 leave credits, monthly. The salary range(s) included in the job advertisement do not reflect the 3 percent reduction in pay .

Under the general direction of the Assistant Deputy Director, Division of Policy, Research, and Engagement (DPRE), the Manager II, Chief of Policy, manages the day-to-day operation of Policy Branch, oversees, and directs staff responsible for high-level policy research that advance California’s Master Plan for Aging (MPA) and related California Department of Aging (CDA) strategic priorities. The Chief of Policy provides critical leadership on policies impacting older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers. The Chief of Policy supports policy collaboration across programs and departments and among aging, disability, and caregiver stakeholder groups.

Up to 10% travel may be required within and/or outside the state of California.

To be considered for this position you must provide a completed application, resume, cover letter, and Statement of Qualifications (SOQ).

New to state candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of the alternate salary range when applicable. Placement to alternate range may be based on education or experience identified in your state application.

Examination Information

Those interested in obtaining employment with the California Department of Aging must apply and compete through the State recruitment process (3 Steps To A State Job ). Applicants who successfully pass the examination will be placed on an eligibility list used to recruit for positions.

To apply for the examination for this position, click on the link below to search for the examination and follow the “How to Apply” instructions in the examination announcement: CalCareers Exam/Assessment Search

If you already have list eligibility for this classification, you do not need to retake the examination, except when your list eligibility expires. For questions regarding the examination process and/or career opportunities with the California Department of Aging, please contact the Human Resources Branch at View email address on us.fitly.work

Please ensure your application is complete with detailed job descriptions/tasks performed, employment beginning and ending date information, and hours worked per week. If you are using education to meet one of the patterns of the minimum qualifications, please upload a copy of your degree or transcripts with your application package.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

The successful candidate must reside in California upon appointment.

The physical work location of the position is designated at the department's headquarters location, a three-story building and standard office modular workspace located in Natomas. The duties of the position require sitting for long periods of time while using a personal computer, reviewing documents, and attending meetings whether they are digital (i.e., Zoom, WebEx, MS Teams, etc.) or in person.

Up to 10% travel may be required within and/or outside the state of California.

Special Requirements

This position is designated under the Conflict of Interest Code. The position is responsible for making or participating in the making of governmental decisions that may potentially have a material effect on personal financial interests. The appointee is required to complete Form 700within 30 days of appointment and once per year. Failure to comply with the Conflict of Interest Code requirements may void the appointment.

Do NOT include ANY confidential information to your application on any documents you submit for a 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 (SSN), birthdate, student identification number, driver's license number (unless required), basis of eligibility, examination results, Limited Examination and Appointment Program (LEAP) status, medical information, marital status, and age. Confidential information on the first page of the applications submitted electronically online, such as Easy ID number, SSN, examination related information, and driver's license number will automatically be redacted upon submission.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to your appointment. If it is determined a candidate does not meet the Minimum Qualifications, the candidate will be withheld from the eligibility list, rendering them inactive and ineligible to be hired for the position. Candidates who have been withheld may file and appeal with the State Personnel Board.

If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications, please include a copy of your unofficial transcripts for verification. Foreign transcripts must be accompanied by an academic credential evaluation. Below is the link to a list of approved agencies. 

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:

• Experience with analyzing legislation, tracking regulatory activity, conducting

research, and translating complex policy into understandable terms for staff, partners, and the public.

• Experience with and/or oversight of contracts, grants, program development, and program management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts and information clearly and concisely.
• Proven ability to build relationships, collaborate effectively, and engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to analyze policy issues, identify ethical -considerations, and propose effective solutions.
• Experience with programs that serve older adults, adults with disabilities, family caregivers, and residents in long-term care facilities.
• Ability to think creatively to lead projects and improve processes.

Benefits

In addition to competitive public employee wages and a comprehensive benefits package, our employees enjoy meaningful and interesting work that supports access to programs and services that serve older adults, adults with disabilities, family caregivers, and residents in long-term care facilities throughout California.

To learn more benefits for State employees, visit the page on the CalHR website.

CDA is located close to downtown and is easily accessible from various main thoroughfares (i.e., Interstate-5 and Interstate-80). Employees enjoy a great team environment with amenities including: FREE PARKING and close to various dining and shopping choices in the Natomas area.

Statement of Qualifications and Instructions

The Statement of Qualifications’ (SOQ) purpose is to introduce questions that require a narrative response on how an applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities meet the qualifications for the position. The SOQ serves as a documentation of each candidate's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing.

For assistance in completing the SOQ, you may wish to watch the following video: .

PLEASE NOTE: Resumes, letters, and other materials will not be evaluated or considered as responses to the Statement of Qualifications.

DISCLAIMER:
Applicants who fail to submit a SOQ as required may be screened out from the selection process.

INSTRUCTIONS:
• Must include applicant’s full name (Last, First) on the top right of the SOQ page(s)
• The original SOQ questions must be listed in the SOQ document in order
• Criteria/Question(s) must be answered in numerical order
• Font must be Arial 12-point (not higher or lower)
• Not to exceed three pages
• Single-sided, Single-spaced

1. Policy Development and Management Experience – Please describe your knowledge and experience with policy with developing and managing efforts to implement statewide policy focused on older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers as well as why you are interested in this position.

2. Partnerships – Please describe your experience in developing and maintaining strong relationships with aging and disability service providers, advocates, and other stakeholders. Describe any experience you have in working with state and/or federal entities such as the California Health and Human Services Agency, the California Department of Finance, the State Legislature, and the federal Administration for Community Living or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

3. Leadership Experience – Describe your leadership experience including: your experience in developing and leading teams, new initiatives, managing multiple bodies of work, and/or helping an organization attain its strategic goals.

4. Advancing Policy – Please describe what you see as the most critical issues impacting older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers and the related systems change challenges and opportunities.

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 - (SOQ) is REQUIRED and must be submitted with your Employment Application (STD. 678). Applications received without an appropriate SOQ based on the instructions below will be rejected for being incomplete and will not be considered. Resumes, cover letters, and other documents will not be considered as a response to the Statement of Qualifications. Please refer to the "Statement of Qualifications Instructions" section below for specific requirements.
• Other -

  Please submit a Cover Letter for the hiring manager's review. Your Cover Letter will be considered the first interview for this position and applications submitted without a Cover Letter will not be considered. Resumes do not take the place of this requirement. The Cover Letter must be typed and no longer than one page.

  • Please describe your work experience, education, and training that would make you a qualified candidate to perform the duties as listed on the duty statement of this position .