Legislative Director

Read the overview of this opportunity to understand what skills, including and relevant soft skills and software package proficiencies, are required.

Description

Legislative Director

WMS BAND 2)

Monday - Friday 8 : 00 AM 5 : 00 PM HYBRID

Note : The Hiring Team may make a hiring decision at any time. It is within your best interest to apply for this position at your earliest convenience.

The first review of applicants will begin on 9 / 20 / 24.

Additionally, this position is required to be in Olympia during legislative session, legislative committee activity, and frequently thereafter.

Some state-wide travel is required.

Who We Are :

The Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC) is a non-regulatory state agency that supports and coordinates our state’s 45 conservation districts and administers voluntary conservation programs.

Together, the SCC and conservation districts provide incentive-based programs that empower people across Washington to take actions that keep natural resources and working lands healthy for all.

What You Will Be Doing :

As the Legislative Director, you will develop and execute the agency’s state legislative strategy. You will serve as an adviser to the Executive Director and Director of Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs.

This role requires a strategic and creative thinker with expert knowledge of the legislative process and the ability to provide clear analysis on legislative and regulatory matters.

You must be an exceptional communicator with a proven track record of achieving legislative goals.

Key Responsibilities :

• Ensure SCC’s strategic priorities are represented in legislative action, including policy and budget bills.
• Position SCC as a trusted source of information for policy makers and policy influencers.
• Meet all legislatively mandated deadlines and deliverables.
• Keep SCC Leadership, the Commission, and stakeholders informed throughout the legislative process.
• Proactively engage in the legislative process and address emergent issues effectively.

Duties

Some of the Duties Include :

• Implementing the agency’s legislative efforts year-round and during sessions. These efforts assist in advancing the agency’s overall priorities, including budget initiatives and legislative requests to support the agency.
• Designing and executing the legislative strategy in coordination with Director of Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Executive Director to support the SCC's mission.
• Developing and shepherding all agency request legislation. Collaborate with the Executive Director and Director of Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs to develop agency request legislation, secure legislative sponsors, and lead the orderly progress of essential bills through the legislative process.
• Representing the Executive Director and Commissioners before elected officials in a variety of settings, including legislative committee hearings and the Governor’s Natural Resources Legislative Policy Group.
• Directing and developing strategy and communication with legislators, legislative staff, and state agencies to prioritize actions.
• Fostering productive and highly interactive relationships with legislators, legislative staff, congressional staff, Governor’s staff, governmental agencies, lobbying groups, and stakeholders.
• Recommending actions or solutions to impact legislative proposals.
• Maintain a big picture perspective and identifying collaboration opportunities with agencies, legislators, and stakeholders.

Ensuring the Executive Director and Director of Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs are informed of current events, new programs, and other relevant activities in the public and private sectors that could impact SCC’s mission, goals, and overall work.

Identifying and capitalizing on opportunities for SCC's growth and the expansion of its work to achieve the agency's mission and goals.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications :

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university involving a course of study in Business Administration, Public Administration, Law, Public Policy, or a closely related field.

Note : Additional experience may substitute year for year for the bachelor's degree.

• Four (4) years of experience in legislative affairs (process, strategy, and targeted outreach).
• One (1) year of experience in tribal relations.
• One (1) year of experience in program management.
• Note : All work experience can take place concurrently.

An advanced level of expertise is required in government relations developed through a combination of education and clearly established and substantial experience.

The position requires demonstrated successful performance at an increasingly challenging level for a period clearly establishing a high degree of expertise.

Duties require demonstration of the ability to develop highly effective methods and practices leading to achievement of successful outcomes.

Must have ability to conduct long-range planning creating strategies for successful future operations. Strong established relationships with the legislature and internal / external stakeholders and able to facilitate and negotiate with a positive outcome.

The successful candidate must have / is :

• Confidence meeting with and presenting to legislators, including providing testimony when needed.
• Big-picture knowledge of state government and policy issues, including the interrelationships between agencies' programs.
• Exceptional oral and written communications skills applied in a wide variety of challenging settings, including public testimony and drafting of complex legislative documents.
• Able to understand and formulate complex public policy.
• Experience and training to be able to respond to complex, highly sensitive, and emergent policy issues.
• Able to develop a working knowledge of SCC programs.
• An expert level understanding of the legislative process, and the ability to provide analysis on legislative and regulatory matters.
• A demonstrated ability to work effectively with elected officials.
• A proven record of accomplishment as a contributor to an influential government relations program.
• A self-starter, able to work independently with little supervision and be a team player.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Political Science, or related fields and experience.
• At least two (2) years of experience supervising staff.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion :

Incumbents to this position must possess and demonstrate the following DEI competencies :

• Able to learn and understand the language and concepts of our SCC DEI culture and commit to being a part of creating and maintaining a diverse, equitable, respectful and inclusive workplace.
• Demonstrate a commitment to growth, learning and self-awareness when provided training and opportunities to participate in improving our work environment.
• Participate and behave in a manner that creates trust and builds working relationships, promoting teamwork and collaboration in the work environment.
• Demonstrate the understanding that all people are valued; contribute to an equitable, inclusive and respectful environment when working with members of the group, team, organization or community.
• Commit to being an active participant in continually evaluating and improving strategies that promote equity and inclusion in our organization.

Supplemental Information

Please provide the following documents to be considered; failure to do so may result in you not being considered for the position :

• A letter of interest (no more than 2 pages) explaining how you have prepared yourself for this position
• A current resume or CV , detailing experience, and education
• A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information

Note : By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information.

Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed. A resume will not substitute for completing the duties summary section of the application.

Please do not refer to resume for detail, or your application may be disqualified.

Opportunity for All :

The Washington State Conservation Commission 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 :

For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Aggie Swanson via email at jobs@des.

wa.gov. 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.

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