JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Posted August 3, 2026
Position: Director of Policy
Join the Mayor’s Office in the City of Berkeley! Adena Ishii is the first Asian American and first woman of color elected Mayor of our vibrant and active city. She is looking for a Director of Policy, under the role of Assistant to the Mayor, with a strong policy background, leadership and management experience, and strategic planning skills.
The City of Berkeley is a medium-sized city located in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. It has a long history of making regional and national impact and is home to entities like UC Berkeley, Bayer, Telegraph Avenue, and the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Mayor Ishii is committed to building connections and supporting policies that serve local residents and uphold Berkeley’s values.
Mayor Ishii is working to build bridges and increase transparency and accountability within the city. The Mayor’s policy priorities are housing and homelessness, public safety, and infrastructure. She also is a strong advocate for creating opportunities for new leadership in our community.
She values collaboration and leads the city in innovative solutions to support the community’s needs. Mayor Ishii is looking for a strategic, values-driven individual, who will oversee the strategy and implementation of the Mayor’s policy agenda. This role will also be responsible for managing staff and interns who work on policy issues, staffing the Mayor on policy meetings, and providing event/meeting support. This position will be under the supervision of the Mayor’s Chief of Staff with direction provided by the Mayor.
This position will require the following skills and experience:
Minimum Qualifications:
5-years of experience in policy analysis, strategy, and execution
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Skilled at finding and implementing solutions to issues quickly, with a high level of autonomy
Ability to prioritize complex requests and identify needs and opportunities in a timely manner
Strong written and oral communication skills
Possesses strong attention to detail and organizational skills
Ability to build relationships across sectors with key community stakeholders
Experience working in collaboration with local, regional, and state political partners
Ability to speak publicly on behalf of the Mayor (i.e. press conferences)
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, and project management tools like Asana
Preferred but not required:
5 years working in the office of an elected official
Local government experience (East Bay is a plus)
Knowledge of Berkeley’s political landscape
This role with be responsible for the following:
Lead policy development & coordination across the Mayor’s Office in service of the Mayor’s priorities
Advise the Mayor on emerging and existing policy issues
Track and monitor new legislative opportunities
Oversee strategic engagement and relationships with local, regional, state, and federal government partners
Coordinate and partner with councilmembers and their staff on policy development and advocacy; manage Brown Act circles
Lead policy portfolio with housing, zoning, landmarks, homelessness, and safety net services, as well as coordinate with appropriate City leadership and community stakeholders on policy initiatives
Collaborate with the Chief of Staff in supervising and mentoring legislative aides in policy development and execution
Work in partnership with the Mayor’s Communications Director in developing and delivering policy messaging
Serve as the primary liaison with other local public institutions (UCB, BUSD, BCC)
This position is expected to work in the office during regular business hours. It is a full time, exempt position that is at-will and non-represented position under the City’s job classification of Assistant to the Mayor. The pay rate range for this position will be $60.10 to $64.90 per hour ($125,000-$135,000 annual salary, FTE) based on experience and includes a generous benefit package with healthcare, retirement, and paid time off, among other benefits offered to City of Berkeley employees.
The City of Berkeley is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in our workforce. We welcome applicants from a broad range of backgrounds.
If you are interested in this exciting opportunity to serve the City of Berkeley, please send a cover letter and resume to the Mayor's Chief of Staff, Amelia Lopez-Helm, at ahelm@berkeleyca.gov.
All submissions are due no later than Friday, August 21, 2026.