Specialist, Public Policy

Greater Houston Partnership; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Greater Houston Partnership seeks a Specialist, Public Policy to coordinate local, state, and federal advocacy. You will track bills, analyze trends, and deliver timely insights to inform advocacy strategies.

You will work with policy advocates and the Senior Director to align priorities with programs, events, and engagement opportunities with members, policymakers, and coalitions. The ideal candidate is analytical, politically astute, relationship-oriented, and highly organized, with strong

Qualifications

• Strong written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Understanding of Houston region economic and social dynamics.
• Ability to translate goals into functional objectives.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with members, policymakers, and stakeholders.
• Support policy portfolios and align advocacy activities across the division.
• Lead local, state, and federal advocacy efforts.
• Track legislation, amendments, hearings, votes, and actions.
• Maintain an issue-tracking process with timely updates for leadership.
• Analyze legislative activity and polling data to identify trends.
• Develop dashboards and briefing materials for the Chief Policy Officer.
• Align policy priorities with programs, events, and engagement.
• Advise colleagues on policy development and advocacy strategies.
• Participate in coalitions, fly-ins, and legislative visits.

Skills

Policy advocacy

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Presentations

Interpersonal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Why the Partnership

When you join the Greater Houston Partnership, you get the opportunity to work with an organization helping guide the future of the Houston region. Our team of professionals work across multiple disciplines, including: Economic Development (Regional and International), Executive, Finance & Accounting, Marketing & Communications, Member Engagement, Public Policy, Regional Workforce Development, Research, Resources, and the Center for Houston’s Future.

The Greater Houston Partnership works to make Houston one of the best places to live, work and build a business. As the economic development organization for the region, the Partnership champions growth across 12 counties by bringing together business and civic‑minded leaders who are dedicated to the area’s long‑term success. Representing more than 900 member organizations and approximately one‑fifth of the region’s workforce, the Partnership is the place companies come together to make an impact.

We look forward to telling you more about the organization and helping determine if a career with the Partnership is right for you!

Today, We Are Looking For

The Specialist, Public Policy will coordinate the Greater Houston Partnership’s local, state, and federal advocacy efforts. The role will manage legislative bill and issue tracking, analyze policy trends and polling data, and provide timely insights to inform advocacy strategies.

Working closely with the division’s subject matter advocates and Senior Director of Policy Engagement, the Specialist will align policy priorities with programs, committees, events, communications, and member engagement opportunities. The role will also support policy advisory committees and build relationships with members, policymakers, coalitions, and community partners to advance issues that strengthen the Houston region’s growth and competitiveness.

The ideal candidate is analytical, politically astute, relationship‑oriented, and highly organized, with a strong understanding of legislative processes and the ability to move effectively between policy analysis, advocacy, and member engagement.

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

The following responsibilities are essential to job performance:

• Relentlessly build and maintain strong relationships with members, policymakers, elected officials, government staff, business organizations, nonprofit partners, and other stakeholders to advance the Partnership’s policy priorities.
• Work in close coordination with all Public Policy subject matter advocates to support their policy portfolios, identify cross‑cutting issues, and align advocacy activities across the division.
• Support advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels
• Lead legislative session bill tracking by monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on proposed legislation, amendments, hearings, votes, and other developments relevant to the Partnership’s priorities.
• Manage a comprehensive issue‑tracking process across local, state, and federal policy portfolios, ensuring division leadership and subject matter advocates have timely information on emerging issues, risks, opportunities, and required actions.
• Conduct frequent data analysis using legislative activity, economic indicators, member feedback, polling data, and other relevant sources to identify trends, inform advocacy strategies, and measure progress.
• Develop dashboards, reports, briefing materials, and other tools that clearly communicate advocacy activity, emerging developments, and policy outcomes to the Chief Policy Officer.
• Manage overall alignment between the Partnership’s policy priorities and its programs, events, committees, and member engagement activities.
• Leverage the Partnership’s Board of Directors, members, relationships, and brand to advance policy priorities and deliver tangible policy outcomes at all levels of government.
• Provide strategic guidance to Partnership colleagues across divisions on policy development, advocacy strategies, advisory committee priorities, programs, and related initiatives.
• Design and execute high‑impact advocacy strategies and develop or participate in coalitions that advance the Partnership’s policy objectives.
• Develop and implement advocacy strategies focused on issues that expand economic growth and opportunity throughout the Houston region.
• Monitor political, legislative, regulatory, and stakeholder dynamics and adapt advocacy strategies as circumstances and opportunities evolve.
• Align the Partnership’s advocacy objectives with the priorities of its Public Policy Advisory Committees and the strategic goals of Houston Next.
• Advise the Chief Policy Officer on policy developments and advocacy matters of importance to the CEO, Board of Directors, Partnership members, and Houston region.
• Assist with major advocacy initiatives, including federal fly‑ins, state advocacy days, legislative visits, fact‑finding missions, coalition activities, communications campaigns, and other special projects.
• Attend and participate in major events, coalition engagements, legislative hearings, panel discussions, and other opportunities to represent the Partnership and its policy priorities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong written and interpersonal communications skills (must be comfortable developing presentations and presenting to and/or interacting with outside entities).
• Demonstrated ability to work well in fast‑paced, deadline‑oriented environment with limited supervision.
• Understanding of the unique economic and social challenges facing the Houston region.
• Knowledge of translating major goals into functional objectives.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the overall departmental function.

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Required Experience

2-3 years’ experience in government, public policy, political campaigns, legislative advocacy, and/or government affairs is required.

Physical Requirements

• Good vision and hearing acuity (with adaptive aids if necessary).
• Manual dexterity and skillful use of computer keyboard.
• Physical exertion includes bending, pushing, standing, and walking. Must be able to move or lift approximately 25 pounds on occasion.

Mental and Aptitude Requirements

• Job requires the ability to hear, see, and talk; analytical, conceptual, problem‑solving, planning, and decision‑making skills.

Safety Requirements

• Adhere to the office safety policies and procedures.

The Greater Houston Partnership is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants and employees are treated without regard to such factors as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other reason prohibited by law.