Chief Legislative Officer

Introduction This•Anne Arundel, MD

13d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a Special Appointment position, and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority. Agency Mission Whether they're preparing our state for climate change, tutoring our students, or caring for the sick, young people should have the option to perform important service today and build a foundation for our shared future. This is the first effort of its kind in the nation, and Maryland will lead the way. – Governor Wes Moore announcing the Service Year Option The Department of Service and Civic Innovation was established by the Serving Every Region Through Vocational Exploration (SERVE) Act of 2023 with the purpose of promoting service and volunteerism in the state of Maryland. The SERVE Act also launched two new exciting service pathways for eligible youth and adults, in addition to existing volunteer and service opportunities available through the Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism. DSCI is building a driven team dedicated to service as a method for connection and growth. The collaborative, high-performing culture allows us to achieve ambitious goals together. DSCI offers a flexible work schedule, telework, and a competitive salary. There is parking near our offices located in downtown Annapolis, Maryland. This position will support the mission of the MD Department of Service and Civic Innovation (DSCI). The Chief Legislative Officer primarily supports the efforts of the Chief of Staff and the Department’s intergovernmental relations efforts including legislative, local, and federal government relations and regulatory review. This position will also work to enhance the agenda of DSCI as well as the Administration more broadly through strategic relationship building with external entities such as legislators, organizations and nonprofits, institutions of higher learning, key stakeholders, and the public at-large. The incumbent must utilize sound judgement to operate independently. Additionally, the incumbent is privy to sensitive and confidential information and must exercise extreme discretion.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public Policy, Political Science, Public Administration, Government, Communications, Law, or a related field.
Five (5) years of professional experience in government relations, legislative affairs, public policy analysis, intergovernmental relations, or public administration.
Experience must include researching, analyzing, drafting, or interpreting legislation, regulations, or policy documents.
Experience must include direct stakeholder engagement, such as work with elected officials, state agencies, advocacy organizations, or community partners.
At least one (1) year of experience providing strategic advice or recommendations to senior leadership (executive leadership, agency heads, or senior management).

Nice To Haves

Legislative & Policy Expertise - Five (5) or more years of direct experience working with or for a state legislature or legislative committee, including tracking bills, drafting amendments, preparing testimony, or performing fiscal/impact analysis.
Government & Stakeholder Coordination - Two (2) or more years of experience serving as a liaison between an executive branch agency and other governmental entities (Governor’s Office, federal agencies, local governments) with demonstrated success coordinating multi-agency or cross-sector initiatives.
Strategic Communications & External Engagement - Two (2) or more years of experience representing an organization in public meetings, workgroups, hearings, or stakeholder engagement sessions, including developing talking points, briefing materials, or policy summaries for senior officials.

Responsibilities

Support external affairs efforts, including community engagement, outreach and recruitment activities, stakeholder meetings, and preparation of special reports or summaries requested by the Secretary or Governor’s Office.
Track, analyze, and summarize legislation introduced in the Maryland General Assembly and other governmental bodies, identifying bills and policy changes that impact the agency’s mission and operations.
Draft and review legislative materials, including bill analyses, amendment language, testimony, fiscal and operational impact statements, and briefing notes for senior leadership.
Coordinate regularly with the Governor’s Office, agency leadership, legislative liaisons from other state agencies, and members of the General Assembly to support departmental legislative strategies and respond to requests.
Attend legislative hearings, briefings, and meetings, representing the agency as directed; provide accurate notes, follow-up items, and recommendations to the Assistant Secretary and Executive leadership.
Research and interpret relevant state, local, and federal policies, legislative history, and procedural rules to guide leadership decisions and advance agency priorities.