Fiscal Policy Officer

First 5 Alameda County; California (MO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

First 5 Alameda County is seeking a Fiscal Policy Officer to support analysis of state, federal, and local funding developments and to translate fiscal policy into actionable implementation strategies for agency priorities.

Under the Senior Advisor, you will lead cross‑functional workstreams, develop funding strategies, and prepare policy briefs and presentations for leadership, with occasional travel within Alameda County.

Qualifications

• Five(5) years of progressively responsible experience in fiscal policy analysis, public finance, governmental budgeting, public administration, health or human services financing, or a closely related field, including experience conducting complex analyses and supporting implementation of strategic initiatives, and the equivalent to a bachelor's degree in public administration, public policy, economics, finance, business administration, public health, political science, or a related field.
• A Master’s degree may substitute for one year of the required experience.
• Additional relevant work experience may be substituted to meet the college coursework/bachelor's degree standard.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze state, federal, and local fiscal policy developments, budget proposals, legislation, regulations, funding opportunities, and administrative actions affecting early childhood systems.
• Analyze fiscal, operational, and implementation impacts of policy and funding changes and develop recommendations for Agency leadership.
• Prepare fiscal analyses, policy briefs, presentations, and other materials that support decision‑making.
• Identify opportunities to maximize, align, braid, blend, and leverage funding sources to advance Agency priorities and long‑term sustainability.
• Support implementation planning for initiatives involving multiple funding streams, agencies, and partners.
• Analyze operational, fiscal, policy, and administrative implications of proposed initiatives and recommend implementation strategies.
• Coordinate with cross functional teams to support organizational alignment and successful implementation.
• Support development of funding strategies, fiscal policy recommendations, and budget strategy recommendations.
• Lead analysis of opportunities for revenue maximization through braiding, blending, leveraging, reimbursement optimization, and strategic use of public funding sources.
• Translate complex fiscal and policy information into clear, actionable recommendations for technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Partner with Finance to translate fiscal policy strategies into financial models, projections, and decision‑support tools.
• Partner with internal teams to operationalize fiscal policy strategies and support implementation of Agency priorities.
• Coordinate work across multiple initiatives to align fiscal policy, funding strategy, operational planning, and implementation activities.
• Support coordination with external partners and agencies as needed to advance Agency priorities.
• Lead assigned fiscal and policy workstreams and provide guidance, project management, and direction to staff, consultants, and cross‑functional teams.
• Participate in cross‑functional workgroups, organizational planning efforts, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Analytical skills

Policy translation

Cross-functional coordination

Funding strategy

Policy reporting

Stakeholder management

Prioritization

Data literacy

Leadership

People leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration, public policy, economics, finance, business administration, public health, political science, or related field

Master’s degree may substitute for one year of experience

Job description

Under the strategic direction of the Senior Advisor, Fiscal Policy & Strategy Officer and in support of the Chief Executive Officer’s priorities, the Fiscal Policy Officer supports the Agency's fiscal policy, funding strategy, and implementation of strategic initiatives by analyzing state, federal, and local funding developments; evaluating fiscal, operational, and implementation impacts; and developing recommendations that inform organizational strategy and decision‑making. The position works collaboratively with Finance, Government Affairs, Programs, Data, Evaluation, Technology, and other Agency teams to translate fiscal policy into implementation strategies, strengthen funding approaches, improve fiscal sustainability, and support effective delivery of Agency priorities.

The position serves as a technical resource on fiscal policy and public financing, providing analysis and decision support related to public funding, revenue opportunities, financing strategies, and implementation of complex initiatives. It supports revenue maximization, funding alignment, and cross‑functional coordination to help operationalize Agency priorities.

Fiscal Policy Analysis & Funding Strategy

• Monitor and analyze state, federal, and local fiscal policy developments, budget proposals, legislation, regulations, funding opportunities, and administrative actions affecting early childhood systems.
• Analyze fiscal, operational, and implementation impacts of policy and funding changes and develop recommendations for Agency leadership.
• Prepare fiscal analyses, policy briefs, presentations, and other materials that support decision‑making.
• Identify opportunities to maximize, align, braid, blend, and leverage funding sources to advance Agency priorities and long‑term sustainability.

Implementation Planning & Systems Strategy

• Support implementation planning for initiatives involving multiple funding streams, agencies, and partners.
• Analyze operational, fiscal, policy, and administrative implications of proposed initiatives and recommend implementation strategies.
• Coordinate with cross functional teams to support organizational alignment and successful implementation.
• Support development of funding strategies, fiscal policy recommendations, and budget strategy recommendations.

Fiscal Analysis & Decision Support

• Conduct research and analysis related to public financing, reimbursement methodologies, funding structures, and fiscal policy.
• Develop policy scenarios, funding assumptions, and implementation options and partner with Finance on financial modeling and analysis to support strategic planning, resource allocation, and executive decision‑making.
• Lead analysis of opportunities for revenue maximization through braiding, blending, leveraging, reimbursement optimization, and strategic use of public funding sources.
• Translate complex fiscal and policy information into clear, actionable recommendations for technical and non‑technical audiences.

Cross‑Functional Coordination

• Partner with Finance to translate fiscal policy strategies into financial models, projections, and decision‑support tools.
• Partner with internal teams to operationalize fiscal policy strategies and support implementation of Agency priorities.
• Coordinate work across multiple initiatives to align fiscal policy, funding strategy, operational planning, and implementation activities.
• Support coordination with external partners and agencies as needed to advance Agency priorities.

Organizational Support

• Support Leadership in advancing agency‑wide fiscal policy priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Lead assigned fiscal and policy workstreams and provide guidance, project management, and direction to staff, consultants, and cross‑functional teams.
• Participate in cross‑functional workgroups, organizational planning efforts, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. Additional experience and/or education can be substituted to meet typical qualifications. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Five(5) years of progressively responsible experience in fiscal policy analysis, public finance, governmental budgeting, public administration, health or human services financing, or a closely related field, including experience conducting complex analyses and supporting implementation of strategic initiatives, and the equivalent to a bachelor's degreeinpublic administration, public policy, economics, finance, business administration, public health, political science, or a related field.
• A Master’s degree may substitute for one year of the required experience.
• Additional relevant work experience may be substituted to meet the college coursework/bachelor's degree standard.

Desireable Qualifications:

• Experience with public funding systems, governmental budgets, grants, or public finance.
• Experience analyzing state or federal budgets, regulations, or funding proposals.
• Experience with Medi‑Cal, childcare funding, early childhood systems, or other human services financing.
• Experience supporting strategic planning, systems implementation, or cross‑functional initiatives.
• Experience preparing executive reports, policy briefs, and presentations.

Additional Requirements

• Travel within Alameda County and occasional travel outside the County as needed. May require occasional evening meetings.

Knowledge of:

• Public finance, governmental budgeting, fiscal policy, financial management, planning and public funding administration
• Federal, state and local funding systemsand governmentbudget processes.
• Funding alignment strategies including braiding, blending, leveraging, and revenue maximization.
• Fiscal policy analysis, implementation planning, project management, and organizational change.
• Research methods, policy analysis, data interpretation, and Results‑Based Accountability (RBA).
• Effective written and verbalcommunication techniques.

Ability to:

• Conduct complex fiscal, policy, operational, and financial analyses.
• Translate fiscal policy into implementation strategies and actionable recommendations.
• Coordinate fiscal policy and funding initiativesacross departments and Leadership.
• Evaluate funding opportunities and recommend sustainable, revenue‑maximizing approaches.
• Prepare reports, policy briefs, presentations, and executivematerials.
• Build collaborative working relationships with internal and external partners.
• Manage competingpriorities and make sound independent decisions
• Use data and technologyto support analysis, planning, reporting, and decision‑making.
• Lead complex policy and fiscal workstreams.
• Direct, mentor and/or supervise staff