JOB TITLE:                         Policy Associate

PROGRAM:                         Employment, Labor & Retirement

LOCATION:                         Denver, CO

SALARY:                             $4,191+/month depending on experience

ABOUT NCSL: 

The National Conference of State Legislatures is a nonpartisan organization that serves the legislators and legislative staff of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories. NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues.  Our mission is to serve state legislatures by providing support, promoting fresh ideas, connecting legislators and staff with experts and each other, and provide a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system.   

Since its founding in 1975, NCSL's staff has grown from 15 employees to over 150 employees in its offices in Denver, CO and Washington, D.C. Our growth has been due to the increasing activity and responsibility of the nation's state legislatures and the complexity and diversity of issues that legislators face.  Employees work in a challenging, often fast-paced environment where they assist legislators and legislative staff in their work to promote the common good of the citizens of the states. 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: 

This professional position will assist the Program Director with activities under a grant from the US Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration to work on labor and occupational licensure issues. A significant portion of the work will require extensive data collection, research and writing as well as facilitation of state teams. The position also involves collaborating with other national organizations, assisting in implementing a project timeline, assisting with meeting planning, among other things.  This Policy Associate will operate directly under the Program Director and under the mentorship of a Group Director. 

This full-time position is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor and is subject to reduction in percentage of time covered or elimination if grant funding becomes unavailable. Grants that support the position require successful completion of work products, such as research, publications, invitational meetings, educational presentations, individual state technical assistance programs, web pages, webinars, and responding to information requests. The position requires expertise in policy research and analysis, writing, speaking to legislative audiences and program planning and development gained through progressively more complex and more in-depth work over several years. The position will require out-of-state travel to meetings and to individual states to provide technical assistance. State legislative experience and/or background in the areas of labor, workforce and/or occupational licensing are a plus. 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, absent an undue hardship.

1. Collects and monitors data on legislative actions, regulatory actions and statutes using online resources, available databases and public and private organizations.
2. Prepares concise and accurate written responses to legislative requests for information.
3. Under supervision, plans programs and organizes background materials in closely related subject areas for research projects, meetings, conferences, and technical assistance workshops.
4. Summarizes legislation, tabulates surveys, and describes specific state programs or activities for reports, short publications or articles.
5. Coordinates with NCSL policy experts in other issue areas that overlap with labor and employment issues.
6. Makes presentations to committees, in technical assistance workshops, or other legislative audiences, reporting on one's own research or closely related subjects.
7. Writes analyses or short reports and develops charts or tables on discrete legislative issues; such writing assignments involve describing programs, summarizing legislation, formatting and reporting 50-state practices and actions.
8. May provide research and writing for grant and contract proposals.
9. May perform related research and project tasks as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities but does serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.

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.