LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT TO COUNTY COUNCIL (NON-UNION APPOINTED) PAY GRADE 25

New-Castle-County-Government; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 43,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

New Castle County Government seeks a Legislative Assistant to support Council members. You will draft and review legislation, prepare fiscal notes, and assemble meeting packets and scripts.

You will also handle correspondence, research issues, and public relations tasks while coordinating with the Clerk of Council. Ideal candidates have a Bachelor’s in public/business administration and at least three years in administrative roles, preferably with legislative exposure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public or business administration or related field.
• At least three years of progressively responsible administrative experience.
• Experience in legislative/support roles preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist supervising Council member with legislation: analysis, drafting and fiscal notes.
• Prepare meeting packets, agendas, scripts and research issues related to pending legislation.
• Prepare correspondence, reports and minutes; handle mail and communications.
• Attend committee meetings; represent Council member in their absence when needed.
• Ensure FOIA compliance and maintain confidential records; support public relations tasks.
• Coordinate with Clerk of Council and track council legislation and budgets.

Skills

Office terminology

Written & verbal communication

Proofreading

Data processing terminal

Independent judgment

Public relations

Time management

Constituent communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in public/business administration

Three years admin experience

Tools

Personal computer

Data processing terminal

Job description

All members of New Castle County Council staff are appointed, non-union, unclassified employees. Employees in this classification are not members of the classified service and are appointed "at will." Each appointment is for a specified period-of-time to be determined by the appointing Councilmember and does not extend past the end of the elected official's term (4-year term), unless re-elected.

Starting salary is not negotiable and may be eligible for merit increases each year upon receipt of a satisfactory performance evaluation, up to the maximum salary.

Preferred experience and training

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with coursework in public administration, public policy, political science, planning, leadership or a related field-or-considerable relevant training, education and experience, may be considered in lieu of a four-year degree.

New Castle County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

Performs a wide variety of legislative, research, administrative, clerical and public relations tasks for members of County Council and the Office of the Clerk of Council; does related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS

An employee in this class performs responsible and varied legislative, research, constituent, public relations, administrative and clerical work. Duties involve working with and for the supervising Council member(s), supporting the President and other members of Council as appropriate, and working with and for the Office of the Clerk of Council in completing the necessary support work required to fulfill the Council member(s) and Council’s duties. This work involves the exercise of judgment and initiative and the exercise of confidentiality in fulfilling duties to the Council and the public. The work is performed under the general supervision of the Office of the Clerk of Council and the supervising Council member(s).

EXAMPLES OF WORK

(Illustrative only)

• Generally functions as the legislative assistant to the supervising Council member(s), to include analysis, reviewing and correcting, as necessary, legislation sponsored by the supervising Council member(s), drafting legislation for the supervising Council member(s) as requested, obtaining fiscal notes for legislation sponsored by the supervising Council member(s), preparing meeting packets and scripts, researching issues related to pending legislation, and other duties requested by the supervising Council member(s) or as required by Council Rules, the County Council Employee Handbook, the Office of the Clerk of County Council and protocol in support of the legislative function;
• Prepares correspondence;
• Files documents and correspondence;
• Prepares printed material for distribution;
• Receives and processes mail and other communications;
• Answers telephone, electronic mail or other communications and provides general information in response to public or official inquiries;
• Fills in for front desk activities and for legislative assistants who are absent from the office as requested by the Office of the Clerk of Council;
• Prepares various reports, agendas, minutes or statements as necessary or requested;
• Prepares letters, memoranda, articles, minutes, resolutions and ordinances and amendments as required;
• Attends committee meetings and represents the Council member(s) in his/her/their absence on items relating to his or her or their district(s);
• Conducts preliminary review of Council member's(s') legislation for obvious typographical and grammatical errors, for match-up of Land Use titles with plans and other documents, and checks for obvious errors; corrects errors before providing legislation to the Office of the Clerk of Council for the agenda;
• Ensures that ordinances and resolutions sponsored by the Council member(s) are in proper form with a fiscal note and provided to the Office of the Clerk of Council by the specified deadline;
• Tracks all legislation of Council member(s) and coordinates scheduling of the same with the Office of the Clerk of Council;
• Performs follow-up work with County departments and constituents on all projects/legislation initiated by the Council member(s);
• May be required to transcribe from electronic equipment;
• Adheres to Freedom of Information Act requirements in preparing agendas and minutes for the Council member(s) and committees that he or she (or they) chairs or co-chairs;
• Maintains confidentiality of all work performed for the Council member(s) unless directed otherwise by the Council member(s);
• Coordinates Council member's website and social media presence relating to official duties. May be required to ensure Council's compliance with live streaming video and audio requirements in conjunction with the Clerk's Office;
• In conjunction with the Clerk's Office, monitors Council members district office budget, including the tracking of spending within the budget such as grants, office supplies, etc.;
• In conjunction with the Clerk's office, assists with the archiving of Council documents in accordance with the State of Delaware archiving policies and procedures;
• Promotes an ongoing attitude of dedication to excellent public service and ensures that external customers are provided with the highest quality of service;
• Operates a data processing terminal, personal computer and other related equipment in the course of the work;
• Performs duties related to the general Council office as directed by the Office of the Clerk of Council.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Thorough knowledge of office terminology, procedures and equipment; excellent written and verbal communications skills; ability to proofread and edit written materials; ability to operate a data processing terminal, personal computer and other related equipment; ability to understand and follow complex oral and written directions; ability to research and maintain complex records and documents and to prepare reports from such records, including policy analysis when requested; ability to make independent judgements with regard to office matters; ability to communicate courteously and effectively, both verbally and in writing; ability to deal with constituents in an appropriate manner and to transmit necessary information to the public, in person, by telephone, by electronic mail or otherwise; ability to understand and follow Freedom of Information Act requirements, Council Rules and the Council Handbook; ability to perform public relations tasks, and ability to pass a Class III County physical examination; excellent time management skills.

ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

At least three years of progressively responsible experience in an administrative support role and the possession of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with coursework in public or business administration or closely related field; or any equivalent combinations of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.