Deputy Officer, Intergovernmental Relations (Legislative)

City of Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

IMDiversity Inc. is seeking a Deputy Officer, Intergovernmental Relations (Legislative) in Austin to lead the legislative team and align strategies with City priorities. This role requires fast-paced decision making, staff time management, and collaboration across city departments.

The position involves directing daily operations, securing funding, and advocating the City’s agenda through testimony and outreach, with strong leadership and communication skills essential for success.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of legislative practices and procedures.
• Ability to summarize and evaluate factors relating legislation.
• Experience leading staff in a fast-paced government setting.

Responsibilities

• Directs the Intergovernmental Relations Office daily operations.
• Liaises with governmental agencies and builds relationships.
• Develops and advocates the City’s legislative agenda.
• Secures funding from federal and state sources.
• Provides oral and written testimony.

Skills

Legislative knowledge

Supervisory leadership

Policy analysis

Communication skills

Budget planning

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Deputy Officer, Intergovernmental Relations (Legislative)

locations

Austin Government Relations

time type

Full time

job requisition id

JR105220

About This Position

This position will manage the legislative team and ensure legislative strategies are aligned with the City of Austin legislative priorities. The Deputy Officer will work in a fast paced environment and have the ability to efficiently manage their time as well as staff time.

Job Description:

Purpose:

Directs the function and daily operation of the Intergovernmental Relations Office; liaises with other governmental agencies, building and maintaining relationships, and ensuring effective communication; secures funding sources and ensures passage of the City’s legislative agenda.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Responds to and resolves sensitive inquiries and complaints from both internal and external sources and provides solutions to complex problems and works to resolve difficult issues between involved parties including Council, City Executives, media and the general public.
• Researches and monitors legislative impact, consults with the City’s Legal Department, provides bill analysis, develops and advocates the City’s legislative agenda,
• Manages the preparation of operating budgets, the financial forecasts and business plan requirements and reports, including financial reports and performance measures reports.
• Develops and implements short-and-long-range plans, policies, procedures, and programs.
• Acts as Intergovernmental Relations Officer in their absence to include serving as official departmental representative to other City departments, City Manager’s Office, elected officials and outside agencies.
• Prepares business planning reports, memoranda, and correspondence on departmental policies and activities.
• Secures funding from federal and state appropriations.
• Develops City wide legislative programs and directs the filing of legislation and prepares recommendations for City Council approval.
• Provides oral and written testimony.
• Manages legislative lobbying team.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of legislative practices and procedures
• Knowledge of supervisory and management techniques and principles
• Knowledge of legislation tracking systems
• Knowledge of contract language, terms, conditions, etc.
• Skill in oral and written communication
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing
• Skill in using computers and related software
• Skill in legal analysis and impact
• Skill in planning and organizing
• Ability to accurately summarize and evaluate factors relating legislation
• Ability to negotiate
• Ability to coordinate with various departments
• Ability to evaluate political conditions and make appropriate recommendations
• Ability to give public presentations
• Ability to recommend procedural changes
• Ability to exercise good judgment, tact and diplomacy in all public dealings
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other city and government agency employees and the public

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university plus four (4) years of experience in a related field, of which two (2) years were in a management capacity

Licenses and Certifications Required:

None.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience formulating and executing legislative strategies within constrained or accelerated timelines.
• Proven leadership experience overseeing staff in a fast‑paced environment characterized by complex and evolving subject matter.
• Ability to rapidly reassess priorities and address urgent issues in a dynamic operational setting.
• Experience conveying complex or technical information in clear, concise, and easily understood terms for diverse audiences.
• The ability to travel to more than one work location