Job Posting: Assistant Chief Counsel

CA Earthquake Authority

JC-508650
-
Assistant Chief Counsel
ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL

$14,513.00 - $17,742.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 3/4/2026

Job Description and Duties

Candidates who reside outside of the State of California may be admitted to the job interview.  However, upon job offer candidates must provide proof of residence in California prior to their appointment becoming effective, or the offer may be rescinded.

Under the general direction of the General Counsel (GC), the Assistant Chief Counsel (ACC) manages and directs a major legal section within the California Earthquake Authority (CEA), including attorneys, legal support staff, and outside counsel providing specialized legal services. The ACC supervises and advises staff on a broad range of legal matters, including regulatory analysis, privacy, contracts, litigation, and legislative engagement, and develops legal and policy options for the GC, Legal & Compliance Office, and the Office of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The incumbent oversees the preparation and review of briefs, bulletins, Participating Insurer bulletins and other communications, and legal opinions, ensuring all work products are accurate, timely, and compliant with applicable laws. Acts as CEA’s subject matter expert on legislative matters, advising staff on technical and policy aspects of proposed and pending legislation, and represents the CEA before boards, agencies, legislative committees, and courts as needed. Provides nonpartisan, objective legal guidance in a high-pressure political environment, assists the GC in administrative and operational management, and serves as backup to the GC as required.

Must have active membership in the State Bar of California.

This position is designated under the Conflict of Interest Code. The position is responsible for making or participating in the making of governmental decisions that may potentially have a material effect on personal financial interests. The appointee is required to complete Form 700 within 30 days of appointment. Failure to comply with the Conflict of Interest Code requirements may void the appointment.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

In accordance with Government Code 14200, telework may be available for this position for California residents based on the requirements of the position and may be discussed during the interview process. Hiring interviews may be available virtually, using teleconferencing or video conferencing options.

While working on site, the incumbent works in a professional office environment, in a climate-controlled cubicle which may fluctuate in temperature and is under artificial light. Incumbent will be required to use a computer, mouse, and video display terminal and will be required to sit for long periods of time at a computer screen. Employee must be able to focus for long periods of time, multi-task, adapt to changes in priorities and complete tasks or projects with short notice. Employees may be required to travel outside of their workstation to perform general tasks.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-508650
Position #(s):
341-400-5871-901
Working Title:
Assistant Chief Counsel
Classification:
ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL
$14,513.00 - $17,742.00
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

*FREE PARKING (Parking garage attached to building)*

The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) is a not-for-profit public instrumentality of the State of California.  CEA has two main operations.  First, CEA is authorized by law to issue residential earthquake insurance.  We educate Californians about earthquake risk, provide mitigation opportunities and resources for existing residences, and make available fairly-priced insurance policies that provide for repairs, rebuilding, and recovery after earthquake-caused loss.  Second, CEA is the Administrator of the California Wildfire Fund (CWF), a catastrophe fund created by the Legislature in 2019 to provide a source of funding for survivors of wildfires caused by large electrical utility companies.  While privately financed, CEA’s earthquake insurance business is publicly managed by a Governing Board consisting of the Governor, Treasurer, and Insurance Commissioner, and two ex officio members appointed by leaders in the Legislature, and its CWF Administrator duties are overseen by the California Catastrophe Response Council (CCRC), a nine-member oversight body created in 2019 when the CWF was created.  CEA operates outside the state budget and thus is not subject to many governmental reporting and regulatory requirements, but may employ civil servants.

California Earthquake Authority
400 Capitol Mall, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95814

Special Requirements

  • The position(s) require(s) a(n) Active membership in the State Bar of California License. You will be required to provide a copy of your license prior to being hired.
A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required for this position. An SOQ is a narrative that describes your qualifications for this position. The SOQ must be no more than six (6) pages, 12-point font, organized, and numbered as reflected below. You must respond to all the following items. Applicants who do not follow these requirements will be disqualified from the hiring process.

Applications received without the SOQ will not be considered. Resumes, letters, and other materials will not be considered in place of the SOQ. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT, website searches, and third-party reviewers can be helpful in researching responses to the SOQ; however, by submitting your application for this position, you understand and acknowledge that the SOQ you submit is your own work, in your own words, and accurately reflects your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences. Submitting an SOQ that is not your own may be the cause for disqualification from the hiring process. 

1) Select one of the following areas of law or practice: insurance, privacy, contracts, regulatory compliance, litigation, or legislation. Describe your experience serving as the principal legal advisor on a complex matter within the selected area. Without revealing attorney-client privileged information, identify the key issues, your role in advising leadership, and the outcome.

2)  Describe your experience supervising and developing legal staff. Explain your approach to providing oversight while supporting independent legal judgment.

3) Prepare a legal memorandum (approximately 1-3 pages in length) to CEA Executive Staff analyzing the parts of California Senate Bill 254 (2025) that are applicable to the California Earthquake Authority, as the Wildfire Fund Administrator.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 3/4/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

CA Earthquake Authority
Human Resources
Attn: Rachel Gonzales
400 Capitol Mall
Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

CA Earthquake Authority
Human Resources
Rachel Gonzales
400 Capitol Mall
Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95814
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
  • Statement of Qualifications -

    A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required to apply. Please see above “Special Requirements” section for SOQ instructions.

  • Other - Applicants MUST submit proof of active membership in the California State Bar. 
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:
Possess excellent oral communication and legal writing abilities, including the ability to effectively communicate with all levels of staff and public governance members, sometimes under short deadlines.
Judgment and discretion in handling sensitive matters.
Ability to handle multiple projects and meet deadlines.
Experience with legislative drafting, analysis, and research.
Ability to maintain professionalism under pressure.
Ability to negotiate and build relationships with individuals, private entities, and other public entities.
Ability to self-educate when confronted by complex and multi-dimensional problems.
Strong skills related to statutory interpretation and legal analysis.
Experience with Public Records Act requests, legal compliance, and administrative rule making.
Labor law experience.
Experience working with outside counsel.

Benefits

In addition to being part of an exciting and vital mission of helping 39.5 million California homeowners and renters reduce their risk of earthquake damage and loss, CEA offers competitive pay, benefits, and features for its workforce.

The State of California offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, vision, dental, a retirement pension, a telework stipend if applicable, and an array of other options.

For general information related to benefits with the State of California, please click here: California State Civil Service Employee Benefits Summary

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

Department Website: https://www.earthquakeauthority.com/
Human Resources Contact:
Rachel Gonzales
(916) 291-8519
rgonzales@calquake.com
Hiring Unit Contact:
Tom Welsh
(916) 758-1005
twelsh@calquake.com

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Officer
(916) 661-5400
eeo@calquake.com
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Application Information

The STD. 678 is required and each section must be filled out completely and thoroughly. Please do not include your Social Security Number, date of birth, veteran status, personal photos, LEAP information, or any other personally identifying information on any documents in your application package.

Using the online application system as specified in the announcement is the preferred method of applying for civil service job opportunities; however, applicants may instead apply by way of U.S. mail, parcel delivery or courier service, or in person, as set forth in this announcement.

If applying via postal mail or by dropping off your application, applicants must include JC-508650 and Assistant Chief Counsel, 341-400-5871-901 in the 'Job Title' section of the STD. 678 to be considered for this position. Please indicate on the STD 678 your basis of eligibility in the "Explanations" field (i.e. SROA, surplus, reemployment, reinstatement, transfer, or list eligible.)

Surplus/SROA candidates must provide a copy of their surplus/SROA letter with their application. Consideration may be given to applicants on another Department's employment list, provided the criteria are met to transfer the eligibility from the employment list to the Authority's employment list.

NOTE: To be considered for this job opportunity, applicants must be reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility, or have reinstatement eligibility. If you are new to California State service and you do not have list eligibility, you must take the exam for this classification. To gain employment list eligibility, please visit CalCareers to access the exam bulletin.

Location

The California Earthquake Authority headquarters is located in the Wells Fargo Building, in downtown Sacramento between 4th and 5th Street on Capitol Mall. We are located three blocks away from the 7th and Capitol light rail stop. The building is also within walking distance of DOCO, the California State Capitol Park, a farmer’s market during summer months, and Old Sacramento.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job