Legislative Analyst - City of Seattle

Agency Name: City of Seattle

Position / Job Title : Legislative Analyst

Location: Seattle, WA

Category : Non-Attorney, Attorney

Job Description: Position Description

The Legislative Department is seeking a civil rights and criminal legal system policy analyst to join the Central Staff team as a Legislative Analyst (Strategic Advisor-LEG BU).

This is an exciting opportunity for an early to mid-career policy analyst, attorney, or researcher who has worked with the criminal legal system to immerse yourself in the City’s legislative process and grow into your role as a Legislative Analyst. Working in collaboration with other Central Staff analysts, you will have the opportunity to learn about and create work products that are critical in advancing the Seattle City Council’s legislative priorities and policy initiatives. This may include descriptive and analytic memos, legislation and policy amendments, council budget actions, briefings for Councilmembers, and presentations to Council committees. If you want to make a difference in your organization, please consider applying.

As a nonpartisan Legislative Analyst, you will contribute to important decisions about community safety and justice in Seattle. That includes:

- Reviewing and drafting civil rights policy, including protections against discrimination in employment, public places, housing and contracting.
- Analyzing the municipal criminal legal system, including racial equity impacts.
- Exploring input from impacted communities, research, and evidence-based practices related to the efficacy of the criminal legal system and the appropriate policy solutions for achieving public safety.
- Analyzing any proposed changes to the City’s criminal code; includes implementation of Washington’s new misdemeanor drug possession and public use law locally.
- Considering the design and funding of municipal therapeutic court systems, diversion-programs and city-supported restorative justice programs.
- Evaluating the budget resources invested in the Office for Civil Rights, Municipal Court, City Attorney’s Office, and City contracts for public defense, jail service, and related therapeutic services.


As a member of the Community Safety and Health team, you may work on assignments related to:
- The future of policing, including police recruitment, retention, and accountability
- Alternative 911 responses
- Emergency management
- Surveillance
- Mental and behavioral health services that promote community safety

Your initial assignments and training will be commensurate with your level of experience, with a goal that within three years, you will be independently conducting policy analysis and supporting the legislative process for the City Council.


ABOUT CENTRAL STAFF:
The Central Staff team serves as the division within the City’s legislative branch that brings counterbalance to the executive branch of government and the Mayor’s Office. We effectively engage with the other branches of government on behalf of the City Council or its individual members. Our team provides independent, objective policy and fiscal analysis for all nine (9) councilmembers.

Our team continues to progress in cultivating an inclusive, anti-racist workplace. We are active participants in the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative and seek team members who bring an anti-racist lens to their work, and who are interested in developing these analytical skills in a team environment.

The Legislative Department values diverse perspectives and life experiences, and this position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.


YOU WILL BE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN THIS POSITION IF YOU:
- Understand civil rights laws or the criminal legal system and are excited to use your subject matter expertise to analyze and develop City policies and support informed decision-making.
- Are motivated to work towards ending institutional and systemic racism and can point to real world examples where you’ve had impact advancing racial equity.
- Are organized, detail-oriented and are great at managing logistics, coordination and process.
- Set a high standard in the quality of your work product and desire to continually improve.
- Are proactive in your approach, asking questions and offering options to meet Councilmember needs.
- Can navigate a political work environment with elected officials who may have political views/ orientations different from your own.
- Are a curious, active learner and open to training to grow into this role.


Job Responsibilities
- Analyze legislative proposals, evaluate policies, regulations, rules and procedures; develop options and make recommendations.
- Evaluate budget and policy proposals including drafting budget amendments and analyzing proposed changes.
- Prepare clear written materials including summary emails, descriptive and analytical policy memos, presentation materials and one-page summaries of complex information.
- Prepare and deliver presentations for elected officials in Council committees and other public settings as well as in private briefings.
- Draft legislation and amendments to legislation.
- Support the legislative process by partnering with the Law Department, Deputy City Clerks and Legislative Assistants.
- Perform other duties as assigned, including special projects in other subject areas as needed.


Qualifications

YOU WILL BE EFFECTIVE IN THIS ROLE IF YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND KNOWLEDGE:

- 3-5 years of progressively responsible work experience in civil rights, the criminal legal system, public or community safety, or related fields in the public, private or nonprofit sector.
- Clear writing and presentation skills, which includes the ability to convey complex information succinctly.
- Ability to communicate the purpose, process, and outcome of your analysis to a broad audience.
- Demonstrated skill and initiative in teamwork and team building.
- Track-record of applying a race and social justice lens to policy and/or fiscal analysis.
- Ability to build relationships to get the job done, while maintaining objectivity.
- Bachelor’s degree or a combination of education, training or experience that provides an equivalent background required to perform the work.

The Legislative Department recognizes that not every candidate will have the following desired qualifications. However, you may be more prepared for this role with the following:

- An advanced degree in law, public administration, public policy, or related field, or additional experience that demonstrates expertise in and ability to dive into work related to civil rights and the criminal legal system.
- Familiarity with or knowledge of associations, community organizations, key figures, and political issues in Seattle.
- Familiarity with the Washington State or City of Seattle criminal codes and civil rights laws.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they feel they meet every qualification. However, everyone brings different strengths to the table for a job, and people can be successful in a role in a variety of ways. If you are excited about this job but your experience doesn’t perfectly check every box in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.


Additional Information

UNION INFORMATION
This position is covered by the PROTEC 17 - Strategic Advisor LEG bargaining agreement.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The Legislative Department is located at the Seattle City Hall: 600 Fourth Ave. 2nd Floor, Seattle, WA. This position allows for the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule with a two-day in-office minimum requirement that may change over time based on operational needs.

TOTAL COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
This position is exempt from the FLSA and the Seattle Civil Service System. The full salary range for this position (Strategic Advisor LEG-BU) is $91,642 - $163,971 annually. The starting salary for this role has been identified as $120,000 - $125,000 annually with opportunities for increases as responsibilities and performance advance.

Relocation assistance is available for out-of-state candidates, if selected.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans


WHY WORK AT THE CITY

The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.


HOW TO APPLY:
To be considered for this position, qualified candidates must submit your resume, application, and responses to the supplemental questionnaire to our online application: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seattle/jobs/4136270/legislative-analyst-strategic-advisor-leg-bu


This search is being supported by NRG Consulting Group. Please contact jobs@nrgconsultinggroup.org with any questions.

Link to Application: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seattle/jobs/4136270/legislative-analyst-strategic-advisor-leg-bu

Other Relevant Links:

Application Deadline: August 22, 2023