Policy Analyst

City of West Jordan•West Jordan, UT

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the general administrative direction of the City Council Office Director, provide the Council Office with highly responsible constituent public relations support. Responsible for performing complex analytical work in support of the City Council and providing coordination and assistance to resolve project issues for Council Members, City officials, citizens, other government agencies, various advisory groups, developers, and landowners. Assignments typically involve performing policy development, analysis, and review of budget and other issues. Responsibilities include developing work plans; gathering, organizing, analyzing, and verifying information; developing oral and written presentations which identify issues and recommend options to proposed policy or legislation; and working with members of the administration and the public.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, political science, urban planning, or related field. Master's degree in business or public administration, political science, urban planning, or related field is desired. Education and experience may be substituted on a year for year basis.
Experience: Four years' years of progressively responsible experience in planning and public policy analysis. Experience in state and/or local government processes, and community organizing/planning strongly preferred. Experience with researching and understanding Utah state law, federal law, and West Jordan City Code. Prior experience in policy analysis preferred.
Certifications/Licenses: Valid Utah Driver's License
Knowledge of: Current private and public sector administration methods: statutory context of municipal governance. General office management principles.
Advanced word processing functions including text editing, formatting, merge, print, and sort
City policies and procedures, including standard report
Mathematical functions including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, and
Proper English usage, spelling, grammar, and
Safe driving principles and
Skill with: Modern office organization principles, practices, and procedures including hard copy and electronic record keeping methods, scheduling, effective work tracking methods, and business letter writing.
Modern communication methods including phone, email, texting, social media platforms, etc.
Ability to: Maintain collaborative relationships with council members, city administration, departments, and staff.
Interact regularly with elected persons and city administration , requiring tact and judgement requiring well-developed political instinct and sense of strategy and timing.
Contact city management and the public presenting data that may influence important decisions.
Stay calm and composed while working under pressure and impending deadlines.
Influence others to obtain desired results using sound judgement to avoid friction.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, executives, and the public.
Apply general problem solving and analytical principles to effectively deal with various situations; prioritize tasks.
Relate well with a variety of persons under varying circumstances.
Analyze a situation and make sound recommendations and presentations.

Responsibilities

Assist council members in the development of constituent correspondence; address and monitor citizen requests for service regarding a wide range of municipal activities and respond to Council Member requests for assistance in handling a variety of public and constituent issues.
Assist in preparation of communication pieces and social media posts related to Council meetings, council member town halls, community activities and special projects.
Confer with representatives of other governmental agencies, businesses, professional organizations, citizens groups, and the public generally.
Perform research projects for individual Council Members, the Council as a whole, and Council staff as requested; conduct research for special projects to analyze public policy and legislation proposals, conduct investigations and analytical studies, and compile reports, manuals, and publications on a wide variety of special projects and activities assigned by the Council Office
Work closely with other Council staff to resolve problems, study policy needs, and recommend policy and procedure changes.
Provide direct staff support to council members in the form of research, special projects, analysis, policy and procedure development, problem resolution and constituent outreach
Serve as the Council Office liaison on certain committees, task forces or commissions the Council may form or be involved with as requested; provide staff support as directed for the committees, task forces or commissions.
Review and analyze Administration-prepared multiyear business and operating
Attend and assist with City Council
Prepare and present memorandums, reports, graphs, charts, slides, pictures and video during city council and other meetings.
Identify, research, and analyze public policy proposals and legislation; prepare staff reports for Council consideration, i.e., staff reports review policy implications and identify ties to policy directions/statements previously made by the City Council and/or the City (e.g., multiyear plans, legislative intent statements, etc.); responds to Council Member requests for policy/program information, analysis, and proposals.
Evaluate alternative courses of action and make recommendations to the Council Office Director and/or City Council Members.
Review inter-local cooperation agreements, resolutions, ordinances, and council packets for completeness prior to being presented for Council approval as assigned.
May represent the Council Office and/or City Council Members as
Staff support for the West Jordan Youth Council
Perform other related duties and responsibilities as