Lead Program Analyst

Lead Program Analyst

Salary Range: $114,747 - $152,971

FLSA Exempt / Non-Union Represented

****This position allows up to four days of remote work per week. It requires travel to Los Angeles and San Francisco office, and to attend at least seven meetings per year on Saturday.

Application deadline: September 20, 2026 by 5 pm.

About the Office 

The Office of Access & Inclusion (OA&I) leads the State Bar’s policymaking and initiatives to support access to justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. A significant portion of this work includes grants administration to support nonprofit legal aid organizations throughout the state. In furtherance of promoting access, fairness, and diversity, OA&I supports the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation (JNE). JNE is charged with confidentially investigating and evaluating candidates being considered for judicial appointment by the governor. The work of JNE helps promote a California judiciary of quality and integrity by providing independent, comprehensive, accurate, and fair evaluations of candidates nominated for judicial appointment.

About the Job

The State Bar of California seeks a full-time Lead Program Analyst to join the JNE team. Responsibilities may include: leading the JNE staff and volunteers to support JNE investigative cycles ensuring confidential, appropriate, and timely evaluations; supporting a 38-member volunteer commission; reviewing and editing reports to the Governor’s office; acting as lead staff to the Review Committee on Juridical Nominees Evaluation (RJNE); submitting letters on behalf of JNE to the Commission on Judicial Appointments (COJA); liaising with the Governor’s office and other external stakeholders; providing logistical support for commissioner travel and investigations; and supervising and supporting the JNE program analyst. 

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be an excellent communicator, both verbally and with precise writing, editing, and analytical skills; demonstrate sound judgment and attention to detail, particularly related to managing confidential information; and have strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to simultaneously manage strict deadlines and multiple workflows. Because the work of JNE requires partnering with other State Bar offices and external stakeholders, collaboration and relationship building skills are essential. The team values people who bring a passion for social justice, collegiality, and integrity to the workplace.

Definition
With minimum direction, the Lead Program Analyst plans, organizes, leads, and conducts complex analysis, program administration, and project management. Responsibilities include analyzing and evaluating significant programs; conducting research, data collection, and complex data analysis; conducting internal performance and fiscal audits; developing management systems, functions, policies, and procedures, including evaluating the impact of existing, newly enacted, and proposed legislation, regulations, and rules; administering major contracts; planning and supporting the implementation of unique projects and initiatives; and other functions as assigned. The Lead Program Analyst may act as an individual contributor or serve in a lead capacity over project teams or individual professional, technical, and support staff.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This classification is distinguished from the Senior Program Analyst in the series in that the Lead Program Analyst assumes greater and more complex responsibility for assuring the activities of the assigned major programs or functions are completed in accordance with the procedures and policies of the Bar and for development and implementation of comprehensive programs and projects of greater significance and broader impact. Duties involve highly complex and sensitive issues; incumbents are expected to work with minimal direction.

Examples of Essential Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Oversees and conducts difficult, sensitive, highly visible, and complex analytical work that has a significant impact on the functions and operations of assigned program or Office; ensures accuracy of information and effectively communicates findings both verbally and in writing; and prepares presentations and reports to illustrate analyses for senior management and the public at public hearings and/or committee meetings.
• Confers with senior management staff to discuss, evaluate, and make policy recommendations regarding special projects and/or various complex, sensitive, or highly visible functions of the program or Office.
• Executes operational policies, procedures, strategic goals, and plans, and/or standards pertinent to initiatives that fall under the scope of the assigned program or Office.
• Conducts internal performance and financial audits pursuant to a performance and financial audit plan to ensure that the State Bar’s core functions are performed efficiently, effectively, and in compliance with all governing mandates.
• Directs work of contractors and consultants, ensuring that contract requirements are followed and in accordance with State Bar policies.
• Responds to internal and external inquiries about the State Bar’s programs, data collection and analysis, continuous improvement, and internal audit efforts.
• Oversees the implementation of special projects with broad policy implications.
vides staff support as assigned to the Board of Trustees, and State Bar committees, commissions, and working groups.
• Monitors project budgets and makes recommendations on budget expenditures.
• Serves in a lead capacity over project teams or may supervise individual professional, technical, and support staff.
• Performs other duties that may not be specifically included within this position description but are consistent with the general level of the job and the responsibilities described.

Employment Standards
Knowledge of:
• Principles of program evaluation, policy assessment, and implementation.
• Principles of problem identification, analysis, and resolution.
• Principles of data analysis and research tools.
• Principles of business process reengineering.
• Principles of effective written and verbal presentations, including public speaking.
• Principles of public relations/customer service.
• Principles of board and committee administration.
• Principles of organizational behavior and conflict resolution.
• Principles of financial and public policy analysis and research.
• Principles of effective institutional communication in dealing with different constituencies.
• Principles of office management, budgeting, administration, and supervision.
• Principles of government relations.
• Principles of computer information systems, including database, report generation, word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software.
• Principles of project planning and implementation.
• Principles of financial and cost-benefit analysis and performance auditing.
• Within the introductory period, obtain a working knowledge of the State Bar office and functions.

Ability to:
• Receive and relay detailed information through verbal and written communication.
• Communicate clearly and effectively in person, by telephone, computer, and in writing.
• Speak publicly to large groups of people.
• Perform under stress and adopt practical courses of action.
• Effectively interact with others.
• Effectively address conflict.
• Manage multiple, simultaneous assignments to plan and prioritize day-to-day work independently and to meet deadlines.
• Lead others to accomplish program and project implementation.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality in program administration and interactions with contractors, consultants, experts, and others.
• Exercise sound judgment and decision-making.
• Make recommendations on complicated and difficult program matters and present them effectively to governing authorities.
• Interpret and analyze complex written documents.
Effectively present and speak publicly to large groups of people.
• Act with integrity in all related State Bar business.
• Quickly adapt to changing environments and critical needs, and adopt and effectively implement courses of action.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in a field that develops skills related to essential duties or a combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the position's duties.
• Juris Doctorate or master’s degree in a relevant field may substitute for up to two (2) years of experience.

Experience:
• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible experience, including at least two (2) years at the advanced journey level, in research, data collection and evaluation, performance or financial auditing, or business process re-engineering, in a public sector, legal or nonprofit environment, or equivalent.

License, Certificate, and Registration Requirements:
• Special Qualifications, including specialized knowledge, abilities, education, experience, or license, may be established for individual positions.
Applicants who meet the Minimum Qualifications will be required to successfully complete the State Bar’s selection process for this classification.

About the State Bar
The State Bar of California’s mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation, and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system.

Our Values
Clarity | Investing in Our People | Excellence | Respect | Growth Mindset

Learn more about our values.

DEI Statement
We are a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all of our employees and prospective employees experience fairness, dignity, and respect.

Learn more about our commitment to DEI.