This non-experimental quantitative study established the best-fit structural model for employee satisfaction (ES) with public leadership roles (PLR), professional identity (PI), and quality of work life (QWL) as the exogenous latent variables. The stratified random sampling method selected the four hundred local government employees in Region XI to participate in the survey. Data analysis yielded the following results: The mean statistic showed very high levels of professional identity and employee satisfaction compared to the high levels of public leadership roles and work-life quality. Pearson r revealed a significant and positive relationship between public leadership roles, professional identity, quality of work-life and employee satisfaction. The multiple regression analysis revealed that public leadership roles, professional identity, and quality of work-life significantly influence employee satisfaction by 58.6 percent. The Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) bared that two exogenous latent variables predict employee satisfaction: public leadership roles (indicated by network governance and political leadership) and professional identity (characterized by knowledge and philosophy of the profession, attitude, engagement behavior, and interaction are predictors of employee satisfaction). In addition, employee satisfaction has these indicators: leadership and planning, corporate culture and communication, role in the organization, work environment, training, development and resources, pay and benefits, and overall employment experience. These findings are relevant to Human Resource Management Offices in the public and private sectors, with implications for employment policies, especially for employees career growth. KEYWORDS: public administration, local government employees, public leadership roles, professional identity, quality of work-life, employee satisfaction, SEM, Philippines