Legislative Deputy Director

Job Announcement

Along with the Legislative Director, coordinates information between Congressional and state delegation offices for analysis, testimony, visits by governing body members or executive staff, or similar activities; collaborates with the Legislative Director for development and implementation of the Board of Supervisors' state and federal legislative programs. Further duties include, but are not limited to:

• Helps to assess the policy impact of, and response to, proposed legislation affecting the county in coordination with county agencies.
• Researches, analyzes and evaluates issues and prepares reports on all assigned federal and state legislation or studies, so recommendations can be formulated for consideration by the Board.
• Advocates and presents information on Board initiatives and positions at committee meetings and public hearings.
• Participates in the tracking of relevant federal and state legislation and develops related documentation.

The successful candidate must possess: extensive knowledge of how to promote legislative or public policy interests with legislative and/or executive officials; knowledge of how to assess operational or fiscal aspects of public policy issues. Working knowledge of federal, state, regional and/or local legislative processes, including structure and operation. Ability to work with diverse groups, with competing interests to develop collaborative positions, and to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Position requires considerable travel. The individual in this position may be expected to live in Richmond for the duration of the annual legislative session of the Virginia General Assembly. The position also requires attendance at some legislative meetings throughout the year, primarily in Richmond, as well as other sites in the state

Illustrative Duties

The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Along with the Director, coordinates information at staff level between Congressional and State delegation offices for analysis, testimony, visits by government body or executive staff, or similar activities;
  
• Collaborates with the Legislative Director for development and implementation of the Board of Supervisors' legislative and State budget initiatives/positions;
  
• Helps to assess the policy impact of and response to proposed legislation affecting the County in coordination with all County agencies;
  
• Researches, analyzes, and evaluates issues and prepares reports on all assigned federal and State legislation or studies so that executive recommendations can be formulated for consideration by the Board;
  
• Provides substantive assistance to the Legislative Director in coordination of all operational, logistical and technical aspects of the government relations function, e.g. meetings, issues and strategy;
  
• Advocates and presents information on Board initiatives and positions at committee meeting, public hearings, as assigned;
  
• Oversees and provides input to the work of the legislative assistant and the Legislative Review Team in the analysis of legislation;
  
• Participates in the tracking of the progress and status of relevant State and federal legislation and develops related documentation;
  
• Coordinates the annual distribution of all enacted State legislation to County departments which have primary responsibility for implementation;
  
• Helps supervise the administration of the County's State legislative tracking database and develops an appropriate federal tracking system;
  
• Prepares documents appropriate to display on the County's website for government relations activities;
  
• Collaborates with the Legislative Director to develop a more formalized County process for the federal government relations function, including identification and analysis of County priorities for advocacy;

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Extensive knowledge of how to promote legislative or public policy interests with legislative and/or executive officials;
  
• Considerable knowledge of how to assess operational or fiscal aspects of public policy issues;
  
• Considerable knowledge of how to use the full range of desktop software products;
  
• Working knowledge of the federal, State, regional and/or local legislative processes, including structure and operation;
  
• Ability to develop and implement County legislation and State budget initiatives;
  
• Ability to work with diverse groups, with competing interests to develop collaborative positions;
  
• Ability to research, analyze and evaluate issues and prepare reports on legislation;
  
• Ability to track the progress and status of legislation;
  
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing at an advanced level;
  
• Ability to supervise the work of others.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from an accredited four year college or university and five years of experience promoting legislative or public policy interest with legislative and/or executive officials in the federal, State and/or local government sector or similar experience in the non-profit or private sector, with particular emphasis on the federal level.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Valid driver's license.
• Upon employment, State or federal registration as a lobbyist, as required by law.
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Excellent written and oral communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with attention to detail.
  
• Ability to use word processing and presentation software to prepare documents, and to use and manage a database.
  
• Ability to work with diverse groups, with competing interests, to develop collaborative positions.
  
• Working knowledge of state/local government.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• All newly hired employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two weeks after the last required dose) as a condition of employment or obtain approval of a medical or religious exemption prior to their start date. Proof of an exemption or vaccination status will be required during the pre-employment onboarding process. New employees who obtain an exemption from the vaccine mandate for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs may be subject to a weekly testing requirement. Vaccinated employees and employees with a medical or religious exemption will complete the attestation online on their first day of employment or shortly thereafter.
• The appointee to the position will be required to complete a criminal background check and credit check to the satisfaction of the employer.
• This position may require extensive travel. The individual in this position may be expected to live in Richmond for all or part of the annual legislative session of the Virginia General Assembly. The position will also require attendance at legislative meetings throughout the year, primarily in Richmond, as well as other sites in the State and in Washington, D.C.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Duties are generally sedentary; ability to stand, stoop, bend, stretch, walk, climb, sit, type on a keyboard, and lift up to 20 pounds. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include a written exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.