Government Relations Specialist

Overview:

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.

To learn more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

The Office of Community & Government Relations advances the University of California, Irvine's mission through strategic engagement with government leaders, community organizations, and external partners. The office works to build and sustain relationships that support UC Irvine's academic, research, health, and public service priorities while enhancing the university's role as a leading public institution serving California and the nation.

Responsibilities:

The Government Relations Specialist supports UC Irvine’s community and government relations activities, including stakeholder outreach, public policy research, government engagement, community partnerships, events, and office operations. Working under general supervision, the position assists senior staff in maintaining relationships with government officials, community organizations, business and civic leaders, and other external partners.

The successful candidate will have strong communication and organizational skills, an interest in public policy and higher education, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.


Community Relations & Partnership Development
• Support outreach to community organizations, chambers of commerce, nonprofit organizations, business groups, neighborhood organizations, and other regional stakeholders.
• Assist senior staff with maintaining community relationships and identifying opportunities for engagement.
• Help coordinate community programs, meetings, events, and outreach activities.
• Research community organizations, stakeholders, and regional issues relevant to UC Irvine.
• Maintain stakeholder contact information and engagement records.
• • Participate in community meetings and events as assigned.

Government Relations & External Engagement
• Support the office’s engagement with local, county, state, and federal elected officials, government agencies, and staff.
• Track legislative, regulatory, and public policy developments relevant to UC Irvine.
• Conduct research and prepare summaries of legislation, government actions, community issues, and policy developments.
• Assist with advocacy activities and outreach related to institutional priorities.
• Help coordinate campus visits, briefings, meetings, and events involving elected officials and government representatives.
• Attend government, civic, and community meetings and provide summaries or follow-up information to senior staff.
• Develop familiarity with public policy issues affecting higher education, healthcare, research, housing, economic development, and related areas.

Strategic Communications & Project Coordination
• Draft and assist with briefing materials, correspondence, presentations, meeting summaries, reports, and stakeholder communications.
• Conduct background research for meetings with government and community stakeholders.
• Assist with planning public-facing events, town halls, community meetings, policy forums, and official visits.
• Track projects, deadlines, stakeholder engagement, and follow-up activities.
• Provide project coordination for initiatives led by the Office of Community & Government Relations.
• Work collaboratively with campus colleagues on outreach and engagement activities.

Administrative & Operational Support
• Support office operations, scheduling, event logistics, and stakeholder coordination.
• Maintain organized records, contact databases, and engagement tracking systems.
• Assist with purchasing, expense tracking, reimbursements, purchase orders, requisitions, and other administrative processes in accordance with university procedures.
• Provide logistical support for meetings, events, travel, and official visits.
• Perform additional duties and special assignments as needed.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public administration, communications, public policy, business, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 2–5 years of relevant professional, internship experience in government relations, public affairs, legislative affairs, community relations, external affairs, or related fields.
• Demonstrated knowledge of local, county, state, and/or federal government processes and public sector operations.
• Demonstrated growing network of professional relationships and with elected officials, government agencies, community leaders, and civic organizations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing professional correspondence and briefing materials.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and credibility across diverse constituencies.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment without much oversight.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines with direction from senior staff
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and standard business applications.
• Basic knowledge of the institution, its mission, vision, goals, achievements, policies, and infrastructure.
• Knowledge of basic concepts and principles of building and maintaining effective relations with a variety of constituencies.
• Written, verbal and interpersonal skills, including political acumen to effectively represent the institution.
• Analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Organizational skills include meeting deadlines; and event planning skills.
• Basic knowledge of public policy and the legislative process.
• Applicable computer skills.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training
• A minimum of 2-5 years of experience.

Preferred:

• Internship, volunteer, academic, or professional experience in government, higher education, community relations, public affairs, nonprofit organizations, campaigns, civic organizations, or related settings.
• Familiarity with Orange County, California, and federal political landscapes, public-sector processes, and regional policy priorities.
• Awareness of community organizations and landscape across Orange County and California.
• Experience conducting research and summarizing information for others.
• Experience coordinating meetings, programs, events, or outreach activities.
• Experience preparing correspondence, presentations, reports, or briefing materials.
• Ability to work professionally in politically sensitive environments and support the university’s nonpartisan approach to government relations.
• Bilingual or multilingual communication skills relevant to communities served by UC Irvine are valued.
• Familiarity with artificial intelligence tools and emerging technologies for research, writing, project coordination, and administrative efficiency, with appropriate professional judgment.
• Experience working in higher education, public institutions, government offices, legislative environments, or public affairs agencies.
• Familiarity with UC systems, public policy issues affecting higher education, healthcare, research, or economic development.
• Experience coordinating community engagement initiatives, advocacy campaigns, or public events.
• The ideal candidate will be: Interested in government, public policy, community engagement, and public higher education. Curious and eager to learn. Organized, dependable, and attentive to detail. A strong writer and communicator. Collaborative, professional, and highly responsive. Professional and responsive when interacting with external stakeholders. Able to take direction and increasingly assume responsibility as experience develops. Passionate about public higher education and community impact. Able to take direction and increasingly assume responsibility as experience develops. Adaptable, proactive, and solutions-oriented.

 

Total Rewards

In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

The expected pay range for this recruitment is $73,800- $80,000 (Annual).

Conditions of Employment:

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan
• Employment Misconduct*
• Legal Right to work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment

*Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

 

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• E-Verify
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page - https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php

Closing Statement:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact Human Resources at (949) 824-0500 or eec@uci.edu.