Legislative Intern - District 3

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

The Office of King County Councilmember Sarah Perry is seeking a Legislative Intern to support District 3 staff. You will assist in legislative research, memo drafting, constituent outreach, and attend hearings and meetings.

This paid, non-exempt internship offers 12–15 hours per week with a hybrid in-office/remote schedule in Seattle, beginning January 2027. Strong writing and research skills are essential; prior political experience is not required.

Qualifications

• College student, recent graduate, or candidate with comparable experience, with a strong interest in public service, legislative policy work, and local government
• Excellent writing abilities (clear, professional, error-free writing) and verbal communication skills
• Analytical and research skills, especially in summarizing complex information
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills in working with both colleagues and the public
• Ability to complete work on a timeline while maintaining accuracy and quality
• Flexibility and positive attitude about working in a fast-paced environment and the ability to be flexible with changing demands
• Mature judgment and commitment to following all legislative ethics laws
• Prior political experience or political science background is not necessary
• Availability to work a hybrid schedule of 12 to 15 hours/week, with a preference for in-office work on Mondays, Tuesdays, and/or Wednesdays

Responsibilities

• Assist the Chief of Staff in the daily operations and administrative tasks of the District 3 Team and the King County Council
• Attend committee hearings and legislative meetings
• Conduct legislative research and summarize issues into concise policy memos and recommendations
• Draft letters, resolutions, and talking points
• Correspond with constituents, lobbyists, and state agencies via phone, email, and meetings and build relationships with both internal and external stakeholders
• Assist constituents and resolve issues by triaging constituent emails and phone calls to the appropriate team member or agency, while tracking the outcomes of inquiries and ensuring they reach their logical conclusion/resolution
• Assist in management, deliberation, and outreach for District 3 grant programs
• Participate in policy and community meetings and events alongside Councilmember Perry and District 3 staff as needed

Skills

Strong writing

Verbal communication

Analytical thinking

Research skills

Interpersonal skills

Timeline management

Adaptability

Ethics awareness

Education

College student or recent graduate

Job description

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP

The Office of King County Councilmember Sarah Perry is seeking a passionate Legislative Intern! This is an opportunity for you to gain experience in local government while working alongside King County Councilmember Sarah Perry and the District 3 staff. Through this role, you will gain experience in legislative research, constituent outreach and response, policy research, preparation, and memo writing, preparing materials to communicate with District 3 residents, and attending events and meetings as needed with Councilmember Perry and staff.

ABOUT KING COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3

Councilmember Sarah Perry represents King County Council District 3, including 75,000 unincorporated residents, as well as residents in the cities and surrounding areas of Issaquah, Sammamish, Redmond, Woodinville, Bothell, Duvall, Carnation, Fall City, Preston, Snoqualmie, North Bend, Snoqualmie Pass, Stevens Pass, and Skykomish.

ABOUT THE KING COUNTY COUNCIL

The Metropolitan King County Council oversees the most populous county in Washington State. With over 2.25 million residents, King County is the 13th largest county in the United States. King County provides an array of regional services, including public health, Metro transit, wastewater treatment, solid waste, community and human services, and criminal justice and is the local government for the roughly 250,000 people living in unincorporated areas of the County.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

• Assist the Chief of Staff in the daily operations and administrative tasks of the District 3 Team and the King County Council
• Attend committee hearings and legislative meetings
• Conduct legislative research and summarize issues into concise policy memos and recommendations
• Draft letters, resolutions, and talking points
• Correspond with constituents, lobbyists, and state agencies via phone, email, and meetings and build relationships with both internal and external stakeholders
• Assist constituents and resolve issues by triaging constituent emails and phone calls to the appropriate team member or agency, while tracking the outcomes of inquiries and ensuring they reach their logical conclusion/resolution
• Assist in management, deliberation, and outreach for District 3 grant programs
• Participate in policy and community meetings and events alongside Councilmember Perry and District 3 staff as needed

• College student, recent graduate, or candidate with comparable experience, with a strong interest in public service, legislative policy work, and local government
• Excellent writing abilities (clear, professional, error-free writing) and verbal communication skills
• Analytical and research skills, especially in summarizing complex information
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills in working with both colleagues and the public
• Ability to complete work on a timeline while maintaining accuracy and quality
• Flexibility and positive attitude about working in a fast-paced environment and the ability to be flexible with changing demands
• Mature judgment and commitment to following all legislative ethics laws
• Prior political experience or political science background is not necessary
• Availability to work a hybrid schedule of 12 to 15 hours/week, with a preference for in-office work on Mondays, Tuesdays, and/or Wednesdays

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.

King County Council is committed to upholding and promoting equal opportunity in employment. We encourage people of all backgrounds, cultures and religions to apply, including veterans, people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities. We believe a diverse workforce is a strong workforce.

This position is non-exempt from provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is therefore overtime eligible. This position is not represented. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

ANTICIPATED TIME COMMITMENT AND SUPERVISION:

12 to 15 hours per week for 6 months, beginning in January 2027. Work will be done both in the office (King County Courthouse in Seattle) and remotely, along with attending events/meetings with the Councilmember. The intern will report directly to District 3 Chief of Staff, Libby Hollingshead, and will work closely with the rest of the team.

APPLICATION MATERIALS REQUIRED:

• A completed King County Application is required
• Cover Letter highlighting what makes you qualified for this position (PDF)
• Resume (PDF)
• List of three professional references, including email, phone number, and relationship to you

NOTE: Failure to submit all required forms and materials may prohibit further consideration