Legislative Assistant I

City of Spokane • City of Spokane, WA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This position supports City Council Member Zack Zappone, District 3. Each member of the Spokane City Council employs a single legislative assistant as his or her general staff person in the Council Office. The role of this position is to aid the Council Member in successfully fulfilling his or her public obligations by providing a variety of support in the areas of research, policy analysis, public relations, office administration and communications. A legislative assistant provides the immediate support apparatus for the Council Member, and must help keep his or her office organized, informed, and connected to constituents, community and governmental organizations, and other City officials and agencies. A legislative assistant is expected to perform moderately difficult policy research, provide their own evaluations and analysis of current issues, and must effectively communicate with other Council/City staff and constituents about legislative affairs. As this position handles a diverse set of duties, legislative assistants must possess solid organizational and time-management skills. There is a significant clerical component to a legislative assistant’s work as well, as he or she is responsible for maintaining and organizing the Council Member’s schedule, among other obligations. Work requires the application of independent judgment. Work is not subject to specific checks and controls, and, if not detected, errors could cause embarrassment to the Council Member. This "at-will" position serves at the pleasure of the Council Member, under their direct supervision. Work is performed with independence within the framework of current requirements of the supervisory Council Member.

Requirements

• Extensive Knowledge of: Modern office and administrative practices, procedures; and records maintenance and retention procedures.
• Considerable knowledge of scheduling and time-management.
• Some knowledge of legislative and administrative systems.
• Ability to: Research and analyze relevant constituent issues, to track the status of legislation, and prepare briefings and materials.
• Perform multiple tasks accurately and efficiently under time constraints.
• Work both independently and cooperatively.
• Exercise professional judgment and maintain confidentiality.
• Keep records and prepare reports.
• Comfortably speak/present in public settings.
• Take detailed notes during meetings or briefings/hearings.
• Identify and monitor issues specific to the district the Council Member represents.
• Plan and organize community events for Council Members.
• High school diploma or its equivalent, plus relevant work experience (each year of relevant work experience may be substituted for a year of preferred education); OR Bachelor’s degree from an accredited, four-year college or university.

Nice To Haves

• Candidates with a degree in political science, communications, social sciences, or a related field of study are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Organizes the Council Member’s entire calendar – including scheduling new appointments/meetings, ensuring the Council Member is available to meet the obligations of serving on various boards and commissions, and helping to decide whether to accept or decline invitations to various community events depending on the Council Member’s availability.
• Complete background work for policy proposals and other legislative affairs. This work includes: researching the policies of other cities; analyzing relevant data and other information as it pertains to the Council Member’s proposals or agenda; producing memoranda, briefing papers, and other supporting documents necessary for advancing proposals through the Council’s legislative process; and preparing presentations and informational materials on proposals.
• Serves as supporting staff person when Council Member chairs a Council standing Committee. This work includes: organizing the committee’s agenda for its monthly meetings, and coordinating with other City staff and community members to provide the briefings and presentations that the committee will receive during the meeting.
• Assists Council member in keeping connected to the community. This work includes: keeping up communications with constituents, community groups, and other City entities; responding directly to constituent calls/emails/letters; handling correspondence to furnish or request information; preparing and distributing media releases and statements; writing speeches for the Council Member; and handling community outreach through the Council Member’s social media accounts and through other media modes like electronic newsletters.
• Documents correspondence from constituents and members of the community, responds to public records requests, develop and maintains filing systems or procedures for various records, and interfaces with the City’s legislative organizing software, OnBase.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED