Legislative Advisor

State of Colorado; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Sick leave

11 paid holidays

Health insurance

Dental and vision plans

Retirement plans

Transit EcoPass

Professional development

Job summary

State of Colorado’s Governor’s Office, specifically the OEDIT, seeks a Legislative Advisor to help coordinate and advance legislative priorities with the General Assembly. The role supports policy development, bill drafting, and fiscal note analyses, while coordinating internal and external stakeholders.

Key duties include preparing materials, briefing lawmakers, and managing calendar logistics for the legislative team.

Qualifications

• 1+ years in a legislative or policy role.
• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, economics, political science, rhetoric, or related field.
• Equivalent combination of education and/or proven experience may substitute for the degree requirement.

Responsibilities

• Draft advocacy materials related to budget and legislative agendas, including fact sheets, talking points, and hearing materials.
• Draft educational materials related to programs, services, and resources, including concept proposals, talking points, and fact sheets.
• Lobby and present on behalf of OEDIT to members of the General Assembly.
• Maintain scheduling for the entire legislative team.
• Draft budget materials, including budget requests and proposals.
• Provide insight to internal and external partners on agency capabilities and mission.
• Support the monitoring and implementation of legislation and other non-legislated programs.
• Coordinate and assist in preparing fiscal note analyses and related documents.

Skills

Policy analysis

Legislative affairs

Stakeholder management

Oral and written communications

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration or related field

Job description

DEPARTMENT:

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade (“OEDIT”) was created to foster a positive business climate that encourages quality economic development through the support of local and regional economic development activities throughout the State of Colorado. A comprehensive slate of programs within OEDIT’s divisions work together to offer economic development services for all Colorado businesses – new and expanding, traditional and emerging, small and large – including retention programs to ensure continued competitiveness of Colorado’s economic base, and job training to keep Colorado’s workforce the best in the nation.

POSITION:

The following provides a high-level job definition. It is not intended to provide a comprehensive or exclusive list of job duties. As such, job duties and/or responsibilities within the context of this job requisition may change at the discretion of the employee’s direct supervisor.

The Legislative Advisor position is located in the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and reports to the Legislative Liaison. This position works with and supports the Legislative Liaison in deploying effective coordination between OEDIT staff, the Governor’s Office, partner agencies, stakeholders, and the Colorado General Assembly on all legislative matters at the state level. This position will support the development of OEDIT’s legislative priorities and will help ensure that all deadlines are met to ensure successful advocacy.

This position serves as one of the contacts for legislators needing information about the Office. This position, in coordination with the Legislative Liaison, assists internal staff as they complete reports, information gathering, and other responses due to the General Assembly. As directed, this position will support the coordination of all OEDIT boards and commissions appointments, and prepare appropriate members for appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate. The position will work with the Legislative Liaison and OEDIT staff to assess the impact of proposed legislation and new law.

The Legislative Advisor will support the work of OEDIT’s legislative team by leading a legislative policy portfolio within OEDIT’s broader legislative and budget agenda. This responsibility will require the Legislative Advisor – with the support of the Legislative Liaison - to secure bill sponsors for legislation, develop bills, draft materials including fact sheets for bills, ensure appropriate engagement with internal and external stakeholders, counting votes for committee votes and floor votes, and other related responsibilities. Furthermore, with the support of the Legislative Liaison, this position will be responsible for managing the internal process for reviewing legislation introduced at the state legislature for any potential impacts to the agency, and therein develop any necessary analysis including policy position memos and fiscal note analysis.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Draft advocacy materials related to budget and legislative agendas, including but not limited to fact sheets, talking points, and hearing materials.

• Draft educational materials related to existing or proposed programs, services, and resources, including but not limited to concept proposals, talking points, and fact sheets.

• Lobby and present on behalf of OEDIT to members of the General Assembly

• Maintain scheduling for the entirety of the legislative team

• Draft budget materials, including but not limited to budget requests and proposals.

• Provide insight to internal and external partners on agency capabilities and mission.

• Support the monitoring and implementation of legislation and other non-legislated programs.

• Support the tracking and execution of all statutory reporting requirements, including collaboration with OEDIT’s MarComm team on curating the larger annual report

• Serve as OEDIT point of contact and coordinator on fiscal note responses and potential ballot initiative agency impacts

• Coordinate, and help facilitate, meetings with stakeholders, including businesses and economic development partners.

• Support the Legislative Liaison in deploying effective communications and community engagement strategies for legislative agenda and other OEDIT priorities.

• Coordinate, and help facilitate, educational meetings and events with legislators.

• Coordinate, and help facilitate, educational meetings and events with external partners and other governmental agencies.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• 1+ years of experience working in a legislative or policy related role.

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in public administration, economics, political science, rhetoric, or a field of study closely related to work and mission of OEDIT, and four years of full-time professional experience in one or more of the following:
  • Understanding of or interest in budgetary processes
  • Policy analysis
  • Economic analysis
  • Legislative services
  • Policy development and implementation
  • Public interest administration

• An equivalent combination of education and/or proven experience in comparable fields will be considered as a substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

This position requires a self-starter and problem-solver who has good judgment, the ability to work well with others, and a positive attitude. Candidates should have exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, strong oral and written communications skills, and problem-solving acumen, and they must demonstrate personal integrity, confidence, diplomacy, and flexibility. While substantive knowledge of economic development or OEDIT’s programs, services, and resources is not required, candidates should have a strong drive to learn and become proficient in communicating about all aspects of OEDIT’s work.

Salary Range:

$65,000 - $80,000 Annually

This position is considered non-classified, which means the position is not part of the Colorado State Personnel System. Therefore, the individual appointed to this position is considered at-will, and is not covered by the State Personnel Rules or the State Classification System. However, this position does come with the same benefits (retirement, insurance, etc.) as every other State employee, and with the same opportunities, pride and passion that comes with working for the great State of Colorado. Even though employment is at-will, non-classified positions have protections against discrimination and retaliation in state and federal employment laws. “At-will” employment means that either the employee or the State may terminate the employment relationship at any time for any reason or no reason, with or without notice or cause, as long as no federal or state law is violated.

A wide salary range is posted for this position and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience, education, certifications, and state seniority as compared to others doing substantially similar work. While all offers are compliant with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, there is no guarantee an offer will be at the top of the posted range based on the salary analysis.

Benefits

The State of Colorado/Office of the Governor offers generous benefits to full-time employees including:

• Annual leave accrued at 13.33 hours per month

• Sick leave accrued at 6.66 hours a month

• 11 paid holidays per year

• Medical plans - choice of Cigna or Kaiser; several plan options (including High Deductible Health Plan with HSA); most plans offered with significant state contribution towards premium

• Dental and vision plans

• Flexible spending accounts

• State-paid life insurance policy of $50,000

• Choice of 2 retirement plans (defined contribution or defined benefit) with generous state contribution

• Optional 401(k) and 457 plans for additional retirement savings

• State-paid short-term disability coverage

• Additional optional life and disability plans

• Access to the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program

• Membership opportunity with the Credit Union of Colorado

• RTD (transit) EcoPass

• Training and professional development

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

To learn more about the “State of Colorado For All”, visit our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion website.

ADAAA Accommodations

The Office of the Governor is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Staffing Coordinator, the Director of Human Resources: [e-mail]