Council Policy Analyst

City of Richmond; Richmond (VA); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A municipal government is seeking a Management Analyst, Principal (Council Policy Analyst) to support Richmond City Council with public policy and budget development. This role involves analyzing proposed legislation, conducting research, and making recommendations on policy initiatives. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in a related field and five years of professional experience, preferably in municipal government. A hybrid work schedule may be available.

Qualifications

• Five years of journey-level professional experience in management or policy analysis.
• Experience working in a municipal government is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Analyzing legislative and budgetary matters presented to the City Council.
• Conducting research and analyzing effects of policies.
• Identifying problems and proposing solutions.

Skills

Budget preparation and analysis

Public policy preparation and analysis

Microsoft Office Suite

Public speaking

Interpersonal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or public administration

Master's degree in public policy or administration

Juris Doctor

Job description

The Richmond City Council Office of the Council Chief of Staff is seeking highly qualified candidates for consideration to fill the position of Management Analyst, Principal (Council Policy Analyst). The incumbent is responsible for providing support to Richmond City Council relative to the focus areas of public policy and budget development. To be successful in this role, the incumbent should have a skillful command and expertise of navigating the operations of a municipal government with the expectation they will be intricate in shaping policy and evaluating the effectiveness of programs.

Responsibilities may include identifying policy and budgetary issues requiring action by City Council. This may include preparing narrative summaries and analyses of legislation and budget. The ability to conduct extensive research and drafting new legislation are imperative deliverables in this role. The incumbent must be secure in their abilities in meeting with and presenting to members of the City Council, officials of the Mayoral administration, constituents, and external stakeholders.

Additional responsibilities include performing advanced-level duties in the preparation, analysis, and delivery of budgetary documents and fiscal reports and making appropriate recommendations. They will provide professional staff assistance and analysis to the City Council, individual Council Members and the Chief of Staff regarding policy and budgetary issues; research, analyze and develop budget and policy proposals for Citywide issues; determine operational feasibility and accuracy of various programs brought to the Council; serve as staff liaison to a variety of boards and commissions; and provide highly responsible and complex administrative support.

**SPECIAL REQUIREMENT**

A résumé and cover letter must accompany your complete application. Applications submitted without these requirements will not be considered.

**This position is unclassified. Therefore, the incumbent serves at the will of the Appointing Authority.**

A hybrid work schedule to include on-site attendance in combination with remote work
arrangements may be considered upon hire.

• Analyzing proposed legislative and budgetary matters presented to the City Council

• Conducting research, analyzing the effects and impacts, and providing recommendations regarding policy initiatives

• Identifying hidden problems and evaluating the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of policies

• Identifying current or impending problems, proposing viable solutions, and evaluating alternative solutions

• Collaborating with the Mayoral administration, the Office of the City Attorney, and relevant external organizations

• Formulating policy and budget recommendations including drafting questions for use in Standing Committee meetings.

• Monitoring the status of budget proposals and legislation as they move through the legislative process

• Supporting members of City Council in drafting new legislation and researching budget and policy topics of interest

• Providing staff support to assigned committees, commissions and boards. Coordinating meetings, organizing the agenda, identifying and confirming speakers, and drafting post-meeting summaries

• Attend Board and Commission meetings and deliver timely, accurate summaries to Council and Council Chief of Staff

• Assisting with the creation of budget and development of the budget preparation manual, related policies and procedures, and other related budgetary documents

• Assisting the Council Chief of Staff with conducting various surveys, research, data analyses, cost benefit analyses, and expenditure and revenue forecasting

• Actively keeping apprised of current budget trends, developments, codes, and statutes

• Monitoring, assessing, and reporting on business processes and budgetary activities, including developing, recommending, and implementing plans and programs for improvement of performance, quality, compliance, or efficiency of operations and services

• Acting as a subject matter expert exercising considerable initiative and independent judgment in identifying and resolving budgetary, fiscal and performance management issues

• Performing other related duties as assigned

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, or field related to assignment
• Five years of journey-level professional experience in area related to assignment, such as program/project management or management/policy/financial analysis
• Master's degree in business or public administration is preferred

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in public policy, business administration, or public administration
• Juris Doctor is highly preferred
• Specific experience working a municipal government

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• None required

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:TYPICAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: These are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.

Knowledge, Skill & Abilities or some combination of the following:

Budget preparation and analysis. Public policy preparation and analysis. Local politics, current issues and political trends. Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Legislative processes. Government finance. Community agencies and contacts. Case law. Skill in oral and written communication. Public speaking. Interpersonal communication. Ability to take initiative. Manage deadlines. Be professional and cordial in a political environment. Lead discussions and meetings. Develop work plans. Identify potential legal issues.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly talk; frequently finger, hear, see, and perform repetitive motions; and occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, and grasp. The working conditions may include environmental hazards. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.