Legislative Analyst (MA5): Government Relations/Olympia
State of Washington
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Job summary
State of Washington is seeking a Legislative Analyst (Management Analyst 5) to join the Government Relations team in Olympia. The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking with deep legislative and program analysis to evaluate proposals, assess fiscal impacts, and develop well‑supported recommendations for agency leadership.
The role emphasizes rigorous research, clear communication, and timely, data‑driven analysis.
Qualifications
- Nine (9) years of experience in two or more of: research; analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations; conducting business analysis and developing requirements; leading business projects; managing business operations; business policy development; supervising.
- Associate degree plus seven (7) years in two or more of: research; analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations; conducting business analysis and developing requirements; leading business projects; managing business operations; business policy development; supervising.
- Bachelor’s degree plus five (5) years in two or more of: research; analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations; conducting business analysis and developing requirements; leading business projects; managing business operations; business policy development; supervising.
- Required Equity Competencies: take action to learn and grow; take action to meet the needs of others.
Responsibilities
- Support the Government Relations Office and Executive Leadership Team in implementing the agency’s strategic goals and objectives.
- Deliver high‑quality government relations materials for unemployment insurance, workforce services, PFML, WA Cares, and labor market info.
- Develop legislative reports reflecting leadership’s vision and ensure consistency across reports.
- Prepare written analyses to support government relations and coordinate policy analysis of legislation impacting agency programs.
- Set project schedules with sources, SMEs, budget analysts and others to ensure timely reviews and publishing.
- Lead agency review processes to gather requirements and manage deadlines.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
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.
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.
- 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:
- 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.
- Associate 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The ability to take action to learn and grow.
- The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
- 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.
- Must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Paid Family Medical and Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check.
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.
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.
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.
Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.
Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.
Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.
Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Updated 01-07-2026
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