Director of Policy

Special Note : This position is exempt from civil service rules.

For more information, please see WAC 357-19-195.

The position of Lieutenant Governor is unlike any other in Washington state government because its duties fall both within the Executive and Legislative branches. Per the state’s Constitution, the Lieutenant Governor serves as the Acting Governor when the Governor leaves the state or is otherwise unable to serve. The Lieutenant Governor also presides over the state Senate as the lead parliamentarian of that body. As chair of the Senate Rules Committee, the Lieutenant Governor helps determine which legislation advances to the Senate floor for debate.

The Lieutenant Governor (LG) also leads an Executive branch agency, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor (OLG), which promotes efforts to advance policy priorities including advancing housing policy and economic development efforts, and promoting goodwill relations with the foreign consular corps. The LG serves as chair of the Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations (LCEDIR) which is authorized under state law to study and review economic development issues.

As Washington is one of the most trade-driven states in the nation, the OLG works closely with the state’s international community, including the foreign consular corps, to promote trade, goodwill, and economic development.

To learn more about the Office of the Lieutenant Governor visit ltgov.wa.gov.

Duties

You will play a primary role in leading the OLG’s policy and legislative development functions and will serve as the lead for legislative and Senate committee interactions for the OLG, including meeting with state legislators and legislative staff, monitoring legislative action and processes, publicly representing the OLG’s position on policy and budget issues, and staffing the LG on the Senate Rules Committee and the LCEDIR. You'll report to the Chief of Staff (CoS) and will work with other OLG staff members to provide strategic guidance on implementing existing policy, formulating new policy, and developing legislative proposals.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Develops, manages, and executes comprehensive legislative strategies and priorities for the OLG’s policy initiatives and budget requirements.
• Advises the LG and CoS regarding legislative issues and provides relevant legislative context and information.
• Coordinates the OLG’s positions on legislation, policy, budget, and regulatory issues.
• Prepares and submits the OLG’s legislation and amendments.
• Supports and advises the LG in his role as Chair of the Rules Committee and the LCEDIR. Including scheduling committee meetings, developing committee meeting agendas, and facilitating committee meetings.
• Tracks and monitors legislation, and legislative and budget processes.
• Coordinates and provides public testimony at legislative hearings.
• Represents the OLG’s legislative positions, strategies, and priorities at meetings and events.
• Coordinates with the CoS and Communications Director to develop and deliver consistent messaging regarding legislation, policy, and budget issues.
• Manages, maintains, and improves constructive and consistent working relationships and effective communication with legislators, legislative staff, State agencies, stakeholders, and constituent groups.
• Advises the LG and CoS regarding overall strategic direction of the agency.
• Serve as the office’s liaison to the foreign consular corps.
• Executes other duties in support of the OLG.

Qualifications

REQUIRED:

• A degree in political science, public policy, or a closely related field.
• Two or more years of experience working with legislative bill research and analysis and public policy development.
• Ability to work a varied schedule, which may include evenings, weekends and occasionally travel statewide, nationally, and internationally.
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member.
• Experience working with elected officials, a legislative committee, or a state agency preferred.

PREFERRED:

Three or more years of experience (five or more preferred) working within the Washington state legislative process, including giving testimony, interacting directly with State legislators and staff, and developing and tracking legislation.

Candidate Profile

• Excellent written, spoken, and interpersonal communications skills.
• Experience working in State government and with elected officials.
• Extensive knowledge of Washington state legislature’s policy making processes.
• Ability to demonstrate consistent attention to detail.
• Aptitude for quickly acquiring and analyzing new information.
• Ability to synthesize new policy issues and effectively communicate those issues.
• Extensive knowledge of education, business, economic, trade, and labor, and related issues and policies.
• Ability to generate innovative and creative legislative proposals and strategies.
• Experience working and interacting with diverse communities.
• Willingness and ability to take personal initiative when completing complex tasks.
• Willingness and ability to take on a variety of other projects that regularly emerge in an environment with diverse demands and a small staff.

Supplemental Information

As you can see, this isn't your typical posting where we require you to fill out a long application. We value your time and would love to hear more about why you are interested in this position.

All you need in order to be considered for this opportunity is to attach:

• A letter of interest, describing how you meet the qualifications for this position as outlined in the job posting;
• A current resume, detailing experience, and education; and
• A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information (attached or available to provide at the time of interview)

A few moments of your time to answer only a few supplemental questions attached to this application.

And that's it!

Opportunity for All:

The Department of Enterprise Services celebrates our differences and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our organization.

Contact Information:

Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Angie Anderson at (360) 407-8446 or email jobs@des.wa.gov