Director, Programs and Policy (California)

About Omidyar Network (ON): 

Omidyar Network is a philanthropic organization whose mission is to bend the arc of the digital revolution toward shared power, prosperity, and possibility. Digital technology is a powerful and ubiquitous force, that, harnessed wisely, makes wondrous things happen. We believe in working together to guide tech's trajectory intentionally. Our vision is for our shared humanity to steer our digital future.

So far, we have committed more than $1.94 billion to initiatives that share our vision. We engage, partner, and fund some of the world's brightest thinkers and innovators to guide our digital future toward the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

About the Programs and Policy Team: 

Our programs team focuses on the key drivers of our shared digital future: the culture, the governance, and the business of digital tech. Through our grant making and advocacy, we aim to shape more intentional societal governance and amplify our shared agency. We collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders, including investors, tech firms, policymakers, consumers and workers to guide tech’s trajectory and establish coalitions and countervails in civil society. Programs team members join Omidyar Network from a wide range of backgrounds in policy, advocacy, nonprofits, community organizing, technology, consulting, philanthropy, education, and the arts.

How You’ll Contribute to our Impact: 

Omidyar Network is deepening its presence in California — the proving ground for much of today’s tech governance. This is a unique and exciting opportunity for a self-starting, experienced, and creative leader to make a significant impact in advancing the public interest.

You will be ON’s primary representative in Sacramento, functioning as an ambassador to key institutions, policymakers, corporations, ON grantees, and the public. Working with our programmatic leadership team, you’ll co-define and co-lead ON’s California agenda with significant autonomy to drive legislative and regulatory work, influence corporate governance practices, and foster cultural change across the state.

Your policy focus will span issues relevant to today’s digital tech landscape such as privacy and data governance, online safety, consumer protection, competition, AI governance, and tech‑and‑labor issues. You’ll be building ON’s California policy strategy from an early base, collaborating closely with ON’s leadership, while strategically tapping into your expertise, influence, and ON’s resources to win legislative and regulatory campaigns and build effective coalitions that reflect California’s diversity.  

Reports to: Senior Director, Programs and Policy (based in Washington, DC.)  

Core Responsibilities:

Policy Strategy & Government Relations   

• Lead and refine Omidyar Network’s California policy strategy, ensuring alignment with ON’s policy goals and national approach
• Develop and manage a comprehensive policy roadmap covering privacy, data governance, online safety, competition, AI governance, tech-and-labor issues and emerging priorities
• Define clear policy goals and milestones; report progress regularly to leadership
• Oversee and manage external consultants and lobbyists, managing contracts, strategy alignment, and coordination
• Draft policy briefs, white papers, fact sheets, testimony, amendments, and comment letters on legislative and regulatory proposals
• Monitor emerging legislative, regulatory and political trends; brief senior leadership and external partners
• Navigate fast-moving legislative processes to advance responsible tech governance, identifying proactive opportunities and defensive strategies
• Ensure California policy strategies are informed and responsive to underrepresented communities most impacted by technology governance
• Manage mission-related grants and contracts

Partnerships & Coalition Engagement

• Convene and participate in coalitions across civil society, labor, industry, and academia that reflect California’s demographic and sectoral diversity
• Build collaborative relationships to influence public policy and amplify organizational impact
• Maintain strong relationships with ON grantees and partners, ensuring alignment between advocacy campaigns and ON’s philanthropic investments
• Curate and convene strategic events and roundtables in Sacramento to facilitate dialogue among policymakers, advocates, and tech leaders

Strategic Communications

• Collaborate with team members to develop targeted messaging for policymakers, partners, media, and the public
• Serve as organizational spokes