NCSL is seeking an individual to direct and lead the NCSL Center on Legislative Strengthening in the Denver office. The Center researches legislative operations and provides support to state legislators and legislative staff in all 50 states and the territories on legislative institution issues. The Group Director is responsible for administering and directing all activities and personnel, determining research and program priorities, overseeing project budgets, and specifying and ensuring the quality of the work. The Group Director must have extensive knowledge and expertise in the history, function, operation and organization of state legislatures. In addition, Group Directors assist in raising, maintaining, and expanding external funding and operates within broad organizational policies and program goals under the supervision of a Division Director.
This position is grant-funded and is subject to reduction in percentage of time covered or elimination if grant funding becomes unavailable.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
- Supervises, plans, assigns, oversees and reviews the work of program staff involved in multiple projects or activities. Makes recommendations for personnel actions (e.g., hiring, salary, evaluations, promotions, dismissal).
- Establishes program priorities, develops budgets, allocates resources, and assigns staff to carry out program activities.
- Advises senior management on programmatic and administrative matters.
- Establishes and defines standards of quality in program activities and products and ensures that all standards, deadlines, and contract specifications are met.
- Possesses significant knowledge of state legislatures and is expected to be an expert on the operations of legislatures and legislative organization. Independently anticipates and interprets emerging institutional issues and assigns research, technical assistance or other appropriate program efforts in response.
- Manages, delegates or personally handles a wide range of policy research and writing tasks and reviews, edits, and critiques the substance and quality of publications and web documents produced by subordinate staff.
- Coordinates with other program units and other organizations to develop proposals and demonstration projects to carry out cross-cutting activities.
- Manages, delegates or personally handles the planning and implementation of complex meetings and technical assistance efforts, sometimes requiring sensitive political judgments, a high degree of responsiveness to constituents, and an understanding of NCSL.
- Maintains an extensive network of federal agency foundation, private sector, and interest group relationships with personal contacts at the highest level.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position has direct supervisory responsibilities of approximately 3 staff members.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as laptop computers, copy machines, scanners and smartphones.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, lift small objects up to 50 lbs., open filing cabinets and bend, stoop, or stand on a stool as necessary. Requires the ability to travel locally, regionally and nationally, including overnight and weekends.
OTHER DUTIES:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience and Education
- Bachelor's degree plus ten years of relevant and progressive work experience. The following work experience or some equivalent combination is preferred: four years of state policy or legislative experience, four years of professional experience in the assigned subject area, two years of project or research supervisory experience, and two years of management experience directing and allocating personnel and budgets in multiple projects or activities.
- Post-baccalaureate education is preferred, and up to three years of graduate education (i.e. master's degree, professional degree, or doctoral degree) may be substituted for the required work experience.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Excellence in personnel supervision and budget/project management.
- Substantial knowledge and expertise on the legislative institution.
- Substantial knowledge and understanding of state legislatures as well as excellence in working with legislators and legislative staff.
- Exceptional writing, public speaking, research, analytic and organizational skills.
- Skill and competence in managing multiple projects in a diverse environment.
- Able to maintain confidentiality and handle politically sensitive work.
BENEFITS:
NCSL offers an outstanding benefits package including low cost health, dental and vision coverage, a 401(a)-retirement plan with 10% contribution after 6 months and full vesting, life & disability insurance, 3-weeks paid vacation with 5+ years of paid full-time work experience, 35-hour work weeks, paid leave, in-office dry cleaning pick up, pet insurance, access to 24-hour fitness memberships, discounted bus / train passes, and more!
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