Director, Programs and Policy (California)

About Omidyar Network (ON): 

Omidyar Network is a philanthropic organization whose mission is to bend the arc of the digital revolution toward shared power, prosperity, and possibility. Digital technology is a powerful and ubiquitous force, that, harnessed wisely, makes wondrous things happen. We believe in working together to guide tech's trajectory intentionally. Our vision is for our shared humanity to steer our digital future.

So far, we have committed more than $1.94 billion to initiatives that share our vision. We engage, partner, and fund some of the world's brightest thinkers and innovators to guide our digital future toward the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

About the Programs and Policy Team: 

Our programs team focuses on the key drivers of our shared digital future: the culture, the governance, and the business of digital tech. Through our grant making and advocacy, we aim to shape more intentional societal governance and amplify our shared agency. We collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders, including investors, tech firms, policymakers, consumers and workers to guide tech’s trajectory and establish coalitions and countervails in civil society. Programs team members join Omidyar Network from a wide range of backgrounds in policy, advocacy, nonprofits, community organizing, technology, consulting, philanthropy, education, and the arts.

How You’ll Contribute to our Impact: 

Omidyar Network is deepening its presence in California — the proving ground for much of today’s tech governance. This is a unique and exciting opportunity for a self-starting, experienced, and creative leader to make a significant impact in advancing the public interest.

You will be ON’s primary representative in Sacramento, functioning as an ambassador to key institutions, policymakers, corporations, ON grantees, and the public. Working with our programmatic leadership team, you’ll co-define and co-lead ON’s California agenda with significant autonomy to drive legislative and regulatory work, influence corporate governance practices, and foster cultural change across the state.

Your policy focus will span issues relevant to today’s digital tech landscape such as privacy and data governance, online safety, consumer protection, competition, AI governance, and tech‑and‑labor issues. You’ll be building ON’s California policy strategy from an early base, collaborating closely with ON’s leadership, while strategically tapping into your expertise, influence, and ON’s resources to win legislative and regulatory campaigns and build effective coalitions that reflect California’s diversity.  

Reports to: Senior Director, Programs and Policy (based in Washington, DC.)  

Core Responsibilities:

Policy Strategy & Government Relations   

• Lead and refine Omidyar Network’s California policy strategy, ensuring alignment with ON’s policy goals and national approach
• Develop and manage a comprehensive policy roadmap covering privacy, data governance, online safety, competition, AI governance, tech-and-labor issues and emerging priorities
• Define clear policy goals and milestones; report progress regularly to leadership
• Oversee and manage external consultants and lobbyists, managing contracts, strategy alignment, and coordination
• Draft policy briefs, white papers, fact sheets, testimony, amendments, and comment letters on legislative and regulatory proposals
• Monitor emerging legislative, regulatory and political trends; brief senior leadership and external partners
• Navigate fast-moving legislative processes to advance responsible tech governance, identifying proactive opportunities and defensive strategies
• Ensure California policy strategies are informed and responsive to underrepresented communities most impacted by technology governance
• Manage mission-related grants and contracts

Partnerships & Coalition Engagement

• Convene and participate in coalitions across civil society, labor, industry, and academia that reflect California’s demographic and sectoral diversity
• Build collaborative relationships to influence public policy and amplify organizational impact
• Maintain strong relationships with ON grantees and partners, ensuring alignment between advocacy campaigns and ON’s philanthropic investments
• Curate and convene strategic events and roundtables in Sacramento to facilitate dialogue among policymakers, advocates, and tech leaders

Strategic Communications

• Collaborate with team members to develop targeted messaging for policymakers, partners, media, and the public
• Serve as organizational spokesperson and policy expert for media and communications efforts
• Educate the public about the ON’s mission and policy priorities
• Integrate California policy perspectives into ON’s broader responsible tech strategy

Location:   

Preferred location: Sacramento, CA (Remote) or San Francisco, CA (Hybrid)

Remote staff participate in quarterly home office weeks. San Francisco based staff are currently working in a hybrid capacity and will be required to work in person 2 days per week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning in December 2025. San Francisco based employees are required to reside within 100 miles of ON’s office location. Candidates must have a current U.S. work authorization to be considered.

Compensation: 

This is a full-time, salaried position that features competitive pay and benefits, including health care (medical/dental/vision), paid time off, and a generous employer 401k contribution. The salary range for this role is $172,800 - $216,000 for Sacramento and $216,000 - $270,000 for San Francisco. ON manages pay equity seriously and new hires generally start at the midpoint of this range. 

What You'll Bring to the Team: 

• 10+ years working in or adjacent to California state policy with deep legislative expertise in government affairs, public policy, or advocacy roles either in government, civil society, or the private sector
• Subject matter expertise and a deep understanding of the California political and technology policy landscape
• Established relationships in California state government, including policy makers, advocacy groups, state agencies, communities, and tech companies
• Proven coalition-building skills with ability to foster trust and align diverse partners around common policy goals
• Exceptional communication skills - crisp writing, active listening, and persuasive speaking ability
• Experience translating complex technical concepts for policymakers and public audiences
• Excellence in public speaking, ideally including legislative hearings, public panels, and media appearances
• Diplomatic approach and collaborative style that elevates both mission and people
• Passion for equitable, public-interest driven responsible technology
• Creative, self-starter excited about building from the ground up
• Alignment with ON's values, policy approach, and strategy

Preferred:  

• Track record of successfully drafting legislation, negotiating amendments and testifying before committees
• Experience working in or around civil society

Application Timeline 

To apply, submit a complete application by November 24, 2025, which includes a resume and written exercise. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and priority consideration will be given to applications received by November 10, 2025.

Exercise: 

In lieu of a cover letter, we ask all candidates to complete a written exercise. This is an opportunity for you to share your thinking and creativity as it relates to ON's mission and the California policy landscape.

Draft a 1-2 page memo proposing one opportunity for Omidyar Network to advance responsible technology governance in California. Your memo should address:

What is the opportunity? Clearly define the policy opportunity, challenge, or intervention you're proposing

Why does it matter? Explain the significance of this work to ON's mission and to Californians, particularly communities most impacted by technology governance

How would you implement it? Provide specific details on your approach, including:

• Key stakeholders you would engage (policymakers, advocacy groups, tech companies, community organizations, etc.)
• Your engagement strategy for building support and advancing the work
• Concrete next steps or milestones

We are interested in how you think strategically, what you prioritize, and how you communicate complex ideas. Your memo should demonstrate your understanding of California's policy landscape and your ability to translate vision into actionable strategy.

Omidyar Network is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes people from all experiences, abilities, and perspectives to apply. We fundamentally believe that people are inherently capable, but often lack opportunity. We know that a diverse workforce reflecting a broad range of backgrounds and views allows us to see problems in more nuanced ways, creating the thought leadership needed to elevate humanity and evolve the culture, governance, and business of technology. We actively recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a broad candidate pool.