LEGISLATIVE LIAISON, CHIEF

DEPARTMENT OF GAMING

Delivering results that matter by providing best in class support services.

Address:
Arizona Department of Gaming
100 North 15th Street
Suite 202
Phoenix, Arizona 85387

Salary: Up to $92,500/ Annually

Grade: 25

Closing Date: August 11, 2024

Are you ready to shape legislative strategy and drive communication excellence in gaming regulation?

The Arizona Department of Gaming is seeking a strategic and dynamic professional to join our team as the Chief Legislative Liaison. This role is critical for managing legislative affairs, government relations, and communications to support our mission of ensuring integrity and compliance in gaming regulation. If you have a proven background in legislative analysis, government affairs, and communications, along with a passion for public service, we encourage you to apply.

As the Chief Legislative Liaison, you will be responsible for overseeing legislative initiatives, government affairs, and communication strategies for the Arizona Department of Gaming. You will act as the primary liaison with the Arizona Legislature, Governor's Office, and other stakeholders, ensuring the effective formulation and execution of legislative initiatives and communication plans.

Your Impact:

• Legislative Affairs: Serve as the agency lobbyist and liaison with the Arizona Legislature, Governor's Office, and other entities. Formulate legislative initiatives and bills in collaboration with the executive branch and agency leadership.
• Government Affairs: Manage relationships with federal, state, local, and tribal entities. Oversee external agency reports, performance audits, and compliance with Executive Orders and enacted laws.
• Communications: Develop and implement public relations strategies, coordinate media relations, and manage public awareness campaigns. Handle all agency speaking engagements, presentations, and tours.
• Public Information: Manage responses to media requests, constituent services, patron complaints, and public records requests. Ensure effective communication and information dissemination.
• Team Management: Oversee daily operations related to legislative affairs and the Communications Team consisting of a Public Information Officer, records administration, communications systems, and front desk services. Train, mentor, and manage staff to ensure high performance and professional development.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Mission: Play a key role in shaping the legislative and communication strategies that support the integrity and compliance of Arizona’s gaming industry.
• Professional Growth: Engage in a dynamic environment with opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy competitive benefits and the satisfaction of contributing to a vital regulatory role.
  

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

As the Legislative Liaison you will:

• Be responsible for the Department of Gaming Legislative affairs to include: acting as the agency lobbyist and liaison with the Arizona Legislature, Governor's office and other state, local and private entities
• Work with the executive branch and the Agency Director to formulate legislative initiatives and bills
• Develop communications with Media Relations and Public Information, to include working with the media and press contacts, developing public relations strategies; coordinating public awareness campaigns; coordinate all agency speaking engagements, presentations and tours; and oversee responses to media requests
• Act as the Government Liaison with Federal, State, Local, Indian Nations, and private entities; oversight of all external agency reports and external performance audit activities; completion of assignments resulting directly from Executive Orders and Enacted Laws; and Agency Policy documents and policy correspondence.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of Legislative Services, Public Information Office
• Assign and review work, prioritize tasks, monitor work to ensure assigned deadlines are met
• Train and mentor staff who perform duties related to legislation, policy and communications
• Direct through subordinates the Agencies reception services. Providing Service and receiving and tracking mail and other correspondence and items delivered to the Department
  

Knowledge of:

• Arizona State Government general operations
• Arizona Revised Statutes regarding Gaming and regulation thereof
• Arizona State Personnel rules and practices, including performance appraisals
• Arizona's legislative Process
• Community organizations and stakeholders interested in gaming
• Federal and state laws, regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to Department programs and services
• Public record laws
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information and documentation
• Arizona Management System, LEAN Methods

Skills In:

• Providing Accurate information and well organized reports
• Creating and delivering presentations on complex issues
• Interpersonal skills including interacting positively with staff in diverse operational areas, the media, members of the public, and community organizations
• Planning, organizing and producing complex work products which survive substantial biased scrutiny
• Interpersonal relationships including federal and state officials, agency providers and other external organizations
• Problem identification and resolution
• Strong oral and written communication
• Customer service and the ability to effectively interact with a wide range of internal and external customers
• Coaching direct reports both for professional development and remedying deficiencies
• Establishing meaningful metrics related to core business processes. Working independently with a minimum amount of supervision.

Ability to:

• Deal professionally with representatives with diverse backgrounds from government, legislature, media, private, local, statewide, and non-profit organizations
• Adapt to changing assignments and priorities
• Respond to inquiries with tact, diplomacy, and appropriate timely information
• Work as a team player within several divisions
• Organize, prioritize and perform multiple tasks on a daily basis
• Establish and maintain effective and positive working relationships with agency staff and the public
• Work independently with minimal supervision
• Report work status, issues, and inquiries timely
• Analyze and establish priorities
• Display sound judgment
• Travel, which may include overnight stays.

• Three (3) years or more of experience as the Communications or Legislative Analyst of a complex
• Expertise in developing critical incident plans and responses is desirable.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public or business administration, communications or related field is preferred or any combination of training and experience that meet the job duties including knowledge skills and abilities required to perform in the job.

Requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver’s license appropriate to the assignment. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.)

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The Arizona Department of Gaming offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Sick leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
• Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Tiffany Batura at Tbatura@azgaming.gov for assistance. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.