Senior Policy Specialist

JOB TITLE: Senior Policy Specialist

PROGRAM: Environment, Energy & Transportation

LOCATION: Denver-Hybrid

SALARY: $80,412 annually

STATUS: Full-time

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 has a flexible remote work policy. Building and maintaining our organizational culture is critical and we do so by bringing staff together, in person, for four days each month. The remote work policy provides the freedom to work from anywhere with the requirement that staff travel on their own fare to the NCSL office once a month for team meetings and professional development.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

NCSL's Transportation Program is seeking a Senior Policy Specialist with expertise in traffic safety and transportation policy issues. This includes performing legislative research, analysis, writing and program planning. This person will assist with providing quality, unbiased information to state legislators and legislative staff through publications, legislative tracking, meetings and other efforts.

The Senior Policy Specialist will develop expertise, create written and in-person programming and answer information requests from state legislators, legislative staff and other policy stakeholders on traffic safety and transportation policy issues. Areas of focus will include alcohol and drug impaired driving, autonomous vehicles, distracted driving, child occupant safety, seat belt laws, auto insurance, driver's licensing and 9-1-1 laws and programs. They will also develop expertise and assist with other topics such as auto insurance, driver education, transportation technology and other traffic safety and transportation issues as assigned and needed.

The Senior Policy Specialist will track, compile and summarize legislation, research and write publications varying from a few paragraphs to multiple pages, develop meeting agendas, coordinate meeting logistics, create presentations and present to legislative committees and other stakeholders on areas of expertise. This professional position requires demonstrated competence in research, writing, communication, public policy and analytical skills.

This position will work as part of a small team of 3-4 staffers and works closely with legislators and legislative staff and supports their legislative work through high-quality, non-partisan comparative research. Expect to become a nationally recognized expert on many of your topics, and to be quoted in national media outlets and sought after for speaking engagements. There are multiple opportunities for growth, collaboration and to help chart the path of NCSL's research and services.

The Transportation Program is part of NCSL's Energy, Environment and Transportation (EET) team. The EET team is dynamic and enterprising, responsible for keeping state legislators and legislative staff apprised of state and federal policies in energy, environment, transportation and military and veteran's affairs. Join EET to deepen your knowledge and experience in transportation and traffic safety policy while contributing to a strong team and assisting state legislators and legislative staff nationwide. All of EET's work is nonpartisan and nonadvocacy. NCSL does not advocate for or against any state legislation. Our team is motivated, nonpartisan, fun and adaptable.

The position is non-advocacy and requires expertise in traffic safety and transportation policy research, analysis, writing, speaking to legislative audiences, program planning and development gained through progressively more complex and more in-depth work over several years. The position will require varying amounts of out-of-state travel to meetings and to individual states to provide technical assistance. The ideal candidate has traffic safety expertise, state legislative experience, can handle a diverse range of tasks on several projects that cover multiple traffic safety and transportation policy topics and can contribute to fundraising and grant management activities.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Maintain subject matter expertise on several traffic safety and transportation and use that expertise to assist legislators and legislative staff with their research and information needs.
• Anticipate emerging issues of importance to state legislatures and respond with balanced, non-partisan research and analysis. Assist with the development of a plan to disseminate that work, including but not limited to presentation, webinars, meetings, web pages and reports.
• Execute complex legislative research projects with an understanding of their political context and provide substantive analysis and policy interpretations to legislators and legislative staff.
• Write skillfully and with minimal need for editing for a full range of publications, as well as assist in peer review editing of colleagues' written work.
• Conduct research on federal, state and local actions that impact the work of legislatures, such as executive, administrative and intergovernmental actions.
• Independently plan, organize and conduct non-partisan technical assistance programs, meetings and educational sessions at NCSL and associated meetings.
• Create substantive, engaging and interactive presentations for legislators, legislative staff and others on state topics, as well as confidently respond to questions.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the Environment, Energy and Transportation Group and with other NCSL programs and external partners to develop and implement innovative proposals and projects.
• Will assist with fundraising and grant management duties, including identifying potential funders, grant writing, communications with funders and grant reporting.
• May assist with coordinating and facilitating the work of NCSL's Transportation standing committee and maintain effective relations with key legislators and legislative staff involved as needed.
• Will assist the Director and Associate Director of the program with fundraising and development of new projects, such as identifying prospective funders, writing concept papers, grant applications and proposals and assisting with grant reporting.
• Travel domestically for meetings, presentations and other project activities as needed.
• Performs other responsibilities as needed.

SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE:

Supervisor/Management 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- or longer-term.

THE WORK ENVIRONMENT: This full-time position is mostly performed in an office environment, on or off-site, with prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. NCSL provides a unique hybrid remote work policy with the requirement that staff travel on their own fare to the NCSL office once a month for team meetings and professional development. Employees routinely use standard office equipment such as laptops, printers, scanners, copy machines, and smartphones. Occasional travel by airplane, including overnights and weekends, is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUCCESS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree plus five years of work experience with state legislatures, government, public policy or another relevant field.
• Substantial knowledge and technical expertise or the acumen and interest to develop expertise in assigned policy areas, including alcohol and drug impaired driving, autonomous vehicles, distracted driving, child occupant safety, seat belt laws, auto insurance, 9-1-1 laws and programs and driver's licensing.
• Strong writing, editing and presentation skills and the ability to communicate information clearly and credibly to a variety of audiences.
• Adept at working both collaboratively and independently.
• Proven ability to independently build and maintain relationships with legislators, legislative staff, national experts and others. Will assist directors with funder relationships.
• Ability to work in a politically neutral manner and maintain confidentiality.
• 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, 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 5-10 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.

YOUR BENEFITS AT A GLANCE:

NCSL has a flexible remote work policy. Building and maintaining our organizational culture is critical and we do so by bringing staff together, in person, for four days each month. The remote work policy provides the freedom to work from anywhere with the requirement that staff travel on their own fare to the NCSL office once a month for team meetings and professional development. We are committed to offering a full range of other benefits for you and your eligible family members, including domestic partners.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. Our outstanding benefits include 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, generous time off plans and paid family leave, floating holidays, identity theft protection, employee assistance programs, pet insurance, paid time off to volunteer, and more! Relocation assistance provided for out-of-state candidates.

HOW TO JOIN OUR TEAM:

If you are a purpose-driven, dedicated professional looking to give as much as you get - submit your resume and cover letter by 11:59 PM MT, February 11, 2025 for best consideration. Learn more about working with NCSL by visiting our careers page: https://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/ncsl-careers.aspx. We are looking forward to receiving your application!

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.