Manager, Local Affairs Venue and Football Cities

Manager, Local Affairs

The Government Relations team builds and sustains LA28's partnerships with elected and appointed officials at every level of government to ensure the successful delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Manager, Local Affairs will play a pivotal role in advancing LA28's relationships with Venue Cities and Football Cities across Southern California and the country, helping to strengthen coordination among government stakeholders and advance LA28's local government affairs priorities.

This role serves as a key point of contact for a portfolio of LA28 Venue Cities and Football Cities, coordinating with city executives, elected officials, city managers, and other municipal stakeholders to support Games planning and delivery. The Manager ensures local governments are informed, engaged, and aligned with LA28's operational needs, while identifying and resolving issues that may impact Games readiness. Internally, the Manager coordinates cross-functional workstreams related to local government engagement, monitors policy and operational developments, and helps drive LA28's public sector priorities and engagement strategies to secure critical support for the Games.

Portfolio jurisdictions include: Anaheim, Arcadia, Carson, Inglewood, Long Beach, Oklahoma City, Pasadena, Pomona, City of Industry, San Diego, San Jose, St. Louis, Nashville, New York, and Columbus.

The ideal candidate exercises sound judgment and is detail-oriented, proactive, and thrives in a fast-paced environment where organization, adaptability, and communication are key. They bring a passion for public service and a deep interest in the intersection of sports, government, and policy. This role reports to the Director of Venue Cities Relations and works closely with colleagues across LA28 and external partners to help deliver a once-in-a-generation event for Los Angeles and the world.

Key Responsibilities:

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a trusted point of contact for Venue and Football Cities, managing day-to-day relationships with elected offices, executive leadership, and departmental partners, advancing LA28's priorities through proactive communication and relationship management.
• Collaborate across internal teams to facilitate coordinated engagement with local government partners, maintaining relational alignment and ensuring the advancement of operational priorities.
• Support negotiation and implementation of legal agreements, operational commitments, and Games-related deliverables.
• Plan and facilitate presentations at public forums and events with government leaders, creating opportunities for meaningful collaboration and partnership.
• Manage action items and follow-ups from stakeholder meetings to ensure relational accountability.
• Synthesize stakeholder interests, concerns, and sentiment to inform engagement strategies.

Project Management

• Drive the execution of State & Local Affairs projects and initiatives, ensuring progress against timelines and deliverables across internal teams and external partners.
• Develop high-quality briefing materials, reports, and presentations in collaboration with executive leadership, government bodies, and external stakeholders.
• Support delivery of LA28's local government advocacy priorities, managing associated workstreams and tracking progress against key deadlines.

Policy & Legislative Advocacy

• Advance LA28's government affairs priorities with Venue and Football Cities through engagement on legislative and regulatory matters, supporting advocacy efforts and shaping outcomes in alignment with organizational objectives.
• Represent LA28 at hearings, public meetings, and other forums of interest, providing concise summaries, readouts, and recommended actions to inform internal strategy and decision-making.
• Monitor and assess key policy and regulatory developments impacting LA28 and its partner jurisdictions, surfacing emerging risks and opportunities and providing strategic recommendations to inform engagement strategy and decision-making.

Background & Requirements:

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in government, government relations, public affairs, or a related fast-paced environment, with a demonstrated track record of driving initiatives within or in partnership with local government.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with local government partners; experience working across Southern California jurisdictions is preferred, though not required.
• Strong teamwork, interpersonal skills, and the ability to build trusted relationships with a wide range of external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing briefings and materials for senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and perform under pressure, manage multiple workstreams, and deliver against tight deadlines.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong operational execution and project management skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to use good judgment and work independently, while also knowing when to seek feedback and buy-in.
• An enthusiastic, entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving organizational environment.
• Commitment to understanding the stakeholder landscape, including political trends and its impact on LA28 initiatives.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing relationships across multiple municipal jurisdictions or city partners.
• Familiarity with Southern California-area government and regional dynamics.
• Familiarity with government processes and public agency coordination for major events, with experience in the sporting and live events industries preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills; ability to quickly adapt to new tools and systems (e.g., CRM and project management platforms such as Smartsheet).

Expectations:

• Innovative Approach – Ability to identify opportunities, develop new ideas and execute on creative concepts while managing to a budget.
• Influencing Skills – Ability to drive organizational alignment through collaboration.
• Flexible Approach – Ability to roll with the transitional nature of the organization as it grows and establishes itself over the next 2 years.
• Challenger Mindset – Inclination to drive ongoing improvement in people and process.

Education/Training/Certifications

• An undergraduate degree in public policy, political science, or related field or equivalent work experience.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Ability to work on-site in Los Angeles, CA and attend in-person meetings and events across the Southern California region.
• The majority of work will be conducted in an office setting, requiring extended periods of time using computers, phones, and other office equipment.
• The LA28 office is an open floorplan working environment; employees must be able to work efficiently in an open cubicle environment.
• Hours of work may vary, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, especially during peak event periods.
• Perform other duties as required; the role will evolve over time and may include operational responsibilities during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The annual base salary range for this position is $88,000 - $115,000. The pay scale provided is the range that LA28 reasonably expects to pay as starting base compensation for this role. All LA28 compensation remains subject to final determination based on individual candidate qualifications, experience, or other reasonable criteria consistent with LA28's operational business needs and applicable law.

LA28 does not provide relocation assistance.

LA28 is committed to fair and unbiased recruitment procedures allowing all applicants an equal opportunity for employment, free from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, color, ethnic or national origin, or any other classification as may be protected by applicable law. LA28 will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance and all applicable laws. We strive to build a team that is inclusive and encourage qualified candidates of all backgrounds, perspectives, and identities to apply. We assess applications based on relevant skills, education, and experience a candidate can add to our team.