Careers in Public Policy

This Job Forum event covered an exciting career pathway.  The Job Forum featured experts from various Public Policy sectors.

David Harrison introduced his role as Director of Public Policy at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, emphasizing the importance of government relations and public affairs and building coalitions and relationships.

Nick Mattes, who has been a Campaign Manager as well as a Regional Campaign Director, shared insights from Political Campaign Management, stressing the opportunity to put your skill for writing, management, and attention to detail to work to make an impact in a political campaign career

James Horsmanm a Public Policy. and Government Affairs expert, detailed his experience in Public Policy at the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and FEMA, where he focused on policy and implementation.

Mahasweta Mitra, an epidemiologist, discussed opportunities for working in Public Policy Agencies doing research and data analytics, that inform policy decisions. Maha has been working -until recently- at Acumen as a Senior Research Analyst. Maha has worked in vaccine safety and public health, and this work underscores the impact of public policy on daily life.

The entire panel of experts emphasized the importance of volunteering, networking, and gaining some nonprofit experience as a good way to enter the field and obtain an entry-level role.

Here are a few ideas of where one can volunteer to gain public policy experience:: League of Women Voters (Good for civic engagement, voting, observing government meetings), SPUR ( especially if you are interested in issues around Housing, Transportation, Urban Planning, Climate) Political Campaigns (you may volunteer to do research, organizing, communications or write “ briefs’)

The panel discussed the range of skills and opportunities to apply the skills in careers in public policy including the importance of communication and data analysis in policymaking. James emphasized the need for effective communication and storytelling to persuade and inspire. Maha highlighted the value of volunteering and translating how your practical experience can be put immediately to work in policy roles. Nick and David discussed the impact of AI on politics and the increased level of coordination between private, government, and philanthropic sectors. The Private Sector is becoming more important as government needs new AI models, cloud infrastructure cybersecurity data engineering, and the technical expertise that is in the Private Sector. Meanwhile, Philanthropy is helping to fund government capacity.

Job Titles and Career Paths in Public Policy

The panelists discuss various job titles in public policy, including policy analyst, legislative aide, government affairs manager, and public affairs director.

•  They answered job hunter questions and offered guidance and made suggestions for success in the field

David Harrison explained the importance of relationship building and community engagement in private sector roles. James Horseman talked about the specialized career tracks roles in public policy, such as urban policy, public health, and technology policy.

The panelists assured job hunters that public policy careers are accessible without a law degree and stressed the importance of networking, transferable skills, and making a tangible impact at both local and national levels.

Note; SF is having a SF State Fall 2026 Service & Internship Fair,  September 10 at San Francisco State University, at The Quad, in front of Student Center. 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco, and be good for volunteer opportunities for civic Engagement, Legal Services & Advocacy groups who will be there.-1415-338-6419