Policy and Legislative Affairs Manager - Utilities

The most successful candidates are innovative leaders who thrive in a dynamic environment, embrace collaboration, and are passionate about making a meaningful impact through public service. If you are ready to influence public policy, strengthen community partnerships, and help shape the future of the City of Upland's Utilities Division, we invite you to apply and become part of our team.

BENEFIT HIGHLIGHTS:

• EDUCATION INCENTIVE: Additional compensation over an employee’s base salary for a job-related degree above the minimum requirements required of an employee’s position. 
• HOLIDAY: City Hall and most city departments will be permanently closed from Christmas Day through New Year’s Day

The City is seeking a strategic, politically savvy Policy and Legislative Affairs Manager to lead its legislative and intergovernmental initiatives. This position plays a key role in shaping public policy, advocating for the City’s priorities, and fostering relationships with elected officials, government agencies, and community stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan, manage, and evaluate the City's legislative and governmental affairs activities.
• Analyze and monitor state and federal legislation and programs; assess their impact on City operations and policies.
• Advise executive management staff with timely policy analysis, legislative updates, and strategic recommendations.
• Represent the City in meetings with appointed officials, legislators, agencies, advocacy groups, and at public or educational events.
• Prepare and present reports, talking points, legislative summaries, and policy position papers including letters of support and opposition to the City's utility interests.
• Develop outreach materials including fact sheets, media content, and digital communications.
• Coordinate interdepartmental efforts and external partnerships to advance City goals.
• Assist with budget planning, funding strategies, and program implementation related to legislative initiatives.
• Assist with developing and communicating educational programs, grants, and initiatives to the community
• Respond to public and media inquiries, and participate in evening/weekend events and meetings as needed.
• Develop and/or assist with grant writing opportunities and tracking related to the Public Works department
• Strong knowledge of legislative processes and governmental operations at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Excellent skills in policy research, strategic communication, public relations, and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to build effective partnerships, influence policy outcomes, and represent the City with professionalism and diplomacy.

Knowledge of:

The ideal candidate will possess in-depth knowledge of government operations, legislative processes, and public affairs, with the ability to communicate policy priorities effectively and represent the City’s interests across various platforms.

Key Areas of Expertise:

• Strong understanding of the structures and functions of local, state, and federal government.
• Knowledge of state and federal legislative processes, including bill writing, lobbying, and implementation.
• Experience conducting legislative research, policy analysis, and program evaluation.
• Familiarity with public affairs, community engagement, and communications strategy development.
• Proficiency in media relations, journalism, news writing, and public information practices.
• Public administration principles, including budget development, grant writing/tracking and program management.
• Effective use of modern business technology, including communications tools and relevant software.
• Skilled in professional writing, public speaking, and preparing reports, briefings, and correspondence.
• Ability to provide high-level customer service and maintain strong relationships with staff, agencies, officials and the public.

Ability to:

• Plan, organize, and coordinate the operations, services and activities of the Government and Public Affairs function.
• Recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies and procedures for providing government and public affairs services.
• Understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Effectively represent the City to outside individuals and agencies to accomplish the goals and objectives of the unit; work cooperatively with other departments, City officials, and outside agencies.
• Respond tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, City staff, or other agencies on sensitive issues or other critical matters.
• Understand, analyze, interpret, and explain federal, state and local legislation.
• Develop and implement goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards.
• Use tact, sound judgment and professionalism in communicating the City’s position of various legislative issues.
• Prepare and administer budgets; allocate limited resources in a cost-effective manner.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Research and coordinate potential grant applications and administer relevant grants
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, techniques, and programs.
• Organize and maintain office, specialized, and sensitive files.
• Prepare clear and concise administrative and financial reports from brief instructions and requests.
• Present proposals and recommendations clearly, logically and persuasively.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Travel as needed and work evenings and weekends.
• Other duties as assigned

Most work is performed in a standard office environment standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time. Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen and color vision to create and interpret color coded reports and spreadsheets; hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone; ability to stand and walk between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. May be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends; may be required to travel to attend meetings via car, bus, train or air transportation.