Senior Policy Advisor (WMS3)

State of Washington•Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

14h•Remote

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Commerce’s Government Affairs Division is hiring a Senior Policy Advisor to support the department’s legislative agenda and government affairs work. The division develops and executes legislative strategy, engaging with state legislators, their staff, the Governor’s Office, and constituents across the state. This role is part of a small team responsible for the department’s legislative and policy agenda, government affairs, and strategic initiatives across a broad range of budget, legislative, and policy issues affecting the agency’s more than 400 programs. The Senior Policy Advisor leads highly visible legislative, budgetary, and policy development and advises the division director and executive leadership on complex policy issues, initiatives, and strategic direction. The position works with the Governor’s Office and legislative members and staff, and independently builds working relationships with department staff, community organizations, local leaders, economic development and industry representatives, and policy, government, and academic organizations. The advisor represents the department in official meetings, legislative committees, rulemaking, and other boards, councils, or convenings. The role may be located anywhere in Washington State, with occasional travel to a Commerce office or in-state meetings and events. During the January-to-April legislative session, the advisor must work part-time in Olympia at the Commerce office and state capital. If selected, the employee must travel to pick up equipment and receive instruction.

Requirements

A combined total of nine years of qualifying professional experience and education; qualifying post-high-school education may substitute year for year for experience.
At least four years of experience gathering and analyzing legislative proposals, case law, regulations, policies, reports, and other data; interviewing or seeking advice from organizations, community members, stakeholders, or other interested people; building strategies for discussion, communications, and official comments with elected officials or staff; conducting technical research; leading complex projects across multiple departments; and analyzing and using complex data sets from varied sources and topics.
At least one year of experience developing facts and evidence to support policy development or recommendations; working with elected officials, government agencies, or community members to develop and implement plans or programs; identifying specific needs and goals that require funding; or researching grant opportunities from government agencies, private foundations, corporations, and nonprofit organizations.
Education may include coursework in public administration, law, economics, nonprofit management, or related fields.
Effective oral, written, and listening communication skills.
Current understanding of federal, state, and local policy development, the legislative process, public funding, and grant solicitation, with the ability to analyze data and policy.
Ability to take action to learn and grow, and to meet the needs of others.

Nice To Haves

Existing relationships with policymakers.
Strong interpersonal skills, including relationship-building, problem-solving, presentations and testimony, and teamwork focused on maintaining connections with elected officials, staff, agencies, and stakeholders.
PhD in public administration, law, economics, or a related field; or a bachelor’s degree and one year of progressively responsible professional experience in public policy development and/or grant seeking; or a master’s degree and two years of such experience; or a bachelor’s degree and three years of such experience.

Responsibilities

Lead complex policy development involving stakeholders with diverse or potentially conflicting interests, including in politically charged environments or when policy approaches are untried.
Anticipate department needs and opportunities and advise on policy direction, communications, and actions.
Advise agency executive leadership with recommendations, analysis, data, coordination, planning, and communication.
Evaluate and recommend courses of action to the director and/or executive management.
Analyze legislative proposals, develop recommendations on department positions, and work with others to advance bills and implementation.
Advise on and support development of department decision packages, agency request legislation, and fiscal notes on relevant proposals.
Develop or provide clear, accurate, engaging materials for specific audiences.
Collaborate on Government Affairs Division projects and agency-wide initiatives.
Conduct or lead timely research and presentation support for the director and executive leadership.
Gather and analyze data to identify trends, provide guidance, and develop narratives and graphics for leadership, stakeholders, and decision makers.
Connect with, participate in, or lead community engagement informed by environmental justice, Pro-Equity, Anti-Racism, or co-creation processes.
Use federal, state, local, and other data sets to understand and support policy issues.
Communicate with national and state organizations, policymakers and legislative or congressional staff, the Governor’s Office, the Office of Financial Management, advocacy and lobbying organizations, and media about policy and political impacts.
Represent the department in official meetings, legislative committees, rulemaking, and other committee boards, councils, or convenings.
During the state legislative session, work part-time in Olympia to meet with the Commerce team, legislators, and staff.