Policy Analyst I

Job Description:

Policy Analyst I

Description

Position Information

The Sonoma County Executive's Office is seeking a talented, analytical individual to join their team as a Policy Analyst.

Starting salary up to $57.06/hour ($119,091/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*

Note: The County Executive's Office is currently recruiting to fill a Policy Analyst position at either the I, II, or III level. If you are interested in being considered at the different levels of this opportunity, you must apply to the separate concurrent recruitments being conducted for each level.

What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework- A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment. After an initial 100% in-person period, telework may be offered and will not exceed two days per week.
• Salary Advancement- A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Career Advancement- With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Policy Analyst II (Civil Service title: Administrative Analyst II, annual salary up to $133,033)
• Paid Time Off- Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• Staff Development/Wellness- Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Incentive Retirement Savings Plan (IRSP) and 457 Voluntary Deferred Compensation- 3% of salary County contribution to a 401(a), in addition to the County matching up to 1% of base salary in 401(a), based upon employee contribution
• Paid Parental Leave- May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits: Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief- County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

The Position

The County Executive’s Office (CEO) carries out policy direction of the Board of Supervisors and serves the public by collaboratively leading and supporting the County organization. The Strategic Initiatives Division is an integral part of achieving this mission by evaluating topics of priority interest of the Board, making recommendations for new policies, and coordinating a variety of projects. As a member of the Strategic Initiatives Division , the Policy Analyst I is responsible for assisting in developing new policies and programs, as well as planning and supporting projects, through researching, analyzing, and interpreting data and anticipating impacts relating to operational, legislative, fiscal, and/or community issues. In addition to coordinating multi-department and/or multi-agency efforts and facilitating ongoing engagement, this position tracks and interprets complex and changing federal and state laws and administrative regulations affecting the County. Additional responsibilities include:

• Assisting on assigned policy development and other priority special projects
• Managing contracts and consultants for specific projects and ensuring they are meeting objectives on schedule and monitoring and reporting progress
• Proactively communicating about project statuses, managing project timelines and budgets, and resolving related issues
• Writing comprehensive Board items and managing the item approval process
• Supporting the County's emergency management needs during disaster response and recovery

What You Bring

The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment; brings a strategic mindset, diplomacy, and intellectual curiosity. Additionally, the ideal candidate has:

• Experience researching, analyzing, developing, and making recommendations related to public policy, including interpreting legislation, ordinances, and/or municipal codes
• Some experience developing new policies and programs and/or managing projects, including developing and monitoring project budgets
• An understanding of California County operations and procedures
• Some experience interacting with elected officials and a high level of political acumen
• Research and data analysis skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including some business case and executive summary writing experience coupled with the ability to present conclusions before advisory boards, governing bodies, etc.
• Some experience facilitating community and stakeholder engagement sessions with diverse audiences from varied backgrounds
• Familiarity with public contracting and procurement processes
• Demonstrated initiative and a sense of ownership and accountability

The Department

The County Executive’s Office is guided by the Board of Supervisors’ broad mission and carries out the Board’s policy goals by managing, directing, and coordinating the operations of the County’s departments and agencies. In addition, the CEO ensures implementation of County policy; prepares the County budget; provides public information and outreach to the community; analyzes and creates public policies to develop recommendations; researches grant and funding opportunities for strategic projects; coordinates with departments and agencies to manage Board priority projects; acts as the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors; implements the County’s legislative platform and oversees the County’s legislative advocacy program; prepares studies and analyses, including fiscal and programmatic performance assessments of County departments and programs; and develops and implements the County’s Strategic Plan. The CEO’s mission is “to build a sustainable and equitable future for the community by making collaborative, transparent, and informed policy recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.”

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory .
The CEO is currently recruiting to fill a full-time Policy Analyst at either the I, II, or III level. The Policy Analyst I employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The Civil Service title for this position is Administrative Analyst I.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and work experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed herein. Normally, this would include academic coursework in public administration, business administration, management, accounting, political science, economics, statistics, English composition, psychology, or a related field; and one year of related and comparable experience conducting analysis, developing reports and recommendations, and/or managing projects related to general administration, accounting, budget, and/or personnel work. Experience working in a public agency is highly desirable.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

The position advertised on this announcement does not require possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Working knowledge of: principles and practices relating to modern budget, program, and general systems management; the operations and functions of County government; group dynamics as it relates to public organizations; principles and practices of research, report writing, and statistical applications; written and oral communications, including language mechanics, syntax, and English composition; computer applications related to work including basic methods of graphic presentations.

Knowledge of: modern office methods and procedures.

Ability to: plan and organize research and perform statistical analysis related to administration, budget, and general management matters; understand, interpret, and apply rules, regulations and ordinances, as well as federal, state, and local legislation; apply problem solving skills sufficient to reach appropriate solutions, take action, document, and complete work in a timely manner; prioritize and manage a variety of simultaneous work projects and priorities to meet timelines and commitments; effectively communicate orally and in writing, and present conclusions before advisory and policy bodies; establish credibility and maintain effective working relationships with County staff and the public in carrying out sound management policies; perform data collection, interpretation, and evaluation pertaining to administrative, fiscal, and management matters; use principles of inductive and deductive reasoning to validate conclusions and recommendations; persuade, rationalize, and project consequences of decisions and/or recommendations; analyze administrative problems, budget requests, and a variety of programs, systems, and procedures.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination(weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Personally identifiable information (PII) is removed from the standard application fields and applicable attachments. This PII blind screening practice redacts a candidate’s personal information that could potentially influence or bias the scoring process. Personal information includes the applicant’s name, former last name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, school name, education start and end dates, age, date of birth, gender, and race. This PII blind screening practice helps contribute to a fair and equitable examination process.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
Interview Information
Please note, for those invited to interview, the CEO anticipates in-person interviews to be conducted the week of February 17, 2026.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: AK

HR Technician: PPB

Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

County of Sonoma Benefits: Management*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan: Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generous County contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief: County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus, excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at Labor Agreements & Salary Resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to Human Resources or contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonomacounty.gov or (707) 565-2900.

*Important Notes: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 1/20/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$97,969.41 - $119,091.07 Annually