Building on over two decades of political involvement at the national, state, and local levels, Townsend Public Affairs is a California-based, bipartisan firm with offices in Southern California, Northern California, Central California, and Washington, DC. The firm specializes in the development and execution of legislative and funding strategies for a select clientele of public agencies and non-profit organizations, including but not limited to municipalities and counties, community colleges, special districts, K-12 school districts, transportation agencies, and museums.

This position is a client service position, working directly with the relevant Senior Associates, Grants Manager, and Vice President to serve a large and varied client base in the areas of grant writing and funding advocacy. This includes day to day attention to both short and long-term client initiatives, development of strategies to address those funding priorities, and proactive identification of new opportunities. This position is expected to provide comprehensive management of their individual client portfolio, firmwide funding policy area expertise and support, and strong business development support. The position would also require the employee to be a registered State and Federal lobbyist.

This position is located in Newport Beach, CA, however, regular travel to visit clients across various locations, including Sacramento and Washington, DC, is required. The job will require participation and attendance at evening events, as well as overnight travel for statewide conferences.

Job duties include, but are not limited to:

1. CLIENT MANAGEMENT

Proactive development, management and implementation of client’s funding agenda and initiatives
Identifies, researches, and advises clients of potential funding opportunities using traditional and creative solutions
Creates and implements a funding strategy for clients by proactively identifying key opportunities, priority projects and other initiatives
Ability to manage a robust and full client portfolio that includes a variety of clients (cities, special districts, etc). The number of clients that make up a “robust and full” portfolio will vary depending on type of client and how robust of an agenda each client has.
Responsive and timely approach to client requests and objectives (within 24-48 hours)
Proactive follow up on all client items and priorities, not allowing anything to fall through the cracks
Successful leveraging of other team members to advance the client’s agenda
Ability to anticipate and seize creative, unique and strategic client service opportunities that goes above and beyond traditional legislative advocacy or grant writing

2. GRANT WRITING AND RESEARCH

Proactive client service management of client funding initiatives, including but not limited to:

- Mastery of key state and federal funding opportunities

- Able to develop a strategic funding agenda specific to individual client priority projects

- Ability to draft, submit and provide follow up on all funding applications

- Execution of the follow up advocacy component of grant writing

3. FUNDING ADVOCACY

Develops an understanding of state and federal legislative directed spending requirements
Works with other team members to assist clients in securing funding from state and federal budgets
Establishes relationships with key decision makers in legislative and agency offices to advocate on client’s priority projects

4. POLICY AREA EXPERTISE

Develops a mastery of funding programs that can be leveraged firm wide for various clients
Recognized internally to support client managers as policy area expert for questions or advice
Begins to develop external recognition for marketing and advocacy purposes as policy area expert

5. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Ability to identify and target prospect opportunities
Understands and contributes to the TPA sales pitch
Effectively represents TPA at networking events
Active participant in the RFP process as part of the client service team
Understands and effectively communicates the grant writing and funding services that we provide through business development opportunities
Aggressive outreach to host TPA sponsored grants workshops
Creates custom grant matrices for client prospects

SKILLS

Outstanding written and verbal skills
Strong research skills
Superior oral and written communication skills
Strategic and analytical mindset
Able to multi-task and work in an extremely fast-paced and unpredictable environment
Interest in state and local government issues, including transportation, water, environment, energy, public safety, education, and community development policies, and the ability to manage a broad portfolio of issues
College degree required (preferably in a relevant area of study)

DISCLAIMER

We understand that not every individual will possess every characteristic listed in our job posting. Nevertheless, if you have confidence in your ability to excel in this role and resonate deeply with TPA’s core values and mission, we invite you to apply. Our team highly values diverse experiences and perspectives, and is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment where individuals can thrive. Even if you don't meet every criterion, but feel that this is the right fit for you, we would love to hear from you.

Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.

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Grant Writing and Funding Advocacy Associate