Legislative Assistant – Councilmember Foster

City of Seattle•Seattle, WA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Office of Councilmember Dionne Foster (Position 8) is seeking a motivated and dedicated professional to join our team as a Legislative Assistant. In this key role, you will be instrumental in ensuring the smooth operation of the Councilmember's office by managing constituent services, serving as a primary public-facing representative of the office, and supporting the Councilmember’s legislative and community-focused priorities. This role operates in a fast-paced, high-volume environment where you will be expected to have the ability to quickly assess, triage, and prioritize competing demands. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate exceptional time management, organizational discipline, and stakeholder management skills, with a proven ability to process large volumes of information, identify what matters most, and drive timely outcomes. This position requires superior communication and interpersonal skills, political savvy, sound judgment, and discretion. You will be successful in this role if you are proactive, detail-oriented, adaptable, and accountable, with a commitment to delivering high-quality, responsive service to constituents and community partners. This position is part of a hard-working, supportive team comprised of three staff members with this position reporting directly to the Councilmember. This at-will appointment serves at the discretion of the Councilmember.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, political science, business, public administration, or a related field.
At least 3 years of progressively responsible experience in effective constituent services, administrative assistance, community outreach, public relations, or a related field.
Demonstrated ability to manage high volumes of information and competing priorities with strong time management and organizational skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly and concisely.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and remain calm under pressure.
High attention to detail and ability to execute multiple complex tasks accurately under time constraints.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively, with a consistent commitment to accountability and follow-through.
Experience working with diverse communities and demonstrated cultural competency.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook and similar scheduling tools.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree in law, public administration, public policy, or related field, or additional experience that demonstrates expertise in and ability to dive into work related to constituent services and community outreach.
Nuanced understanding of Seattle's political landscape and community dynamics.

Responsibilities

Assume responsibility for administrative and scheduling support to the Councilmember, including maintaining and managing the Councilmember’s calendar scheduling, organizing, and coordinating meetings and appointments between the Councilmember and other stakeholders.
Respond to inquiries from residents, including answering phone calls and responding to emails and letters, and attending hybrid and in-person meetings and events.
Assess, prioritize, and manage a high volume of constituent inquiries and issues, balancing urgency, impact, and resource constraints.
Implement and maintain a robust system to track inquiries from intake through resolution, ensuring accountability, prompt follow-through, and responsiveness.
Coordinate with community groups, individuals, and government agencies to address and resolve local issues efficiently and effectively.
Exercise strong judgment in escalating, delegating, or resolving issues based on competing priorities and stakeholder needs.
Build and maintain strong relationships with community organizations, businesses, and key stakeholders.
Serve as a frontline representative of the office through meetings, events, and public engagements.
Organize and attend community meetings and forums on behalf of the Councilmember.
Staff the Councilmember at external events, coordinating logistics and preparing briefing materials and talking points.
Manage and prioritize competing stakeholder interests with professionalism, clarity, and fairness.
Foster clear and effective communication within the office and with other Council offices and City departments.
Provide regular, concise updates to the Councilmember and staff on constituent issues, community concerns, and emerging priorities.
Monitor policy and legislative developments and provide relevant analysis tied to constituent and district impacts.
Draft and support development of communications materials, including newsletters, presentations, and digital content.
Develop social media content creation aligned with office priorities.
Manage constituent correspondence and assist with public records responses.
Synthesize complex information into clear, actionable briefings to support decision-making.
Assume primary responsibility for managing constituent correspondence and preparing responses to public records requests.
Analyze and synthesize complex information to brief the Councilmember on key issues to support informed decision-making.
Assist with duties assigned to other members of the Councilmember’s team when they are not available; perform other duties as assigned by the Councilmember or Chief of Staff.