Legislative Affairs Assistant Job Details | State of Illinois

Illinois Department of Children & Family Services; Springfield (IL); Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedules

Remote work option

Job summary

Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services in Springfield, IL seeks a Legislative Affairs Assistant for the Office of Legislative Affairs. The Staff Assistant will handle sensitive duties, respond to inquiries from Congress and the General Assembly, and organize projects for the Chief.

The ideal candidate has a four-year college degree, two years of professional experience, and strong communication and research skills.

Qualifications

• Requires completion of four years of college (public or business administration preferred).
• Requires two years of professional experience in a public or private organization.

Responsibilities

• Serves as Legislative Affairs Assistant to the Chief of the Office of Legislative Affairs.
• Conducts studies and investigations of legislative issues concerning the agency's programs.
• Responds to inquiries from Congress, the Illinois General Assembly and other parties.
• Develops briefings for the Chief on issues affecting the agency.
• Plans and coordinates special projects for the Chief.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Research abilities

Public policy awareness

Education

Four-year college degree

Job description

Legislative Affairs Assistant

We continually strive for a workforce that reflects the growing diversity within the State of Illinois. A variety of employee backgrounds, perspectives, ideas and experiences are crucial to our ability to most effectively serve the public. Bilingual skills welcome

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

The State of Illinois is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Further, federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job, interview for a job, or for any other activity related to the hiring process. Examples of reasonable accommodation include, but are not limited to, making a change to the application process (if possible), providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.

To be provided a Reasonable Accommodation during the hiring process, you will need to provide a certification of disability from a physician, psychiatrist, school official or an Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor. Supporting documentation should be uploaded under My Documents → Additional Documents section for each application.

Any questions on Reasonable Accommodations can be directed to Central Management Services Disability Resource Center at [e-mail] or call [phone] for further information and to request or discuss an accommodation.

Sponsorship for Employment

The State of Illinois does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B visa status), nor is the State able to provide extensions of optional practical training (OPT) under the STEM-designated degree program for F-1 students. To be considered for permanent employment with the State of Illinois, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Disclosure of Salary Information

In compliance with the Illinois Equal Pay Act, 820 ILCS 112/1 et seq., the State does not seek, request, or require a job applicant's wage or salary history. Employment decisions are not made based on an applicant's wage or salary history. To that end, please do not include wage or salary information in your resume or other profile or application materials.

Location: Springfield, IL, US, 62704

Salary: Anticipated starting salary range $6,500 -$8,000 monthly

Job Type: Salaried

Category: Full Time

Number of Vacancies: 1

Bargaining Unit Code: None

Merit Comp Code: Confidential (Management Bill) Exclusion from RC028 Collective Bargaining Coverage

Work Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm

Anticipated Hybrid Work Schedule Availability: It is required that a person reports to the headquarters on this job position as necessary (could be weekly, monthly, or other schedule) dependent on operational need

Headquarter Location: 201 S Grand Ave E, Springfield, Illinois, 62704

Work County: Sangamon

Agency Contact: [e-mail]

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you're helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you're part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.

No matter what state career you're looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

Position Overview

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services is seeking to hire a motivated and courteous individual to serve as a Legislative Affairs Assistant for the Office of Legislative Affairs. The Staff Assistant will perform a variety of sensitive and controversial administrative duties to assist with the operations of the office. Additionally, this position will respond to inquiries from members of Congress, Illinois General Assembly and other parties along with organizing special projects for the manager.

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the legislative process, excellent communication and research skills, and keen interest in public policy and government affairs.

HFS values employees with different backgrounds, life experiences, and talents.

Essential Functions

• Serves as Legislative Affairs Assistant to the Chief of the Office of Legislative Affairs
• Conducts controversial and/or sensitive studies and investigations of legislative issues concerning the agency's programs
• Responds to a variety of sensitive and confidential inquiries from members of Congress, the Illinois General Assembly, recipients and/or their representatives, medical providers and the general public
• Serves as a management liaison for the Chief with department, Governor's Office, legislative, and Department of Central Management Services' staff and with other groups involved with the operations and activities of the agency
• Develops responses to constituent inquiries concerning agency programs and operations
• Plans, develops and organizes special projects for the Chief
• Compiles information and develops briefings for the Chief on issues affecting the agency
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college preferably with courses in public or business administration
• Requires two (2) years of professional experience in a public or private organization

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years of professional experience serving as a staff assistant working for executive level management
• Two (2) years of professional experience conducting special projects and evaluating existing and/or proposed programs
• Two (2) years of professional experience working for a public or private organization maintaining confidentiality and handling sensitive information with professionalism
• Two (2) years of professional experience serving as a liaison for executive level management in meetings
• Two (2) years of professional experience coordinating assignments for executive level management
• Two (2) years of professional experience responding to program and operational inquiries from agency staff, other agencies, and the public
• Two (2) years of professional experience working with internal and external stakeholders
• Two (2) years of professional experience utilizing verbal and written communication skills

Conditions of Employment

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history
• Requires the ability to utilize and maintain state issued equipment such as a laptop
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description

About the Agency

At the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), we value staff as our greatest asset. We work in a spirit of teamwork to help millions of Illinoisans access high quality healthcare and fulfill child support obligations to advance their physical, mental, and financial well-being. We provide healthcare coverage for children and adults through Medicaid and other medical programs, and we help ensure that children receive financial resources from both their parents through Child Support Services. The HFS Office of the Inspector General investigates, audits and reviews program activity to ensure the integrity of our programs is maintained.

HFS is committed to promoting and preserving a workplace culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome and value employees with different backgrounds, life experiences, and talents. It is the collective sum of our individual differences that provides a broad perspective, leading to greater innovation and achievement. In recruiting for our team, we recognize the unique contributions of each applicant regardless of culture, ethnicity, race, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, age, religion, disability, and sexual orientation. HFS is an equal opportunity employer.

Benefits Statement

• Monday-Friday work schedule
• Flexible work schedules are available in many program areas. (Remote work may be an option for certain positions.)
• Health, Life, Vision, and Dental Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Paid Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Deferred Compensation Program and other pre-tax benefit programs (Medical/Daycare)
• Employees earn (12) paid Sick Days annually.
• New Employees earn (10) paid Vacation Days their first year of service and can earn up to (25) paid Vacation Days annually.
• Employees earn (3) paid Personal Days annually.
• (13-14) paid holidays annually (based on start date)