Government Affairs Manager

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

Salary: $192,816.00 - $250,640.00 Annually
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 25-2E-02297
Closing: 10/3/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
Location: CA 95134-1927, CA
Department: External Affairs
Division: External Affairs

Job Description


Come join VTA's Government Affairs team as we shape the future of transportation policy - where impactful leadership meets transportation innovation! This role is pivotal in building the future of our regional transportation framework. Apply today!

What You'll Be Doing

Under the general administrative direction of the Chief of Staff and the General Manager, the Government Affairs Manager serves as the VTA policy advocate and liaison with regional Joint Powers Boards, other regional transit operators, rail advocacy groups and private and public sector interest groups on national and regional rail transit issues; may serve as senior staff liaison to the special committees appointed by the Board or the General Manager; manages and provides senior staff support to members of the Board of Directors, other local elected officials and their staff on regional and national issues; and fully executes special projects, which often include sensitive ramifications, as directed by the Chief of Staff and General Manager.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This management position routinely provides special research and/or assistance to the General Manager on matters relating to regional and national organizations which impact VTA; develops policy recommendations; authors policy text and interagency agreements; evaluates plans and programs of other agencies; and serves as senior VTA liaison to designated organizations.
Ideal Candidate:

• Policy and Advocacy Expertise - Extensive experience in transportation policy, program analysis, and intergovernmental advocacy, ideally in a large transit agency. Skilled in evaluating complex policies and crafting strategic responses.
• Legislative & Interagency Relations - Strong understanding of Regional Transit Transportation Agency (e.g., Caltrain, MTC, Capitol Corridor) and interagency coordination. Proven ability to collaborate with elected officials, board members, and senior government staff.
• Strategic & Political Acumen - Adept at anticipating policy and political challenges and leading strategic, organization-wide responses. Politically savvy with strong diplomatic skills.
• Leadership & Team Management - Experienced in supervising multidisciplinary teams, providing coaching, evaluations, and development. Effective at driving alignment with executive priorities.
• Communication & Presentation - Excellent writer and speaker, with experience drafting policy briefs and delivering presentations to boards, elected officials, and public forums.
• Project & Committee Leadership - Skilled in leading cross-functional groups and advancing strategic initiatives through interagency committees and working groups.

About VTA

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority employs more than 2,000 people dedicated to providing solutions that move Silicon Valley. Unique among transportation organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, VTA is Santa Clara County's authority for transit development and operations (light rail and bus), congestion management, transportation-related funding, highway design and construction, real estate and transit-oriented development, and bicycle and pedestrian planning. With local, state, and federal partners, VTA works to innovate the way Silicon Valley moves and provide mobility solutions for all.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district that provides sustainable, accessible, community-focused transportation options that are innovative, environmentally responsible, and promote the vitality of our region.

VTA provides bus, light rail, and paratransit services, as well as participates as a funding partner in regional rail service including Caltrain, Capitol Corridor, and the Altamont Corridor Express.

As the county's congestion management agency, VTA is responsible for countywide transportation planning, including congestion management, design and construction of specific highway, pedestrian, and bicycle improvement projects, as well as promotion of transit oriented development.

VTA provides these services throughout the county, including Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale. VTA continually builds partnerships to deliver transportation solutions that meet the evolving mobility needs of Santa Clara County.

As we continue to implement our VTA Forward Plan, we aim to strengthen and increase our workforce to take on future opportunities and challenges by elevating our people and our services.

For more information about our VTA Forward Plan, visit: https://www.vta.org/VTAForward

Family-Friendly Workplace Certification Program (FFWCP)

The County of Santa Clara FFWCP recognizes VTA as a business that creates supportive workplaces for employees and their families.

Family-friendly workplaces improve health outcomes and job satisfaction for employees and increase work productivity and retention for employers. Employers can create a family-friendly workplace by meeting and exceeding state and federal employment laws relating to parental leave, lactation accommodation, and work/family balance.

About the Division
Government Affairs is responsible for Government Affairs and the Board Office. Government Affairs is responsible for developing and coordinating VTA's legislative and intergovernmental programs at the federal, state, regional, and local levels. Staff analyzes the impact of legislative and regulatory issues and develops a coordinated strategy for responding to these issues. Government Affairs manages VTA's legislative advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., Sacramento, and the Bay Area. Additionally, staff keeps close contact and serves as the main point of communication with elected officials at the federal, state, regional, and local levels. The Board Office is responsible for VTA Board and Committee support, which includes preparation of meeting agendas and minutes, distributing and responding to Board correspondence, developing and maintaining relationships with Board and committee members and VTA constituencies, and providing support services to the Board of Directors. It is also responsible for preparing the annual Board and committee work plans, maintaining official records, and ensuring compliance with statutory noticing requirements.

Essential Job Functions

Typical Tasks

• Regularly represents VTA and the General Manager's office at internal and external meetings;
• Develops policy in accordance with the direction of the General Manager and Board of Directors particularly for the development and revision of interagency funding, governance and administrative agreements;
• Analyzes and evaluates complex policy issues and proposes and develops policy strategies and recommendations for the General Manager and Board of Directors;
• Serves as senior staff liaison to Board members who represent VTA on or at other organizations including but not limited to Caltrain and the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Boards. Provides regular briefings, policy and strategy analysis, reports and recommendations;
• Maintains contacts with representatives of federal, state and local governments to identify legislation that may impact VTA;
• Manages VTA relations with and serves as senior policy liaison with selected regional organizations including Caltrain and Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Boards and staff;
• Manages relations and serves as the primary VTA senior policy liaison with San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission on all mutual interest issues related to Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) commuter rail service;
• Manages and serves as the senior staff liaison and support for ongoing activities of special committees appointed by the Board or General Manager including monitoring, coordinating, evaluating and preparing reports regarding implementation of the Committee's recommendations; conducting reviews, research, analysis and developing policy recommendations regarding the Committee's findings and recommendations for Board members and General Manager. May serve as liaison with local city council members and their staff on issues related to the Committee's findings and recommendations;
• Maintains contacts and relationships with policy board and senior/executive staff representatives of national, regional and local governments to identify and evaluate issues, plans or projects that may impact VTA;
• Regularly reports to the General Manager and Chief of Staff on pending developments and develops recommendations for action or response;
• Participates in the selection, supervision, training, motivating, assigning of work, evaluation, counseling, and discipline of staff;
• Participates in the development and administration of the annual budget; approves expenditures and implements budgetary adjustments as appropriate and necessary;
• Provides, supervises, coordinates and manages staff support for Board members on interdepartmental issues;
• Coordinates strategies with other interested parties and advocacy groups such as cities, other transit districts and regional agencies;
• Works with VTA staff in the development of policy strategies that have a direct effect on other transit agencies and cities in the county;
• Serves on VTA Board member/senior staff team that participates in interagency annual meetings with members of Congress and their staff in Washington, D.C.;
• Chairs interdepartmental staff group and conducts monthly meetings to develop agency policy and strategy in relations with regional transit agencies;
• Co-chairs inter-agency staff group of VTA and Caltrain staff to coordinate interagency activities related to major capital projects, evaluate issues and seek solutions;
• Serves as VTA designated liaison on two interagency senior staff groups to coordinate efforts, advocate for the organization and implement VTA objectives;
• Establishes and maintains relationships with Board members and their staffs;
• Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications


Employment Standards

Sufficient education and increasingly responsible administrative and supervisory experience in transportation policy and program advocacy and analysis that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Development of the required skills, knowledge, and abilities is typically obtained through a combination of training and experience equivalent to a four year degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, urban planning, political science, or a related field and extensive increasingly responsible experience in transportation policy and program analysis and advocacy, intergovernmental relations, or a similar capacity. Attainment of experience in a large public transportation organization or other agency involved in transportation issues is required.

Supplemental Information


Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and trends of public administration and intergovernmental relations;
• Transportation policies, planning, governmental institutional framework, funding processes, services, functions, legislative issues, and other activities;
• Public administration and planning analysis techniques at the program and political level;
• Principles of report writing and presentation;
• State, federal, and local governing laws and processes;
• Principles and practices of supervision, organization, and personnel management.

Ability to:

• Analyze and interpret difficult policy, program and planning issues and ensure accurate presentation;
• Speak effectively before governmental and other public bodies;
• Prepare clear and concise reports;
• Direct and evaluate policy and program efforts to achieve the goals and objectives of the Board;
• Investigate, analyze, evaluate, and recommend solutions to complex policy, intergovernmental relations, budgetary, and administrative problems;
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing;
• Take initiative, reason logically and be creative in developing and introducing new ideas;
• Define problem areas and evaluate, recommend and implement alternative solutions to complex issues and problems;
• Deal effectively with a wide variety of community and government officials;
• Select, supervise, train, motivate, assign, evaluate, counsel and discipline staff;
• Prepare and control a budget.

General Application Instructions

Please read this job announcement in its entirety before applying. We recommend printing or saving a copy for future reference.

To be considered, applications must be submitted online through the Human Resources department by the posted deadline. If the job posting is listed as "continuous," we encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as the posting may close without prior notice. Once your application is submitted, you will receive an immediate email confirmation.

Important: Only online applications will be accepted for this recruitment. We do not accept paper applications, resumes, Job Interest Notification Cards, or incomplete/unsubmitted applications in place of a fully completed application.

Communication & Contact Information

All updates regarding your application-including notices for testing and interviews-will be sent via email. Be sure to select email as your preferred method of communication and maintain a valid, up-to-date email address. Applicants are also responsible for keeping their phone numbers and mailing addresses current in their online profiles.

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to provide individual updates. Please check your application status through your online account. For technical support, contact NEOGOV at (855) 524-5627, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (PST), excluding holidays.

Application Review & Processing

All current and prior relevant work experience-including experience with VTA-must be fully detailed in the Work Experience section of your application. Entries such as "see resume" are not acceptable. Incomplete or improperly completed applications may be rejected, even if you meet the minimum qualifications.

While you are welcome to upload a resume, it does not substitute for completing the online application in full. Be sure that your application accurately reflects the education and experience necessary for the position.

Applications are reviewed throughout the recruitment process to determine whether candidates meet the minimum qualifications. Meeting these minimums or advancing through any stage does not guarantee further consideration. Any misrepresentation or falsification of qualifications, experience, education, or training may result in disqualification and/or exclusion from future employment opportunities with VTA

Tentative Examinations:

Oral Panel: Mid to late October

Conditions of Employment

Final candidates must successfully complete an Livescan background check, FBI (if applicable), reference checks, verification of education or certifications, and a criminal history review before appointment.

Classification Bargaining Unit: Non-Represented

Eligibility List

The established Eligible List from this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancies and additional vacancies that may occur. Eligible Lists typically remain in effect for six (6) months. However, Human Resources may abolish Eligible Lists at any time during the six (6) month period. Human Resources may extend eligible Lists for up to two (2) years. Eligible Lists may be used for more than one recruitment.

Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodations

VTA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities in the recruitment and examination process. To request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department at (408) 321-5575 or email Personnel@vta.org at least five business days before the test.

Equal Employment Opportunity

VTA is an equal employment opportunity employer. VTA does not and will not tolerate discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age, ancestry, color, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information, national, origin, immigration status, political affiliation, race, religion, creed, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, medical condition, disabled veteran or veteran status, etc.



To apply, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/vtasantaclara/jobs/4966711/government-affairs-manager








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