CA Policy Associate

OFFICE LOCATION: Sacramento, CA, Hybrid FUNCTIONAL AREA: Legal & Policy EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full-Time, Exempt

COMPENSATION: $70,000 - $75,000 annually, commensurate with experience

REPORTS TO: Director of Policy

Position Summary: California Trout (Cal Trout) seeks a thoughtful, motivated, and collaborative California Policy Associate to support the organization's state policy and advocacy work in Sacramento and across California. Working under the direction of Cal Trout's Director of Policy, this role will advance efforts to support healthy wild rivers and fish, functioning watersheds, climate-resilient ecosystems, and effective restoration throughout California. The ideal candidate is a confident and proactive relationship-builder who is comfortable initiating conversations, meeting new people, and developing professional relationships in highly social settings. The successful candidate should be excited about attending legislative receptions, conferences, coalition gatherings, and other events independently while actively building new connections on behalf of Cal Trout. They are an excellent writer, passionate about conservation, intellectually curious, highly organized, interested in California policymaking, and above all else eager to learn. Prior experience in fisheries, water, or restoration policy is helpful but not required; the ability and desire to build knowledge around complex policy issues and a deep passion for California’s natural places is essential.

Roles & Responsibilities: Legislative & Budget Policy Monitor and prepare policy analyses of California legislation, the state budget, committee activity, and other developments relevant to Cal Trout's priorities, including: bill analyses, briefing memos, position letters, regulatory comments, fact sheets, talking points, and other policy materials. Track deadlines, hearings, amendments, and emerging issues and proactively flag opportunities or concerns. Attend and testify on behalf of Cal Trout at legislative hearings and briefings and provide concise, substantive summaries and recommendations to the Director of Policy and other Cal Trout staff. Regularly visit legislative offices to discuss Cal Trout priorities and develop/maintain relationships with legislative staff. Support development and drafting of Cal Trout-sponsored legislation and advocate for Cal Trout funding priorities in state budget process. Help plan and facilitate events, including: Cal Trout policy days at the Capitol, the Salmon and Steelhead Coalition Award Ceremony, and legislative staffer field visits. Administrative, Regulatory & Agency Policy Monitor relevant state agencies (CNRA, DWR, SWRCB), regulatory proceedings, rulemaking processes, board and commission activities, funding programs, and public engagement opportunities. Track vacancies, appointments, leadership changes, and other developments within state agencies, boards, and commissions relevant to Cal Trout's work. Attend hearings, workshops, and agency proceedings and provide timely analysis and recommendations for Cal Trout engagement. Relationship Building, Coalitions & External Engagement Relationship-building is a core component of this position. The CA Policy Associate will be expected to actively develop a professional network within California's policy and natural resources, water user, and agricultural communities and help strengthen Cal Trout's relationships with policymakers, partners, and stakeholders. Build and maintain relationships with legislative and agency staff, Tribal Nations and organizations, conservation partners, agricultural and water interests, restoration practitioners, and other stakeholders. Engage respectfully and thoughtfully with stakeholders representing diverse perspectives and interests, seeking opportunities for common ground while remaining grounded in Cal Trout's mission and conservation objectives. Represent Cal Trout as a constructive, credible, and solutions-oriented partner, recognizing that effective conservation policy often requires building durable relationships across differing interests and perspectives. Internal Policy Coordination Work with Cal Trout's regional and program staff to identify policy barriers, funding needs, opportunities, and emerging issues affecting projects and watersheds throughout California Help translate lessons from Cal Trout's on-the-ground restoration work into potential statewide policy and funding solutions Maintain organized policy files, trackers, calendars, contact information, and other systems that strengthen institutional knowledge and continuity Collaborate with the Cal Trout Communications team to write policy blogs, social media copy, and annual report language. Office and Administrative Responsibilities Drafting Cal Trout state lobbying reports Assist with keeping the Sacramento office well stocked with office supplies and preparing for conference meetings with Coalition partners. Drive to remote locations throughout California to visit project sites.

Requirements & Qualifications: An ideal candidate may have 1-3 years of professional experience in a similar position, however, relevant experience may come from paid or unpaid work, including volunteer, educational and lived experiences that helped you to build the competencies, knowledge, and skills needed for this position. Experience or familiarity with one or more of the following is desirable, but not required: California legislative or budget processes California water or natural resources policy and law State agency or regulatory processes Fisheries, aquatic ecosystems, watershed restoration, or conservation Coalition-based advocacy and stakeholder engagement... ```