Legislative Operations Lead (MA5)
State of Washington
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission seeks a Legislative Operations Lead MA5 in the Policy and Legislative Affairs division. This expert role manages agency-wide legislative operations, coordinating across divisions, state agencies, and external stakeholders.
Hybrid work is available; residence in Washington is required. Moderate travel may be needed within state, with occasional outside-hours travel.
Qualifications
- Advanced ability to analyze complex legislative, regulatory, and organizational issues.
- Designs agency-wide management systems, workflows, and accountability mechanisms.
- Builds relationships with executive leadership, legislators, and partners.
- Takes accountability for outcomes and drives process improvements.
Responsibilities
- Owns and continuously improves the agency-wide legislative operating framework.
- Provides expert analysis and consultation on complex policy and regulatory issues.
- Represents executive management on initiatives and reports to leadership and stakeholders.
- Performs advanced management, policy, regulatory, and special-project work as assigned.
Skills
Education
Job description
Salary Consideration: Range 64, Step A ($78,504) – Step L ($102,996) annually.
The starting employment offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications. Typically Step M of the pay range is a longevity step.
This recruitment is open until October 28, 2026, at 11:59pm.
UTC reserves the right to make a hiring decision and/or choose to close or extend this recruitment at any given time.
Persons needing accommodation in the application process may contact the recruiter via telephone at (360) 664-1130 or email the UTC HR office at humanresources@utc.wa.gov. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Services at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is seeking to fill the role of one (1) Legislative Operations Lead Management Analyst 5 (MA5) in the Policy and Legislative Affairs division. The Legislative Operations Lead serves as the Commission’s expert-level lead for agency-wide legislative operations. This position owns the institutional systems that support the Commission’s legislative work across the full lifecycle—from legislative intake, assignment, analysis, fiscal-note coordination, and decision support through implementation tracking and statutory deliverables. The successful incumbent provides expert analysis, consultation, process design, and continuous improvement, on highly complex, multidimensional issues affecting agency-wide programs and policies.
Although this is a hybrid opportunity, the successful incumbent must reside within Washington state and must be available to report to the Lacey, Washington headquarters building when needed.
Moderate travel may be required, typically within the state and to conduct business at a utility headquarters. Occasionally, travel outside of the state may be required. Travel may occur outside of normal work hours.
is to protect the people of Washington by ensuring that investor-owned utility and transportation services are safe, equitable, available, reliable, and fairly priced.
is to strive to achieve equitable and fair outcomes as a regulator of utility and transportation services and prioritize inclusion and belonging in the workplace.
The UTC is continually recognized for its excellence and integrity as a regulatory agency, as we challenge the status quo and ourselves to ensure equitable outcomes for our customers and the people of Washington State.
We recognize that our employees are the key to the agency’s success. We are committed to our work but value balance with our personal lives. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth, and offers continuing learning opportunities, meaningful work, and a comprehensive benefits package. For more information about our benefits or working at UTC, please visit our website.
- UTC fosters an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, while striving to hire and retain a workforce from the communities we serve.
- We place importance on a healthy balance between personal and professional lives; offering flexible work schedules, wellness programs, and mobile/telework opportunities.
- Through the state, our employees (and their families) are offered options for medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance.
- We offer enrollment into the state retirement programs and a deferred compensation plan.
- Throughout a calendar year, employees receive a minimum of 14 days of vacation leave per year and 11 paid holidays and 1 personal holiday in addition to accruing sick leave.
- Respect - We treat every person and interaction with consideration and goodwill.
- Professionalism - We are committed to excellence in our work and conduct.
- Integrity - We do the right things for the right reasons - trusting others to do the same.
- Accountability - With courage, we hold ourselves and each other accountable for exhibiting respect, professionalism, and integrity.
Under administrative direction of the Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, the Legislative Operations Lead independently establishes the methods, management systems, standards, analytical approaches, work objectives, and procedures necessary to accomplish the commission’s legislative objectives and ensure the success of the legislative programs. In this role, the incumbent independently plans, designs, and carries out agency-wide legislative operations and implementation projects and represents executive management on assigned interagency and external initiatives. The Legislative Operations Lead establishes analytical and coordination methods and leads cross-functional and cross-agency work involving multiple divisions (Policy & Legislative, Regulatory Services, Administrative Law), agency leadership, other state agencies, the Governor’s Office, regulated companies, and external stakeholders. This role exercises substantial independent judgment in the agency process to develop policy options, recommendations, implementation approaches, workflow standards, and analytical products for decisions reserved to the Policy Director, Executive Director, Commissioners, or other authorized decision-makers.
- Serves as the expert-level owner of the Commission’s agency-wide legislative operating framework and independently design, establish, and continuously improve the systems, standards, controls, workflows, and accountability mechanisms used to execute legislative work and implementation.
- Provides agency-wide expert analysis and consultation on highly complex, multidimensional, and unprecedented legislative implementation, organizational, regulatory, and business-process issues.
- Represents executive management on assigned legislative-operations and implementation initiatives and provide expert consultation and complex reporting to executive leadership, Commissioners, governmental entities, and external organizations.
- Performs other advanced management, policy, regulatory, legislative, and special-project assignments consistent with the level and purpose of the position.
The commission values diverse career paths and recognizes that competencies may be acquired through a combination of education, training, certifications, research, volunteer service, lived experience, military service, professional practice, or other demonstrated accomplishments.
- Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, economics, political science, law, public policy, or a closely related field AND five years of progressively responsible professional experience conducting complex management, policy, legislative, regulatory, program, or organizational business process implementation and analysis. Qualifying experience must demonstrate extensive knowledge gained through research and experience sufficient to independently resolve highly complex, critical, or novel issues and provide specialized technical guidance. Additional qualifying professional experience may substitute for education year for year; relevant graduate education may substitute for a portion of the required experience consistent with agency classification practice.
- Legislative Analysis & Consultation - Demonstrated advanced ability to analyze, interpret, and provide recommendations on complex legislative, regulatory, and organizational issues. Applies expert judgment to resolve precedent-setting challenges and support executive decision-making.
- Process Design & Continuous Improvement - Designs, establishes, and continuously improves agency-wide management systems, workflows, and accountability mechanisms for legislative operations. Proactively identifies and addresses process gaps, risks, and inefficiencies, driving organizational change and improvement.
- Strategic Stakeholder Engagement & Communication - Builds and maintains credible relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including executive leadership, Commissioners, legislative staff, and partner agencies. Communicates complex information clearly and effectively, facilitates workshops, and represents executive management in sensitive or adversarial environments.
- Results Orientation & Accountability - Manages workload, prioritizes tasks, and ensures timely delivery of statutory, regulatory, and organizational requirements. Accepts personal accountability for outcomes, maintains performance visibility, and recommends corrective or preventive actions as needed.
- The ability to take action to learn and grow: Takes responsibility for knowing their own strengths and weaknesses and uses their learning to make government programs and processes more efficient and effective to serve all in Washington.
- The ability to take action to meet the needs of others: Flexible, adaptable, customer-service focused, and willing and able to empathetically respond to the unique needs of the people they work with and serve.
- Accountability
- DEI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment
- Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth
- Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships
- Inclusive Excellence & Allyship
- Measuring Success and Improvement
- Customer Focus
- Results Focus
- Communication Skills
- Adaptability/Flexibility
- Self-Development
- Continuous Process Improvement
One or a combination of the following:
- Demonstrated experience with Washington state or other legislature environments.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives or agency-wide process improvement.
- A graduate degree in public administration, economics, public policy, law, business administration, or a closely related discipline.
- This position is included in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
- RCW 80.01.020 limits the UTC's ability to employ any person who owns stock in any company the UTC regulates or is otherwise financially interested in such company. Such interests include those of an employee's spouse.
- UTC does not use E-Verify; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
www.utc.wa.gov, www.twitter.com/wautc and www.facebook.com/wautc
http://access.wa.gov
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.
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.
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.
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 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.
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.
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
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
Updated 01-07-2026
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