Job Posting: General Counsel

CA Earthquake Authority

JC-514608
-
General Counsel
C. E. A.

$15,298.00 - $20,966.00 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: 5/11/2026

Job Description and Duties

Under the general direction of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the incumbent serves as CEA's General Counsel (GC) and provides governance, compliance, and legal advisory support to three public bodies—the CEA Governing Board, the CEA Advisory Panel, and the California Catastrophe Response Council (CCRC)—in connection with the CEA’s administration of the California Wildfire Fund (CWF). The incumbent oversees all legal operations for CEA, ensuring the accurate, efficient, and effective delivery of legal services, including work performed by in-house attorneys, paralegals, and external law firms.

The role also serves as CEA’s lead subject matter expert on legal obligations related to its responsibilities as CWF Administrator and directs the legal services supporting CEA’s residential earthquake insurance business. Additionally, the incumbent manages the Enterprise Compliance Manager and analytical staff responsible for EEO functions, the Disability Advisory Committee, enterprise compliance, procurement program, and legal project management, and public body governance.

This role must possess the highest degree of independence and initiative, and the incumbent will be involved in the most difficult and complex legal work, litigation support, and agency decision-making in areas that include innovative theories of law.

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

Working Conditions

WORK SCHEDULE/HOURS: Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week. Incumbent will report to the office up to two days a week (may be more, depending on business needs).

We are located in the Wells Fargo Building, in Downtown Sacramento. We offer free garage parking and are close to a light rail station.

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must provide proof of residence in California prior to their appointment becoming effective, or the offer may be rescinded.

This position has been approved to Telework in accordance with Government Code Section 14200.

Minimum Requirements

This position does not have a Classification Specification. Requirements and qualifications for this position can be found in this announcement. For additional questions, please contact the hiring department listed below.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-514608
Position #(s):
341-400-7500-903
Working Title:
General Counsel
Classification:
C. E. A.
$15,298.00 - $20,966.00 C
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:
Career Executive Assignment - Non Tenured, Full Time

Department Information

The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) is a not-for-profit public instrumentality of the State of California. The CEA is the nation's largest provider of residential earthquake insurance, issuing the clear majority of residential earthquake insurance policies in California. CEA earthquake insurance policies are sold and administered solely by California insurance companies that have joined the CEA, known as "participating insurers." While privately financed (through policyholder insurance premiums and participating insurer capital contributions), the CEA's earthquake insurance business is publicly managed by a Governing Board consisting of the State of California's Governor, Treasurer, and Insurance Commissioner, and two ex officio members appointed by leaders in the Legislature. The CEA operates outside the state budget and receives no funding from the State of California, and thus is not subject to a number of governmental reporting and regulatory requirements that might apply to state agencies, but the CEA is permitted to employ civil servants. In addition to the operation of a residential earthquake insurance business, the CEA also acts as the Administrator of the $21 billion California Wildfire Fund, which is an insurance fund created by the Legislature to insurer California’s three largest investor-owned electric utility companies against liabilities arising from catastrophic wildfires.


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

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.

Special Requirements

When preparing your Statement of Qualifications, you are required to follow these guidelines:

  • The responses on the Statement of Qualifications MUST be addressed and numbered in the same order as is listed on the bulletin. 
  • The information you provide must be complete and presented in a clear and concise manner.
  • The Statement of Qualifications must be typed, single spaced with an Arial font size no smaller than 12 pt.
  • Responses must not be more than six (6) single sided, typewritten pages.
  • One inch margins.
  • You must provide specific examples.
  • Resumes do not take the place of the Statement of Qualifications.

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: 5/11/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are eligible to be appointed to this Career Executive Assignment (CEA) by the State of California.

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 - 04:30 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 - Applicants who fail to follow the Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) guidelines and provide the required application documents will be eliminated from this examination process. Please review the Examination Information section at the bottom of this bulletin for SOQ information.
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.

Examination Qualification Requirements

All applicants must possess the knowledge and abilities, and any other requirements, described in this announcement.

Note: Eligibility to take a CEA examination does not require current permanent status in the civil service.

General Qualifications

State civil service employees must possess essential general qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, and ability to work cooperatively with others.

Knowledge and Abilities

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to perform high administrative and policy – influencing functions effectively. Such overall ability requires possession of most of the following more specific knowledge and abilities:

  • Knowledge of the organization and functions of California State Government including the organization and practices of the Legislature and the Executive Branch; principles, practices, and trends of public administration, organization, and management; techniques of organizing and motivating groups; program development and evaluation; methods of administrative problem solving; principles and practices of policy formulation and development; and personnel management techniques; the department’s or agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program objectives; and a manager’s role in the Equal Employment Opportunity Program.
  • Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of multidisciplinary professional and administrative staff; analyze administrative policies, organization, procedures and practices; integrate the activities of a diverse program to attain common goals; gain the confidence and support of top level administrators and advise them on a wide range of administrative matters; develop cooperative working relationships with representatives of all levels of government, the public, and the Legislature and Executive branches; analyze complex problems and recommend effective courses of action; and prepare and review reports; and effectively contribute to the department’s or agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity objectives.

These knowledge and abilities are expected to be obtained from the following kinds of experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation and/or evaluation of program policies (experience may have been paid or volunteer; in State service, other government settings, or in a private organization):

CEA Level A - Responsible for broad administrative and program activities, including the execution and/or evaluation of program policies.

CEA Level B - Responsible for extensive managerial and program administration or broad program manager experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation, and/or evaluation of program policies.

CEA Level C - Responsible for extensive highly professional influence and contributes to program, policy, and the methods to provide professional services needed to set policies, to meet the mission of the State department and often exercising technical and or professional skills that are required at this level.

Examination Information

In addition to the required documentation, a Statement of Qualification (SOQ) must be submitted with your application. The SOQ serves as documentation of each candidate's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing.

Please review the SOQ filing guidelines in the special requirements section. Failure to follow the filing instructions may disqualify your application.

The SOQ is how the candidate demonstrates their education, training, experience, and skills are relevant to each of the factors listed below; examples must be provided to justify the experience described.

Please have your SOQ respond to the following statements:

1. Describe your ability to act as a key legal advisor to executive leadership and management teams; formulating legal policy; and participating as a member of top management in the development and implementation of department policy.

2. Describe your experience providing expert legal advice more broadly within an organization on a wide variety of matters including, but not limited to, interpretation of law, complex regulatory strategy and impacts, public policy initiatives, legislative strategies, negotiation of agreements, development and application of ethical standards, and corporate or public body governance.

3. Describe your knowledge and application of general legal principles, legal research methods, principles of administrative and constitutional law, and provisions the California Government and Insurance Codes, as such topics relate to or inform the operation of privately funded, publicly managed insurance entities.

4. Describe your experience with personnel management and supervision of legal teams including planning and directing work, providing legal policy direction, supervising and evaluating staff, providing for internal staff development and training and succession planning, and participating in the recruitment and selection of staff.

5. Describe your knowledge of and experience in development, implementation, evaluation, and modification of programs and policies related to and arising from the operation and administration of catastrophe insurance programs, such as residential property earthquake insurance or wildfire insurance, or similar programs that you believe are relatable or transferrable into an organization like CEA.

If you meet the requirements stated in this announcement, you may take this competitive examination. Possession of the Examination Qualifications requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination will be compared with the performance of others who take this examination, and all successful candidates will be ranked according to their scores.

A minimum rating of 70% must be attained in the Examination to obtain list eligibility for this position. All candidates will receive written notification of their examination results.

The results of this examination will only be used to fill this position. Applications will be retained for twelve months.

Hiring interviews for the Job may be conducted with the most qualified candidates.

The examining Department reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service law and rules and all competitors will be notified.

Special Testing Arrangements

If you have a disability and need special testing arrangements, answer the Reasonable Accommodations question appropriately on your Application (STD 678). You will be contacted to make specific arrangements. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this announcement.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

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.

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.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Hard copy applications must also include the classification title, job control number JC-514608 and/or position number 341-400-7500-903 on the application package.

Do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for this job vacancy, such as your state application, resume, or educational transcripts. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, the Equal Employment Opportunity page, your Social Security Number, birth date, driver’s license number, examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age. The job application packet checklist is not required to apply for this position. Failure to follow these instructions may result in your application not being considered for this position.

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