Local Affairs Advisor

City and County of Denver•Denver, CO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Note: This job posting is open to current City and County of Denver employees ONLY, including those impacted by the 2025 layoffs With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver (CCD) means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver. Click here to find out about all the amazing benefits and reasons to work for CCD! Denver International Airport ( DEN ) is the third-busiest airport in the United States and one of the top ten busiest airports in the world, connecting our community globally through flight and business. DEN is the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating more than $47.2 billion for the region annually and employing nearly 37,000 people. At DEN, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. We celebrate individuality and uplift all races, ethnicities, gender identities, national origins, ages, abilities, religion, and LGBTQIA+ communities. We know that our diversity makes us stronger, and we strive to keep diversity, equity and inclusion at the center of all that we do. At DEN, the Government Aﬀairs & Global Public Policy Division (GAGPP) serves as a trusted Leadership partner and provides holistic subject-matter expertise, coordination and collaboration to DEN Enterprise-wide. GAGPP focuses on Multi-Sector Stakeholders and Government Oﬃcials to advance DEN’s global strategy and innovation priorities. This includes formulating and communicating on policy matters at all levels (international, federal, state, regional, and local); leading CCD City Council Approval Process; managing strategic community investments through its Memberships and Sponsorships portfolio; and State and Federal consultant lobbying contracts. GAGPP also directly advises the Chief Executive Oﬃcer and Executive/Senior Leadership on trends, risks, and opportunities related to DEN’s future growth and strategy. The GAGPP Team is currently hiring a Local Affairs Advisor . In this role, your primary responsibilities will be to provide core strategic leadership, highly specialized subject matter expertise, and recommendations related to complex, nuanced local affairs activities and CCD and DEN processes that may have significant and long-term impacts on DEN/CCD. This includes performing lead work on multi-sector stakeholder relationship cultivation and managing engagement with Denver City Council, the Mayor’s Office Legislative and State Lobbying teams, and Colorado’s (CO) General Assembly. This position plays a crucial role in generating awareness, fostering understanding, and garnering support for DEN and its priority initiatives and global public policy objectives within the realm of local affairs in alignment with Vision 100 / Operation 2045. This position includes the ability to supervise others. You will be part of a nimble, dynamic, and service-focused team, led by the Senior Vice President (SVP) of GAGPP.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Government, Public Administration and/or Policy, variety of Social Sciences, Business, Communications, or a similar field.
Strong professional level experience working in government affairs and public policy, including conducting local legislative work within a largescale organization, public agency, airport, or similar regulated industry preferred.
Strong attention to detail and ability to conduct routine processes and protocols on a regular basis.
Exceptional comprehension and interpersonal skills, including active listening and strong written, verbal, and nonverbal communication necessary to forge and maintain relationships, influence, and build consensus among multi-sector stakeholders, including agencies and elected officials.
Ability to discern, evaluate, translate, and advocate to advance complex technical and policy issues, including providing executive-level advice and counsel; Proactively anticipating the needs, questions, and priorities of executive leadership and stakeholders.
Ability to perceive and navigate complex political environments and balancing competing interests. This includes being politically astute, maintaining neutrality, and demonstrating diplomacy and a high degree of professionalism and adaptive leadership.
Commitment to fostering strong trustworthy relationships with teammates and leadership to advance strategic mission and vision.
High degree of cultural competency, including ability to develop engagement strategies that resonate with diverse populations, promote inclusivity, and address equity considerations.
Commitment to individual accountability and fostering a values-driven culture of kind, respectful collaboration, cooperation, and innovation across a small, but mighty team.
Emotional maturity: even tempered, kind, thoughtful, and able to remain neutral in sensitive situations.
Commitment to continuous improvement and innovation; strong comfort with tools and technology.
Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, or a related field.
Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of professional experience at the type and level of Management Analyst Senior or planning and conducting operational and/or management studies including determining study methods and procedures, analyzing data, developing recommendations and implementation strategies, and preparing reports of findings and recommendations.

Nice To Haves

Related graduate degree is a plus.
Exceptional expertise in local and state legislative process preferred.
Existing relationships and direct experience with Denver City Council members and the CO state legislature preferred.

Responsibilities

Exercise sound judgment and build strong trustworthy, communicative, and collaborative working relationships with GAGPP teammates and across the DEN enterprise to advance the work of the enterprise.
Conduct routine processes on a weekly basis. This includes submitting proposed contract resolutions for approval through a CCD/DEN process, updating internal stakeholders as appropriate, ensuring compliance and attention to detail, and other similar duties.
Support and represent DEN on local affairs matters, serving as the primary point of contact for Denver City Council and the CO State Legislature, advising on policies and priorities in alignment with DEN’s mission and vision.
Develop and maintain strong trustworthy relationships with executive agencies and key stakeholders to ensure coordinated responses, advice, and counsel on legislative issues, information requests, and policy alignment.
Monitor and research opportunities, risks, and emerging trends relevant to City Council, the CO State Legislature, and the Mayor’s Office, providing DEN with comprehensive expertise and technical assistance on local affairs matters, grassroots outreach, advocacy, and educational programming.
Manage compliance and administrative tasks, ensuring timely submission of departmental forms, while also contributing to operational advancements for efficiency and potential revenue growth within DEN.
Support continuous quality improvement efforts, working closely with division and airport leadership to align strategies, programs, and priorities with organizational goals.
Prepare data and research to provide executive-level guidance on local and state legislative engagement in alignment with DEN and GAGPP strategic vision and mission.
Provide thought leadership, creative problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration within GAGPP, including conducting periodic, metric-based assessments of the effectiveness of the Local Affairs portfolio and opportunities for adaptation and innovation.
Apply emotional intelligence principles when assisting with sensitive stakeholder matters.
Proactively seek and implement feedback and opportunities for professional development and growth.

Benefits

Competitive Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance (effective within 1 month of start date)
Pension Plan for Life (Employee contributes 8.45%, Employer matches at 17.95%)
457 (b) Retirement Plan (no early withdrawal fee!)
PTO (over 3 weeks in your first year) and 14 paid holidays
Merit Increases
STD, LTD, HSA, FSA, Life Insurance
CARE Bank, Family Leave Benefits
Employee Assistance Program, Employee Volunteer Program
Tuition Reimbursement (up to $2000/year), We Qualify for Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Learning and Development Opportunities; Courses and Career Development Resources
EcoPass (unlimited free RTD bus/train rides); Free Airport Parking