Legislative Analyst (MA5): Government Relations/Olympia

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Washington, Employment Security Department, seeks a Legislative Analyst to join the Government Relations team. This role blends strategic analysis, policy evaluation, and clear communications for agency leadership and external partners.

Hybrid work with on-site presence in Olympia increases during the legislative session. You will transform complex bills into actionable recommendations, coordinate cross-divisional reviews, and support fiscal notes and bill analyses for unemployment

Qualifications

• Nine years of experience in two or more of: research, policy analysis, business analysis, leading projects, managing operations, policy development, supervising.
• Associate degree plus seven years in two or more areas: research, policy analysis, business analysis, leading projects, managing operations, policy development, supervising.
• Bachelor’s degree plus five years in two or more areas: research, policy analysis, business analysis, leading projects, managing operations, policy development, supervising.
• Required equity competencies: ability to take action to learn and meet the needs of others.

Responsibilities

• Support content development of legislative reports reflecting executive leadership’s vision.
• Interpret results and prepare professional verbal, written and visual communications.
• Prepare written analysis to support government relations.
• Set project schedules with sources, SMEs, budget analysts and contributors.
• Lead agency review process ensuring timely deliverables and responses.

Skills

Change management

Communication

Operational planning

Organizational expertise

Facilitation

Initiative

Education

Associate degree in business/public administration/law/public health

Bachelor’s degree in business/public administration/law/public health

Bachelor’s degree + 5 years demonstrated experience

Job description

This role offers a flexible hybrid work arrangement, with occasional on-site required in Olympia. The need for on-site increases during legislative session.

The ideal candidate for this Legislative Analyst (Management Analyst 5) on our Government Relations team is a strategic, highly analytical professional with legislative, policy and program analysis experience in complex internal and external operational environments.

This role requires exceptional research, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate proposed legislation, identify operational fiscal impacts and develop well-supported recommendations for agency leadership.

The successful candidate excels at transforming complex information into clear, concise and actionable communications for a variety of audiences. A strong collaborator and project manager, the ideal candidate builds effective relationships across divisions, facilitates consensus among stakeholders and champions plain-language principles to ensure all communications are accurate, accessible and impactful.

This position supports the Government Relations (GR) Office and Executive Leadership Team (ELT) in implementing the agency’s strategic goals and operational objectives. The Legislative Analyst supports the GR team as the primary resource for delivering high-quality government relations materials for all agency programs and services including unemployment insurance, workforce services, paid family and medical leave, WA Cares and labor market information.

Duties may include:

• Supporting content development of legislative reports that reflect executive leadership’s vision for reports and telling the agency’s story consistently across reports.
• Interpreting results and preparing professional verbal, written and visual communications.
• Preparing written analysis to support government relations.
• Setting project schedules for sources, subject matter experts, budget analysts and other contributors to allow time for thoughtfully completing agency review prior to publishing.
• Leading the agency review process to ensure all report requirements are gathered and time-sensitive reviews and responses completed. Ensuring deliverables are submitted by deadline and the agency addresses follow-up questions or additional information inquiries.
• Analyzing, reviewing and supporting development of proposed legislation and initiatives for agency programs and divisions.
• Coordinating policy analysis of legislation impacting agency programs; drafting bill analyses; editing and overseeing bill analyses prepared by others; using agency review tools to identify and consider potential impacts to communities; gathering and providing data for the development of fiscal notes; mentoring agency staff in bill analyses.

Qualifying candidates will meet one of the following criteria options:

Option 1: Nine (9) years of experience in two or more of the following areas:

• Conducting research.
• Analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations.
• Conducting business analysis and developing requirements.
• Leading business projects.
• Managing business operations.
• Business policy development.
• Supervising.

Option 2: Associates degree in business administration, public administration, law, public health, health administration, or a related field AND Seven (7) years of experience in two or more of the following areas:

• Conducting research.
• Analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations.
• Conducting business analysis and developing requirements.
• Leading business projects.
• Managing business operations.
• Business policy development.
• Supervising.

Option 3: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, law, public health, health administration, or a related field AND Five (5) years of demonstrated experience in two or more of the following areas:

• Conducting research.
• Analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations.
• Conducting business analysis and developing requirements.
• Leading business projects.Managing business operations.
• Business policy development.
• Supervising.

The required experience includes:

• Change Management Skills: Ability to implement sustainable improvements.
• Communication Skills: Proficiency in presenting recommendations effectively to leadership.
• Operational Planning Skills: Proficiency in executing strategic business plans.
• Organizational Expertise: Ability to manage plan implementation effectively.
• Facilitation Expertise: Ability to foster collaboration across diverse groups.
• Initiative: Proficiency in managing diverse responsibilities effectively.

Required equity competencies:

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, law, public health, health administration, or a related field AND five years (5) of demonstrated experience in two or more of the following areas:

• Content development publishing reports.
• Analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations.
• Conducting complex research.
• Leading projects.
• Managing operations.
• Policy development.
• Organizational and Political Awareness: Ability to use knowledge and understanding of the organizational and political climate to make decisions and take actions that satisfy diverse interests and contribute effectively to organizational goals.
• Advanced skills in use of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Power point and Outlook.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Paid Family Medical and Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check.

Why work with us?

Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others, and are at the core of who we are. We value Access, Love, Belonging, Equity, and Stewardship. We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities. Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.

Opportunity for All

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Lydia White or at 360-819-6996 or the Talent Acquisition Team, prior to the position closing. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact [e-mail] or [phone] or toll free [phone], Washington Relay 711.

This recruitment may be used to fill additional agency-wide positions in accordance with Article 4 of the WFSE Collective Bargaining Agreement.

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