Government appointments

Current opportunities

These are open positions you can apply for. This list is current as of April 17, 2025.

If you are interested in any of these opportunities, you may apply at Application for appointment.

Questions? Contact the Appointments Office at appointments.office@gov.ca.gov or 916-445-4541.

Business, Consumer Services, and Housing: 

Alcoholic Beverage Control 

• Director
  • The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) regulates the manufacture, importation, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages in California, focusing on licensing, enforcement and public safety through education and compliance. 
  • Salary: $222,156

Civil Rights Department

•  Deputy Director, Legislation, Regulation & Policy 
  • Serves as an advisor to the executive team on the overall work and activities of the Department; provides executive leadership and supervision to teams engaged in the Department’s legislative work, regulatory program, and civil rights research and reporting initiatives. 
  • Salary Range: $131,328 – $146,268 
•  Deputy Director, Strategic Initiatives & External Affairs 
  • Serves as an advisor to the executive team on the overall work and activities of the Department; provides executive leadership and supervision to teams conducting civil rights outreach and education, training and development, and administrative appeals; and leads special projects and initiatives including the CA vs. Hate Resource Line and Network. 
  • Salary Range: $151,548 – $168,864 

Department of Cannabis Control 

•  Deputy Director of Public Affairs
  • The Deputy Director of Public Affairs is responsible for the development of the Department’s public information goals, which include internal and external communications, media, stakeholder engagement, and campaign development and execution. They will also conduct briefings with the Director’s Office and executive team as needed to provide updates on media inquiries and execute media and crisis communications plan. 
  • Salary: $144,504 – 160,968  

Department of Consumer Affairs 

•  Deputy Director of Board and Bureau Relations 
  • Under the administrative direction of the Director and Chief Deputy Director, this position serves as the department’s primary administrator and policy advisor concerning the department’s various boards and bureaus. The Deputy Director, Board and Bureau Relations, directs and leads an executive-level team, including the Assistant Deputy Director, Board and Bureau Relations, that provides oversight to the boards and bureaus within the department. 
  • Salary: $144,504 – $160,968
• Assistant Deputy Director of Board and Bureau Relations
  • Under the administrative direction of the Deputy Director, Board and Bureau Relations, the Assistant Deputy Director, provides assistance to the Deputy Director in the oversight role to the various boards and bureaus within the department. This position is responsible for ensuring effective coordination between the department and the boards and bureaus under the department’s purview.
  • Salary: $113,832 – $126,804 

Transportation: 

High-Speed Rail Authority

• Chief of Construction 
  • Lead construction operations by providing direction and leadership to staff and contractors responsible for all construction operations, including the design, development, construction and delivery of the rail system. The incumbent will initially focus on the efficient delivery of the project in the Central Valley, and then in the Bay Area and Southern California regions. Advise the CEO in the development of overall strategies for the successful and timely construction and completion of the high-speed rail project. 
  • Salary Range: $331,752 – $377,652 
•  Director of Risk Management and Project Controls 
  • Responsible for overseeing and leading the management of several key areas that relate to the entire program’s policies and procedures for project controls, including program risk management, schedule management, cost and contingency management, program reporting, baseline development and management, the program’s work-breakdown-structure, estimating, and schedule forensics and claims analysis. In addition, the incumbent will oversee resources at the project level supporting project controls. 
  • Salary Range: $204,648 – $225,096 
•  Chief Counsel 
  • Responsible for providing strategic legal advice to the Board, the CEO, and the executive management team. The Chief Counsel serves as legal advisor on bidding, contractual, real property, insurance, claims, risk mitigation, personnel management and employer-employee related practices, legislative proposals and analyses, litigation, rulemaking, and the Public Records Act. 
  • Salary Range: $217,824 – $268,956 

Environmental Protection Agency:

•  Special Assistant to the Secretary 
  • Under the administrative direction of the Secretary and Undersecretary, the Special Assistant will provide a lead role in special projects as directed by the Secretary or Undersecretary. This position will assist in the coordination of Agency policies and procedures to address diverse environmental issues.  The requires close interaction and teamwork with a broad range of internal and external policymakers, as well as industry and environmental organizations, and community groups.  
  • Salary Range: $103,560 – $115,368 

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)

•  Director 
  • Administers and implements the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Prop. 65) and compiles the state’s list of substances that cause cancer or reproductive harm. Developing health-protective exposure levels for contaminants in air, water, and soil as guidance for regulatory agencies and the public
  • Must have a broad-based scientific expertise as evidenced by a doctoral degree and work experience in a biological or medical science
  • Salary Range: $202,600 – $219,110 
•  Chief Counsel 
  • Responsible for the legal program of OEHHA, and serves as a member of the Executive staff with the responsibility to advise the Director; develop and implement interpretations and positions concerning the legal activities of the Office; to coordinate, review and analyze the legal and policy adequacy of legislative proposals affecting the Department and all rules and regulations proposed by the Office; and to serve as the Director’s legal representative before other public agencies and the Legislature 
  • Salary Range: $187,106 – $208,440

Department of Toxic Substances Control

• Deputy Director of Communications  
  • Under the direction of the Chief Deputy Director, the incumbent is responsible for managing the Office of Communications and serves as a member of DTSC’s executive staff. The incumbent develops and implements a comprehensive communication strategy to promote DTSC’s mission, goals and programs. The incumbent works and consults with CalEPA, the Governor’s Office and other agencies, and provides advice and consultation on external and internal communications for the Department including media, electronic and community outreach, as well as internal communications. The incumbent is responsible for identifying, addressing and responding to stakeholders, the media, and the public.  
  • Salary Range: $137,616 – $153,384 

Regional Water Quality Control Boards

• There are nine regional boards, any interested candidates please contact Morgan Carvajal (Morgan.Carvajal@gov.ca.gov) for more information about the region you may qualify for
• To be eligible, not more than 10% of a person’s joint income can come from an entity which has been issued a discharge permit by the Board
• $250 per diem

Natural Resources Agency:

California Conservation Corps 

•  Deputy Director of Capital Outlay Program 
  • Under the direction of the CCC Director, the Capital Outlay Manager will oversee all Capital Outlay projects and work directly with the Department of Finance on funding requests and with Department of General Services to ensure projects are on time and within the budget scope. 
  • Salary Range: $160,428 – $178,692  

 Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety  

•  Chief Counsel
  • The Chief Counsel fulfills the role of principal legal advisor to the Director, involved in the development of policy and legal strategy on an office-wide basis. The Chief Counsel provides material assistance on a variety of matters, including but not limited to; budget preparation, reviewing proposed legislation, representing the Legal Division in various Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety proceedings, developing the Division’s training program, and overseeing of complex projects. Advises the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety divisions and staff members on the application of regulatory statutes to the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety policies, powers, duties, precedents, and procedures.  
  • Salary Range: $187,104 – $208,440 

Native American Heritage Commission  

•  Executive Secretary
  • The Executive Secretary reports directly to the Governor and provides oversight and management of the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC). This statewide program requires working with the 109 federally recognized tribes, over 50 non-federally recognized tribes to fulfill the mission of the NAHC to protect and preserve tribal ancestral remains, cultural resources, and repatriation of human remains, funerary objects, and items of cultural patrimony. The Executive Secretary works with other State, local, and federal agencies and private landowners and provides testimony at legislative hearings and other governmental bodies when required and appropriate. 
  • Salary Range: $147,636 – $164,484 

San Joaquin River Conservancy Board

• Available Slots:
  • One member of a California Native American tribe from a list of candidates submitted by local tribal organizations.

State Historical Resources Commission

• The Commission reviews applications for listing of historic and archeological resources
• Available slots:
  • A person knowledgeable in ethnic history
  • A person knowledgeable in folklife 

State Board of Mining and Geology

• The State Mining and Geology board represents the State’s interest in the development, utilization and conservation of mineral resources, reclamation of mined lands, and development of geologic and seismic hazard information. The board determines general policies for the Mining and Geology Division within the Department of Conservation and maintains the State’s surface mining and reclamation policy. The board also represents the state’s interest in the development of geological information necessary to understanding and utilizing the state’s terrain, and seismological and geological information pertaining to earthquake and other geological hazards.   
  • Available Slots: Registered Geologist Slot
    • One (1) member of the board shall be a professional geologist with background and experience in mining geology 
    • $100 per diem 

Underground Facilites Safe Excavation Board (Dig Safe) 

• Board members are charged with overseeing the safety of excavations around buried utilities by coordinating the state’s education and outreach efforts, investigating accidents to determine their causes, setting standards for safe excavation and ensuring the state’s safe excavation laws are followed
• Available slots: 
  • A specialty contractor with knowledge and expertise in contract excavation for employers who are not operators of subsurface installations
  • A person with knowledge and expertise in performing or managing agricultural operations in the vicinity of subsurface installations
  • A person with knowledge and expertise in operation of subsurface installations of a municipal utility.  

Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development 

California Film Commission 

• Deputy Director
  • Provide daily management and oversight of the dedicated staff and Commission operations. The incumbent should have a strong understanding of government and the film industry and will serve as a key participant in budget planning meetings, communications, permitting, marketing, and production assistance. The incumbent will develop, and track policies, priorities, and research related to film tax credits, the entertainment industry and other key priorities for the Commission. Collaborate with the Governor’s Office, state, and local partners to further the Governors’ vision and boost business throughout the state.  
  • Salary Range: $127,500 – $142,008

Labor:

Department of Industrial Relations

•  Chief Counsel of the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement 
  • Oversees, manages and directs the Legal Unit of the Labor Commissioner’s Office.  
  • Is the Division’s top legal advisor to the Governor’s Office, Legislature, Labor and Workforce Development Agency, and Department of Industrial Relations. Provides legal advice to the Labor Commissioner and various units.   
  • Salary Range: $175,512 – $195,564  

Government Operations:

Public Works Contract Arbitration Committee

• The Committee establishes standards and qualifications for the certification of arbitrators for participation in the Public Works Contract Arbitration Program under the Department of General Services and the Office of Administrative Hearings.
• Opening: Public Member Slot
  • Must have at least ten (10) years of experience with a general contracting firm that has engaged on public works construction in California
  • There is no compensation.

Health & Human Services:

Department of Public Health 

•  Deputy Director, Center for Health Statistics and Information 
  • This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by being responsible for population health data science and public health informatics in the Department related to improving population health. This role includes working with Divisions across the Department to ensure that health data are collected, managed, analyzed, reported and distributed in an efficient and effective manner. 
  • Salary Range: $178,488 – $193,044 

Department of Rehabilitation 

• Deputy Director of Independent Living and Community Access Division
  • The Deputy Director is directly responsible for managing three critical and highly visible programs as well as being the lead person to represent the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) externally to the community and state government on behalf of the Director and Chief Deputy on issues related to Independent Living and Community Access. The Division includes the Independent Living and Assistive Technology Section, the Traumatic Brain Injury Program, Disability Access Services, and the staff that provide support to the California Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.
  • Salary Range: $137,616 – $153,384 
• Assistant Deputy Director of Specialized Services Division
  • Under general direction of the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) Deputy Director, Specialized Services Division (SSD), the Assistant Deputy Director, in a highly sensitive arena, will advise and assist the Deputy Director, Chief Deputy Director, and/or the Director; in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of departmental programs, policies, and procedures; serves as a division liaison; provides executive leadership and guidance to program managers in the administration of the divisions programs. 
  • Salary Range: $108,612 – $121,020 

Public Safety/Emergency Services:

Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES)

• Deputy Director, Response Operations
  • The Deputy Director has direct management responsibilities for the response Operations programs and activities. These emergency management responsibilities include three Administrative Regions and six Mutual Aid Regions: Fire & Rescue, Law Enforcement, the State Operations Center, Regional Emergency Operation Centers and the California State Warning Center.
  • Salary Range: $162,888 – $181,428
• Deputy Director, Public Safety Communications
  • The Deputy Director, Public Safety Communications (PSC) is responsible for the strategic direction, operational management, and implementation of and accountability for California’s comprehensive PSC programs. This position oversees critical statewide emergency communication systems, ensuring their reliability, effectiveness, and continuous improvement to serve California’s diverse population. 
  • Salary Range: $167,772 – $186,876 
•  Assistant Deputy Director, Legislation and Governmental Affairs 
  • The incumbent plays an essential role in shaping and implementing the agency’s strategic initiatives across multiple domains. Under the general direction of the Deputy Director, Office of Legislative and Governmental Affairs, this high-level position requires a leader who can effectively bridge policy development, stakeholder engagement, and operational oversight. 
  • Salary: $131,328 – $146,268 

Independents: 

Public Utilities Commission   

• Tribal Advisor
  • Under administrative direction of Executive Director, the Tribal Advisor coordinates mutually beneficial intergovernmental cooperation between tribal governments, the Commission, local agencies, and investor owned utilities. The Tribal Advisor is critical to the Commission’s basic mission, implementing the Commission’s adopted Tribal Consultation Policy, and achieving the goals of Executive Order B-10-11. 
  • Salary Range: $101,532 – $145,932 

Fair Boards

• There are opportunities to serve on nearly all the District Agricultural Association fair boards across the state. The Governor’s Office is continuously filling vacancies. Please contact the fair in your district/county to learn about opportunities.