ORGANIZATIONAL OVERIVEW

The California Apartment Association (CAA) is the nation’s largest statewide trade association serving the rental housing industry. CAA’s diverse membership includes thousands of individuals who own/manage rental housing and the largest corporate owners of apartments in California. CAA offers thought leadership, government advocacy, information, and resources to ensure California’s rental housing providers offer quality homes and living experiences for the state’s renters.

Through a robust public affairs program and political action committee, CAA promotes common sense solutions to our state’s housing challenges and educates rental housing providers to help them understand, navigate, and comply with local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

THE POSITION

The Local Public Affairs Director will leverage their experience in public affairs, government relations, and public policy to put their organizational, communication, and advocacy skills to work in a fast-paced environment aimed at delivering results for CAA’s members. This position will work closely with CAA members, elected officials, government agencies, in California’s Inland Empire region (San Bernardino and Riverside counties) and more broadly in Orange County, San Diego, and other parts of Southern California as needed.

Success in this role requires one who is forward thinking, communicates well, maintains discretion and confidentiality, anticipates needs, has impeccable organizational skills, brings a winning attitude, and can proactively resolve issues.

Specific duties of this position include but are not limited to:

Public Policy Advocacy

• Monitor governmental meeting agendas in designated regions for issues affecting the CAA members; propose responses to address those issues.
• Represent CAA’s position before government bodies on identified issues including writing letters, conducting research, providing public testimony, and communicating with city officials.
• Build and maintain relationships with government officials, businesses organizations, coalition groups and CAA members in designated regions.
• Communicate important industry issues to State Legislators in a designated region when assigned.
• Represent CAA at relevant events, coalition groups, and stakeholder meetings.

Policy & Communications Management/Research

• Write and edit emails, letters, memos, board reports and other written materials with minimal supervision and editing.
• Research policy issues for the organization and members and prepare materials for meetings and presentations for internal and external audiences, compile reference materials and research.
• Create and deliver engaging presentations to various audiences to promote CAA membership and/or positions on issues.
• Engage and lead member mobilization and communications efforts to ensure stakeholder engagement on issues.
• Coordinate and assist with management of quality information in the CAA member database.
• Proactively inform CAA staff leadership of public policy issues affecting the industry & organization.
  

Qualifications Requirements (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities)

• Four years of experience working at or with government agencies.
• Bachelor’s Degree or higher from an accredited university.
• Excellent technical skills in using Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Word and PowerPoint) as well as SalesForce.
• Extremely strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Detail-oriented and committed to accuracy.
• Excellent research and information gathering skills.
• Discrete professional with strong interpersonal skills, ability to handle confidential information and build relationships across the organization.
• Pleasant and upbeat attitude geared toward member service, a strong work ethic, and desire to help.
• Comfortable with change and flexible.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to see the big picture, manage multiple priorities, and excellent follow-through to meet deadlines.
• Strong project management skills – ability to create a comprehensive plan, manage the smaller details, and create and maintain systems that enhance organizational efficiency.
  

Compensation and Benefits:   California Apartment Association offers a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience.  Additional benefits include health insurance and 401(k) with employer contribution.