Placer County

Legislative & Governmental Affairs Coordinator (#11815)

$54.58-$68.18 Hourly / $9,460.53-$11,817.87 Monthly / $113,526.40-$141,814.40 Yearly

DEFINITION

(Unclassified)

To manage the County's governmental and legislative affairs programs; to act as a liaison between the County and state, federal, and local agencies or entities on matters of mutual interest requiring coordination; to act as a legislative spokesperson for the County; to develop and implement the County's local, regional, state, and federal legislative agenda; and to direct and perform a variety of responsible administrative processes and programs related to governmental and legislative activity.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is a single position classification that reports directly to the County Executive Officer, or designee, and is responsible for planning, directing, and implementing the County's governmental and legislative affairs programs and processes. The coordinator level recognizes positions that have overall responsibility for a program area within a department. 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from the County Executive Officer or designee. 

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Develop and implement the County's advocacy plan; advocate on legislative and regulatory issues through private meetings, coalition building, and public presentations to key stakeholders.
  • Oversee the legislative agenda and the County's policy strategy to achieve designated County legislative goals at both the state and federal levels.
  • Monitor legislative and other governmental activity on policies important to the County.
  • Manage, direct, and work with the County's federal and state lobbyists to execute legislative agenda and policy strategy. 
  • Develop, implement, and monitor the County’s legislative program budget.
  • Identify and track key legislation and testify on behalf of the County before the State Legislature and Congress.
  • Serve as the lead interface with state and federal governments; organize, manage, and execute outreach efforts and presentations to various stakeholders.
  • Build and strengthen the County's relationships with federal, state, and local stakeholders, trade associations, and business groups.
  • Identify new strategic legislative and regulatory partnerships with organizations that have mutual interests.
  • Actively coordinate governmental, departmental, interagency, administrative, commission, and community activities to promote and foster mutually beneficial and cooperative relations between the County and other organizations.
  • Conduct research and analysis of emerging issues of political and/or regulatory consequence to the County; provide information and recommendations regarding current and proposed legislation, regulations, and other local, regional, state, or national issues of importance to the County.
  • Draft position papers, briefing materials, technical documents, white papers, and presentation materials on relevant legislative and policy issues.
  • Facilitate communication between County departments, Board of Supervisors, and legislators regarding the impact of pending legislation and regulations; coordinate development and presentation of the County's position.
  • Develop and implement appropriate communication tools and materials for disseminating key messages, including briefs, frequently asked questions, letters, speaking points, brochures, articles, and presentations to the Board of Supervisors, elected officials, governmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
  • Assist in the development of a legislative strategy with state and federal policymakers.
  • Develop responses for and respond to media inquiries as needed.
  • Coordinate Countywide federal and state grant programs.
  • Represent the County and the County Executive Office to the public and governmental entities, commissions, agencies, and community or interagency groups in a positive and productive manner. 
  • Serve on the committees and/or boards of select organizations to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of key stakeholders and partners.
  • Develop and maintain effective working relationships with federal, state, and local legislators and staff; meet with elected officials, County staff, other agencies to address legislative issues related to County operations.
  • Prepare and present responses to questions, issues, or concerns related to assigned projects, programs, and specialty areas.  
  • Maintain awareness of, and participation in, external professional environment and resources to ensure the highest level of professional standards are applied to service delivery within the County Executive Office.
  • Oversee the work of outside lobbyists involved in coordinating governmental and legislative affairs on behalf of the County.
  • Build and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, other County employees, and the public using principles of effective customer service.
  • Perform special projects and duties as assigned by the Board and/or County Executive Officer.
  • Perform related duties as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is typically performed in an indoor office environment with controlled temperature conditions. Position may require travel to and from other locations in a variety of outdoor weather conditions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience and Training:
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical wat to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:
Two years of responsible analytical experience performing duties similar to a Senior Management Analyst with Placer County, or five years experience in governmental affairs, legislative representation, or public relations involving developing and implementing legislation and working with high-level officials and the public. 

Training:
Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in business or public administration, government, political science, law, public relations, or a related field. 

Required License or Certificate:
  • May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:
  • Specialized and designated areas of expertise, such as federal and state legislative and budgetary processes.
  • Principles and practices of leadership, motivation, team building, and conflict resolution.
  • Standard and accepted methods of writing requests for proposals, selecting consultants, and negotiating contracts.
  • Principles and practices of public administration and principles of organization, management, and staffing. 
  • Modern office procedures, methods, and standard office equipment including a computer and related computer equipment. 
  • Assigned computer software, including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database applications.
  • Oral and written communication skills.  
  • English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
  • Pertinent local, state, and federal laws, guidelines, regulations, and statutes.
  • Principles and practices of public finance, budgeting, and fiscal control.
  • Principles of training and evaluating performance.
  • Principles and practices of effective public speaking.
  • Principles and practices of leadership, motivation, team building, and conflict resolution.
  • Standard and accepted uses and applications of descriptive statistics, including measures of central tendency.
  • Standard and accepted modern research techniques, including the use of surveys and questionnaires.
  • Principles and techniques of administrative analysis, including workload measurement, workflow and layout, work simplification, and systems and procedure analysis.
  • Principles and practices of local government, including county administration, organization, programs, and functions.  
Ability to: 
  • Effectively represent the County's interests with legislative and governmental bodies.
  • Apply knowledge in a specific field/area to the needs of the County.
  • On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports, and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and problem solve operational and technical policies and procedures; recall and utilize a variety of information; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of tasks; focus on a single task for long periods of time.
  • On a continuous basis, sit at a desk or in meetings for long periods of time; intermittently twist, stoop, kneel, squat, and reach to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use a telephone, write, or use a keyboard to communicate through written means or enter/retrieve data from a computer; see with sufficient visual acuity to perform essential job functions; lift light weight.
  • Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of organizational goals.
  • Read, analyze, evaluate, and summarize written materials and statistical data, including reports, financial reports, and budgets.
  • Plan, review, and evaluate the work activities of consultants.
  • Understand, interpret, and apply complex laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
  • Obtain information through the interview process, successfully accomplish multiple assignments, and deal firmly and courteously with the public.
  • Determine effective research methods, compile data, and present in a form most likely to enhance understanding.
  • Prepare reports, statistical data, forms, questionnaires, and surveys.
  • Analyze situations and problems quickly and objectively, identify and apply alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement corrective action or recommendations in support of goals.
  • Interpret and apply pertinent local, state, and federal laws and regulations, including Civil Service rules.
  • Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Length of Probation:
This classification serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority and has no specific term and no right to continuous employment. 

Bargaining Unit:
Unclassified management
CLASS: 11815; EST: 1/25/2022;