Policy Advisors

Oregon Metro • Metro Regional Center, OR

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM on June 25th, 2026 or once 75 applications have been received, whichever occurs first. Qualified applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible to ensure consideration. Hello, we’re Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow. The Council Office is looking for strategic, organized, and relationship-driven Policy Advisors to serve as a partner to a Metro Councilor. In this role, you will have the opportunity to shape policy direction, identify and solve complex problems, and ensure Councilors are equipped to make informed, timely, and effective decisions. This includes synthesizing complex technical information into clear decision frameworks, identifying trade-offs and risks, and anticipating policy implications. As a Policy Advisor, you will play a key role in effective communication of policies and processes in service of Council and agency staff. As part of Metro’s evolving leadership presence in the greater Portland metropolitan region, you will play a critical role in bridging the work of Metro with the broader community and will help advance Councilors’ goals and priorities, building credibility and trust within the organization and the communities they serve. This high-visibility role presents a unique opportunity to assist Metro’s work in regional land use and growth management, solid waste and recycling, housing, transportation, parks and natural areas, and more, all while helping Councilors deliver on their commitments with equity, transparency, and community voice. If you are energized by public service, excited to work at the intersection of policy and community impact, and motivated to help elected leaders succeed, we encourage you to apply and make a meaningful difference.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and Three years of related and progressively responsible experience
• Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.
• The candidate selected for the position will need to pass a criminal background check prior to being hired.
• Employees must reside in Oregon or Washington to work at Metro.

Nice To Haves

• In depth knowledge of the district in which the councilor serves including established relationships with jurisdictional partners and community stakeholders.
• Awareness of local issues within the district relevant to Metro’s lines of business.
• At least two years’ experience supporting and advising senior leadership or elected officials.
• In depth knowledge and experience relevant to issues of regional importance including economic development, transportation planning, affordable housing, supportive housing services, land use policy, regional solid waste and recycling, visitor venues and/or environmental conservation.
• Experience conducting public engagement activities and communicating with constituents.
• Experience preparing communications materials including talking points, scripts or content for social media on behalf of an organization or individual.
• Experience coordinating projects from concept development, implementation, monitoring to closure.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Policy Development & Decision Support - owns the development of clear, effective policy strategy and equips Councilors to promptly address issues, make progress on their priorities, and make informed decisions.
• Conducts policy research and feasibility analysis at the direction of individual Councilors
• Works with agency staff to support alignment between Council direction and administrative decisions
• Synthesizes complex technical information into clear decision-making frameworks that are responsive to Councilor needs and stakeholder communication
• Drafts policy proposals, resolutions, and amendments aligned with Councilor priorities
• Regional Strategy & External Affairs - positions Council and the agency for long-term success in regional initiatives and external partnerships.
• Supports strategy and readiness for major regional funding efforts (e.g., bonds, levies, measures)
• Builds and maintains relationships with external government partners (cities, counties, state, federal, Tribes, special districts), in coordination with agency staff
• Helps position Councilors and the agency as credible, trusted regional leaders
• Contributes to and maintains a dynamic stakeholder map/tracker (jurisdictions, community groups, business, advocacy, etc.)
• Communication & Constituent Relationship Management - understands and implements effective communication and relationship development.
• Prepares concise talking points for meetings, public engagement opportunities and immediate responses to constituent inquiries
• Translates complex policy into clear, compelling communication for internal and external audiences
• Provides advice to Council and staff regarding effective communication and outreach
• Proactively builds and maintains relationships with key stakeholders to support policy goals through Councilor schedule management and regular communication
• Cross-Departmental Leadership & Agency Navigation - breaks down silos and ensures accurate, timely, and coordinated information flow across the organization.
• Builds strong working relationships with department directors and subject matter experts
• Proactively closes communication gaps between Council Office, departments, and leadership
• Coordinates across departments to gather accurate, timely information
• Ensures department-led briefings are: Well-structured, Outcome-oriented, Supported by clear follow-through
• Councilor Effectiveness & Time Prioritization - maximizes the impact of Councilor time and attention by focusing on high-value activities.
• Acts as a strategic gatekeeper, not an administrative scheduler
• Evaluates meeting requests and provides clear recommendations (attend, delegate, decline)
• Monitors agendas and provides input to ensure Council meetings are an effective use of Council time and reflect the full lifecycle of policy decisions, including key decision points
• Considers when and how Councilor would prefer to receive information and make recommendations about when work sessions or individual briefings are needed.
• Governance, Authority & Accountability - ensures Council actions are aligned with legal authority, commitments, and organizational obligations.
• Maintains strong understanding of Council authority (code, IGAs, governing documents) and Council rules and procedures
• Tracks commitments, Council direction, and decisions across: Resolutions, Work sessions, Formal actions
• Advises Councilors on how to adhere to Council rules, Metro policies, and other elected official requirements as part of their official duties.
• Ensures all items tied to Council authority (e.g., code, IGAs, required actions) are timely, visible, and actionable

Benefits

• The full-salary range for this position is step 1: $86,988.86 to step 7: $116,52.71 annually.
• This position is not eligible for overtime and is not represented by a union.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level