ABOUT NCSL
Are you ready to join an organization with an extraordinary mission? The National Conference of State Legislatures offers careers where you can use your skills, knowledge and experience to truly make a difference. NCSL’s mission is purposeful—strengthening the legislative institution. From informing effective policies and promoting communication among state legislatures, to ensuring states have a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system, our team works in service of legislatures. And, with a commitment to constantly innovating all resources and services to meet the evolving needs of members, NCSL has earned the reputation as the nation’s most trusted bipartisan membership organization for legislators and legislative staff. Our success serving NCSL members relies on our team of passionate, dedicated professionals who work diligently to strengthen the legislative institution. Join our team and contribute to this unique, essential mission.
NCSL POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
JOB TITLE: Senior Policy Specialist – Child Welfare
PROGRAM: Children and Families
LOCATION: Denver
SALARY: $6,013/month
ABOUT NCSL:
Are you ready to join an organization with an extraordinary mission? The National Conference of State Legislatures offers careers where you can use your skills, knowledge and experience to truly make a difference. NCSL’s mission is purposeful – strengthening the legislative institution. From informing effective policies and promoting communication among state legislatures, to ensuring states have a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system, our team works in service of legislatures. And, with a commitment to constantly innovating all resources and services to meet the evolving needs of members, NCSL has earned the reputation as the nation’s most trusted bipartisan membership organization for legislators and legislative staff. Our success serving NCSL members relies on our team of passionate, dedicated professionals who work diligently to strengthen the legislative institution. Join our team and contribute to this unique, essential mission.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
NCSL’s Denver-based Children and Families Program seeks a senior policy specialist with expertise in child welfare policies and practices, and a deep understanding of upstream strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect. This position requires competence in policy research and analysis and must be able to summarize and describe policy issues, legislation and legislative trends. In addition, this position assists with planning and conducting educational events for legislators and legislative staff, monitoring and reporting on current events, and creating and updating online content. This position has frequent contact with legislators, legislative staff and other officials. Senior policy specialists operate largely in support of and at the direction of directors and associate directors but may have responsibility for assigned tasks. This position will report to an associate director of the Children and Families Program.
Applicants should have a background in public policy, human services, secondary research or political science. Professional experience in communications, public affairs or civic engagement is also desired. This position will be responsible for contributing to a culture of program innovation and excellence and ensuring NCSL’s work is completed in an objective, neutral and nonpartisan manner.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS:
- Maintains subject-matter expertise on one or more issues related to a specific subject area and assists legislators and legislative staff with their research and information needs.
- Anticipates emerging issues of importance to state legislatures and responds with research, analysis and training. Assists with the development of a plan to disseminate that work, including but not limited to technical assistance, webinars, meetings, web pages, reports, blogs and others.
- Conducts complex legislative research projects with an understanding of their political context and can provide substantive analysis and policy interpretations to legislators and legislative staff.
- Adept at research on federal, state and local actions that impact the work of legislatures, such as, executive and administrative actions and intergovernmental actions.
- Independently plans, organizes and conducts nonpartisan technical assistance programs, meetings and educational sessions at larger meetings.
- Creates substantive, engaging and interactive presentations or trainings for legislators, legislative staff and others on state or federal topics with the ability to respond to questions.
- May coordinate, manage and facilitate the work of a standing committee, task force, professional staff association, or subcommittees and maintains effective relations with key legislators and legislative staff involved as needed.
- May assist the director and/or associate directors of the Children and Families Program with fundraising and development of new projects, such as assisting with grant reporting and writing concept papers, grant applications and proposals.
- May assist with funder relations and completes high-quality, timely assigned project deliverables, under the direction of supervisor.
- Writes skillfully and with minimal need for editing for a full range of publications and participates in peer review editing of colleagues’ work as needed.
- Travels domestically for meetings, technical assistance and other project activities as needed.
- Performs other responsibilities as needed.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
May supervise one or two professional staff on an ongoing basis or serve as coordinator of a team of other professionals on a short-term project.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
This position is a mostly performed in an office environment with prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. The incumbent will utilize standard office equipment such as copy machines, laptops, printers, scanners, and smartphones. Travel by airplane including overnights and weekends required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
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. Responsibilities, expectations, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUCCESS:
- Bachelor's degree plus five years of work experience with state legislatures, government, public policy or other relevant field.
- Subject-specific expertise in assigned area.
- Strong writing, editing and presentation skills and the ability to communicate information clearly and credibly to a variety of audiences.
- Aptitude at working both collaboratively with others and independently.
- Proven ability to independently build and maintain relationships with legislators, legislative staff, national experts and others. May assist directors with funder relationships.
- Ability to work in a politically neutral manner and maintain confidentiality when required.
- Strong research and analysis skills, including accessing and assessing a variety of resources and research; synthesizing data and legislation; and analyzing and summarizing policy options and legislative activities.
- Strong organizational skills, including the ability to plan meetings and manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously. Ability to independently work under deadline pressure and adapt to changes in workload.
- Strong knowledge of state legislative and political processes and the separation of power between the branches of government.
- Ability to travel by air up to eight times per year, with most trips being 1-3 nights, as well as work extended hours, possibly evenings and weekends, usually associated with events/travel.
BENEFITS:
NCSL offers an outstanding benefits package including low-cost health, dental and vision coverage, a 401(a)-retirement plan with 10% employer contribution after 6 months and full vesting, life & disability insurance, 3-weeks paid vacation with 5+ years of paid full-time work experience, paid family leave, telework, pet insurance, discounted bus / train passes, in-office dry cleaning pick up, access to 24-hour fitness memberships, and more! Relocation assistance provided for out-of-state candidates.
TO APPLY:
Interested candidates should apply online and include a cover letter and resume highlighting skills and qualifications no later than August 6, 2021 by 5pm MST.
NCSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to developing a diverse, dynamic team and inclusive workplace. NCSL does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, status disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation.
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