Annual Salary Range: $179,358.40 - $278,012.80
First Review of Applications: August 24, 2025
Expected Start Date: October 2025
Overview of the Public Affairs Department
The Public Affairs Department advances SANDAG programs and projects through public engagement and intergovernmental strategies. With a key focus on collaboration, the Public Affairs team cultivates partnerships at the regional, state, federal, and binational levels to share information, encourage public participation, and help secure the funding and support needed to deliver the agency’s priorities.
Role
The Director of Public Affairs will plan, direct, manage, and oversee the activities and operations of the Public Affairs department, including government relations, public information and digital engagement, public outreach, media relations, marketing, and visual communications; coordinate assigned activities with other SANDAG departments, the Board of Directors, Policy Advisory Committees, member agencies, and outside organizations; and provide highly responsible and complex management support to the Senior Director of Public Affairs and Administration.
Typical Qualifications
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in mass communications, journalism, public administration, business administration, or a related field. A master’s degree is desirable.
- At least eight years of increasingly responsible, professional public information, communications, or journalism experience, including four years of supervisory and management experience.
- Operational characteristics, services, practices, and activities of a comprehensive Public Affairs department, including government relations, public information and communications, public outreach, media relations, marketing, visual communications, and editorial.
- Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of Public Affairs department programs, policies, and projects.
- Various federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations pertaining to Public Affairs department programs, activities, and projects.
Benefits
SANDAG offers comprehensive benefits, to include health, dental, and vision insurance as well as employee assistance, wellness, and work/life balance programs. Additionally, SANDAG offers the following:
- Hybrid work options
- 9/80 flexible work schedule
- Pay-for-performance merit increases
- Retirement - Defined Benefit Plan with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS)
- Retirement - 457 Defined Contribution Plan with Voya
- Excellent health insurance options for employees and their eligible dependents
- Free dental and vision insurance for employees and their eligible dependents
- Education Assistance of up to $5,250 a year for regular employees
- Free transit pass for use throughout the San Diego region, bus, Rapid Express, Trolley, and COASTER
- Paid time off including 12 paid holidays, 2 floating holiday days, generous paid time off (PTO) per year, depending on length of service
- Executive level positions:
- Management Benefit valued at 2.5% of salary that can be applied towards time off, health premiums, or deferred compensation
- Access to an Executive Health Program
- Annual contribution to 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
- Paid parking
For more information and to apply visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sandag? First review August 24, 2025. EOE.
