Purpose: This study aims to analyze the influence of ex-officio leadership, organizational culture, loyalty, and organizational commitment on job satisfaction, with career path serving as a mediating variable among employees of the Batam Indonesia Free Zone Authority (BP Batam).

Methodology/approach: A mixed-method design was adopted, combining quantitative analysis through Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) with qualitative in-depth interviews. A total of 211 employees were selected as respondents using Slovin’s formula, ensuring representativeness of the study population.

Results/findings: Career path positively affects job satisfaction, while ex-officio leadership, organizational culture, and loyalty show no direct impact. Conversely, organizational commitment significantly influences both career path and job satisfaction, underscoring its vital role in employee satisfaction and development.

Conclutions: The study concludes that strengthening career path opportunities and reinforcing organizational commitment are key strategies to enhance job satisfaction in public sector organizations like BP Batam. Meanwhile, leadership and cultural factors need further alignment with employee expectations to generate a stronger impact.

Limitations: This research is limited to employees of BP Batam and may not fully represent other public sector institutions. Additionally, cross-sectional data restricts the ability to capture long-term effects.

Contribution: The study provides empirical evidence on the ex-officio leadership model in Indonesia’s public sector and enriches the understanding of career path and organizational commitment as mediating and direct drivers of job satisfaction, offering valuable insights for human resource management in similar organizations worldwide.