Senior Policy Specialist

JOB TITLE: Senior Policy Specialist

PROGRAM: Legislative Staff Services

LOCATION: Denver-Hybrid

SALARY: $80,412 annually

STATUS: Full-time

ABOUT NCSL:

Are you ready to join an organization with an extraordinary mission? The National Conference of State Legislatures offers careers where you can use your skills, knowledge, and experience to truly make a difference. NCSL's mission is purposeful - strengthening the legislative institution. From informing effective policies and promoting communication among state legislatures, to ensuring states have a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system, our team works in service of legislatures. And, with a commitment to constantly innovating all resources and services to meet the evolving needs of members, NCSL has earned the reputation as the nation's most trusted bipartisan membership organization for legislators and legislative staff. Our success serving NCSL members relies on our team of passionate, dedicated professionals who work diligently to strengthen the legislative institution. Join our team and contribute to this unique, essential mission. NCSL has a flexible remote work policy. Building and maintaining our organizational culture is critical and we do so by bringing staff together, in person, for four days each month. The remote work policy provides the freedom to work from anywhere with the requirement that staff travel on their own fare to the NCSL office once a month for team meetings and professional development.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Senior Policy Specialist serves as liaison to one or more Professional Staff Associations and provides strategic, programmatic and administrative support to the groups. They are expected to provide a high level of customer service to meet the needs of associations and expertly manage all stakeholders.

A Senior Policy Specialist is a position that requires expertise in at least one policy or legislative issue and aptitude at conducting legislative research and policy analysis. A Senior Policy Specialist must be accomplished at analyzing and synthesizing legislative and policy data to create informational resources. A Senior Policy Specialist is accomplished at developing relationships with NCSL's members, funders and others and has a national network of professional contacts in their specialty area. Work may be performed independently or as a member of a team whose goal is to meet the information needs of state legislators and legislative staff across the nation. To do so, the senior policy specialist creates and makes presentations, authors publications, plans and conducts meetings, facilitates discussions, delivers technical assistance programs, interacts with media and more. A Senior Policy Specialist may supervise one employee and may oversee task-related work of more junior staff.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Provide prompt, efficient service for all staff association administrative tasks, which can include organizing and facilitating Executive Committee and committee meetings, keeping the association's website current, administering the association's awards programs and providing administrative support for in-person and online meetings. Responsible for maintaining all governing, administrative, and historical documents of the association.
• Support the association's officers and governing board by providing guidance, administering the board's nominations and elections process, and supporting the annual business meeting.
• Engagement and Communications. Facilitate member communication and engagement on behalf of the association. This may include outreach to new and prospective members, communicating via email, Breezio, or social media, and assisting the association in the development and production of publications. Ensures the staff association's membership list is up to date in NCSL's constituent management software.
• Manage the staff association's finances, support the association's fundraising efforts and develop and monitor the annual professional development seminar budget.
• In conjunction with association leadership and committees, identify topics and faculty to produce meetings, webinars and online conferences that address professional development and networking needs. Draft background materials to support program faculty and handle some meeting logistics.
• Conduct special research and outreach projects on behalf of a staff association or other research requestor.

• Collect, monitor and analyze data on specific legislative staff roles, professional responsibilities and topics of interest to the association.
• Independently plans, organizes and conducts nonpartisan technical assistance programs, meetings and educational sessions at larger meetings.
• Creates substantive, engaging and interactive presentations or trainings for legislators, legislative staff and others on state or federal topics with the ability to respond to questions.
• May coordinate, manage and facilitate the work of a standing committee, task force, professional staff association, or subcommittees and maintains effective relations with key legislators and legislative staff involved as needed.
• May assist the Director and Associate Director of the program with fundraising and development of new projects.
• Travels domestically for meetings, technical assistance and other project activities as needed.
• Performs other responsibilities as needed.

SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE:

Supervisor/Management Responsibilities:

May supervise one professional staff or serve as coordinator of a team of other professionals on a short-term project.

THE WORK ENVIRONMENT: This full-time position is mostly performed in an office environment, on or off-site, with prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. NCSL provides a unique hybrid remote work policy with the requirement that staff travel on their own fare to the NCSL office once a month for team meetings and professional development. Employees routinely use standard office equipment such as laptops, printers, scanners, copy machines, and smartphones. Occasional travel by airplane, including overnights and weekends, is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUCCESS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree plus five years of work experience with state legislatures, government, public policy or other relevant field.
• Subject-specific expertise in assigned area.
• Strong writing, editing and presentation skills and the ability to communicate information clearly and credibly to a variety of audiences.
• Aptitude at working both collaboratively with others and independently.
• Proven ability to independently build and maintain relationships with legislators, legislative staff, national experts and others.
• Ability to work in a politically neutral manner and maintain confidentiality when required.
• Strong research and analysis skills, including accessing and assessing a variety of resources and research; synthesizing data and legislation; and analyzing and summarizing policy options and legislative activities.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to plan meetings manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously. Ability to independently work under deadline pressure and adapt to changes in workload.
• Budget and manage the financial accounts of a staff association, including balancing the annual meeting budget for a professional development series.
• Strong knowledge of state legislative and political processes and the separation of power between the branches of government.
• Ability to travel by air up to 3 - 5 times per year, with most trips being 1-3 nights, as well as work extended hours, possibly evenings and weekends, usually associated with events/travel.

YOUR BENEFITS AT A GLANCE:

NCSL has a flexible remote work policy. Building and maintaining our organizational culture is critical and we do so by bringing staff together, in person, for four days each month. The remote work policy provides the freedom to work from anywhere with the requirement that staff travel on their own fare to the NCSL office once a month for team meetings and professional development. We are committed to offering a full range of other benefits for you and your eligible family members, including domestic partners.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. Our outstanding benefits include low-cost health, dental and vision coverage, a 401(a)-retirement plan with 10% contribution after 6 months and full vesting, life & disability insurance, 3-weeks paid vacation with 5+ years of paid full-time work experience, generous time off plans and paid family leave, floating holidays, identity theft protection, employee assistance programs, pet insurance, paid time off to volunteer, and more! Relocation assistance provided for out-of-state candidates.

HOW TO JOIN OUR TEAM:

If you are a purpose-driven, dedicated professional looking to give as much as you get - submit your resume and cover letter by 11:59 PM MT, March 31, 2025 for best consideration. Learn more about working with NCSL by visiting our careers page: https://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/ncsl-careers.aspx. We are looking forward to receiving your application!

NCSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to developing a diverse, dynamic team and inclusive workplace. NCSL does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation.