Practice Area · Central Valley & Sacramento

Government Affairs & Public Policy Recruiting

Associations, agencies, and companies operating near the Capitol need people who know the building, the process, and the players — not just the policy area. We place government affairs leaders who can walk in and get to work.

Roles We Place

Who we’re usually looking for.

Government Affairs Director Legislative Director Senior Lobbyist Policy Director Association Executive Director Coalition Manager
The Market

What’s driving this practice right now.

Proximity to Sacramento matters in this practice in a way it doesn’t in most others. Associations, state agencies, and companies with a regulatory footprint all need leaders who already understand how the Capitol works — the committee calendar, the coalition dynamics, the relationships that move a bill or a budget line.

Discretion is the norm here, not the exception. A government affairs director rarely wants their current employer to know they’re exploring a move, and an association board often wants a search handled quietly until there’s a candidate worth presenting. We run these searches accordingly.

These roles rarely show up on a job board. They move through networks — former staffers, association circles, people who’ve worked the same issues from different sides of the table — which is exactly where a search firm that lives in this world earns its keep.

How We Search

Four steps. No surprises.

01
Discover
A deep intake conversation on the role, the team, and what a great hire looks like.
02
Source
Active outreach to passive candidates in our network — not posting and waiting.
03
Present
A curated shortlist of vetted, genuinely interested candidates.
04
Place
Backed by our 90-day replacement guarantee.
Our full process →
Free Resource

What do these roles pay in the Valley?

Our Central Valley Salary Guide covers Government Affairs & Public Policy compensation across Stockton, Sacramento, Modesto, and Fresno.

Get the Salary Guide
Start a Search

Tell us about your search.

Every engagement starts with a straightforward conversation about what you need and whether we’re the right firm to find it. Use the form below and we’ll be in touch within one business day.

Or email aidan@cloversearchgroup.com. We respond to every inquiry personally — usually within a day.

Other Practices

Explore the full range of what we place.