CA Policy Associate

POSITION: 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 (CalTrout) 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 CalTrout'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 CalTrout. 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 CalTrout'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 CalTrout at legislative hearings and briefings and provide concise, substantive summaries and recommendations to the Director of Policy and other CalTrout staff.
• Regularly visit legislative offices to discuss CalTrout priorities and develop/maintain relationships with legislative staff. Support development and drafting of CalTrout-sponsored legislation and advocate for CalTrout funding priorities in state budget process.
• Help plan and facilitate events, including: CalTrout 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 CalTrout's work.
• Attend hearings, workshops, and agency proceedings and provide timely analysis and recommendations for CalTrout 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 CalTrout'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 CalTrout's mission and conservation objectives.
• Represent CalTrout 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 CalTrout'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 CalTrout'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 CalTrout Communications team to write policy blogs, social media copy, and annual report language.

Office and Administrative Responsibilities

• Drafting CalTrout 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
• Professional networking, community engagement, organizing, advocacy, or other work requiring proactive relationship development

Candidate must:

• Valid CA driver’s license, and flexibility to travel
• Based in Sacramento for regular in-person work

Benefits: California Trout offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience; health benefits (medical, dental, and vision), retirement plan with matching, paid parental leave, sabbatical leave, generous holidays and vacation benefits.

California Trout (CalTrout) is a highly recognized and effective 501(c)3 conservation organization headquartered in San Francisco. For over 50 years, CalTrout has championed a remarkable number of initiatives focused on solving complex resource issues that balance the needs of fish and people. CalTrout has six regionally based offices located in key geographies where wild fish influence local communities. Our professional staff drives innovative, science-based solutions that work for the diverse interests of fish, farms, commerce and the community. CalTrout is backed by a passionate Board of Directors, along with highly committed donors and a strong membership base.

Diversity:  CalTrout does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.

We’re passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Companies that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, and perspective are proven to be better companies. More importantly, creating an environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best work is the right thing to do.