Tax Policy Manager, Legislative Coordinator (Tax Policy Specialist 4)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Tumwater, WA

23h•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Revenue's Research and Fiscal Analysis (RFA) Division is seeking a Tax Policy Manager, Legislative Coordinator (Tax Policy Specialist 4). This role is responsible for coordinating tax and economic impact studies of major importance for the governor, legislature, agency, and other state agencies, including the implementation, direction, and review of all aspects of a study. The position also assigns, reviews, and publishes fiscal notes for the department. The Department of Revenue maintains a tax research section, and the Research and Fiscal Analysis division continuously observes and investigates the effectiveness and adequacy of revenue laws to assist the Governor, the Legislature, and the Director in revenue estimation, tax measure analysis, and determining the administrative feasibility of proposed tax legislation. The department values diverse perspectives and offers a remarkable work-life balance with supportive leadership and talented colleagues. They foster a culture of respect, promoting a professional family that maximizes potential through opportunity.

Requirements

Developing experience to interpret and analyze complex language and apply quantitative methods.
Experience managing or leading projects, including coordinating participants, developing project plans, overseeing deliverables, and achieving consensus solutions.
Progressive experience supervising, mentoring, or developing professional staff, demonstrated through prior roles evaluating performance, coaching lower-level staff, or leading teams.
Experience in communicating complex concepts clearly and concisely to diverse audiences—including executive leadership, legislators, or stakeholders—supported by experience preparing reports, correspondence, or technical briefings.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively under time pressure, including meeting tight deadlines and managing competing high-priority assignments, gained through experience in fast-paced settings.
Progressive experience collaborating with internal and external stakeholders—such as agency executives, legislative staff, local governments, or policy advisors—to resolve technical issues and provide objective consultation.
Proven ability to prepare and oversee the production of complex deliverables—including reports, graphics, estimates, or supporting documentation—through experience managing workflows and ensuring accuracy and compliance with standards.
A bachelor's degree in economics, statistics, taxation, public finance, accounting, mathematics, data science, data analytics, or other closely allied field AND six years of professional experience in economics, statistical analysis, public finance, or tax administration OR A master’s degree in economics, taxation, public administration, public finance, statistics, accounting, mathematics, data analysis, or a closely allied field will substitute for one year of experience OR A PhD degree in economics, taxation, public administration, public finance, statistics, accounting, mathematics, data analysis, or a closely allied field will substitute for two years of experience.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated skill in conducting complex tax, economic, or fiscal research using statistical programming tools such as SAS, SQL, STATA, R, Python, or similar applications.
Demonstrated ability to interpret and analyze complex legislative language and apply advanced quantitative methods—gained through progressive experience preparing fiscal notes, policy analyses, or economic impact studies.
Proven ability to manage and lead multidisciplinary analytical projects, including coordinating participants, overseeing deliverables, and achieving consensus solutions, supported by experience leading research, economic, or policy-focused initiatives.
Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and local tax policy—acquired through progressively responsible experience in tax administration, economic analysis, or quantitative tax research—sufficient to advise on implications and operational impacts.
Experience with and understanding of Washington State’s tax structure and the department’s data.
Proven ability to manage or lead analytical projects, including coordinating participants, developing project plans, overseeing deliverables, and achieving consensus solutions, supported by experience leading research, economic, or policy-focused initiatives.

Responsibilities

Conduct tax and economic impact studies of major importance for the governor, legislature, agency, and other state agencies, including the implementation, direction, and review of all aspects of a study.
Supervise staff, including coordinating the division’s work products, mentoring, and coaching lower-level staff.
Coordinate and review the work of analysts to complete fiscal notes, fiscal estimates, data requests, legislative reports, and other assignments.
Provide fiscal, quantitative, and economic information, and formulate policy recommendations for the efficient administration of taxes and sound tax policy.
Build relationships and collaborate with all levels of agency staff as well as external stakeholders, the Governor's office, the Legislature, and legislative staff.
Act as an expert in a tax area, making recommendations throughout the decision-making process.
Effectively communicate complex information to diverse audiences in a public and private forum.