Deputy Legislative Director

Who We Are

Colorado Governor-elect Phil Weiser is committed to an administration that represents all of Colorado, and serves and protects every Coloradan. Governor-elect Weiser and his team will lead State government to ensure that we serve the people of Colorado, working to make their lives better, and together, we meet opportunities and challenges with creativity, collaboration, and compassion. His commitment to serve as the People’s Governor means that he and his team will have a sustained focus on how to make Colorado safer, more affordable, more sustainable, and a great place to live, build a business, and raise a family.

We Have Strong Core Values

Our core values drive our actions. We are: 1) principled, maintaining the highest ethical standards, acting with integrity, and operating transparently; 2) public servants, who are always ensuring our work is not about us, but instead is about improving the lives of the people of Colorado; 3) innovative, by seeking to solve problems creatively and operate with a continuous improvement mindset; and 4) "better together," by working to support each other as a team and collaborate effectively.

Department Information

The Office of the Governor oversees the operation of the executive branch of state government, including the coordination, direction, and planning of agency operations. The Governor’s staff includes offices for budgeting, communications and outreach, legal counsel, legislative liaison, operations, policy and research, and scheduling.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple Deputy Legislative Director positions.

Department: Office of the Governor

Position Title: Deputy Legislative Director

Summary of Functions: The Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs (Deputy Legislative Director) supports and assists the Director of Legislative Affairs and represents the Governor and the administration before the General Assembly in support of the Governor’s legislative agenda. The position supports priority initiatives and provides general support to the legislative team. Each deputy legislative director carries a defined portfolio of policy areas and agencies and leads the administration’s legislative work within it.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in the development of the Governor’s annual legislative agenda, including execution and enactment of bills related to the administration’s policy areas

• Lead the administration’s legislative work within a defined portfolio of policy areas and agencies

• Provide leadership and oversight to achieve the Governor’s priorities

• Advocate for and communicate the administration’s goals and legislative priorities to the General Assembly

• Draft legislative language, amendments, signing statements, and veto statements

• Advise on legislative strategy, process, and positions

• Directly advocate before and partner with legislators to achieve legislative priorities of the Governor

• In consultation with the Director of Legislative Affairs, vet, screen, and approve department positions on pending legislation

• Track all legislation introduced during the legislative session through the Salesforce platform, and develop recommendations for action or amendment

• Provide project management and support for the department legislative liaisons

• Assist agency legislative liaisons with executive agency legislative priorities

• Advise the Governor on bills to sign, let become law without signature, or veto

• Brief the Governor’s Office on relevant policy issues arising from state and federal legislative activities

• Provide support to agency legislative liaisons and ensuring their activities with the Legislative Branch are consistent with the Governor’s collaborative and principled approach

• Coordinate with other statewide legislative representatives 

• Track interim committees and department engagement

Organizational Relationships: Director of Legislative Affairs; Office of Legislative Affairs; Deputy Chief of Staff; legislative liaisons; Governor’s Office; General Assembly

Preferred Education/Experience:

• Six or more years of related work experience in a legislative or policy role within a government agency

• Experience advising senior officials on legislative strategy, process, and positions

• Strong drafting skills, including experience with legislative language and amendments

• Experience building relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders with varying perspectives and interests, including legislators, local governments, advocates, and the media

Preferred Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent relevant experience

• Experience working with the Colorado General Assembly

• Experience working with executive branch agencies and their legislative liaisons

Conditions of Employment: Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment and reside in Colorado once employed

HOW TO APPLY: 

Please submit an online application for this position at buildingcoloradosfuturetogether.org. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received before the closing date.

A cover letter and resume must be submitted with the application for consideration. Your cover letter and resume must provide sufficient detail about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, including your experience and achievements.

Benefits 

The State of Colorado offers a competitive benefits package to permanent employees:

• PERA retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan, PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus 401K and 457 plans

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage

• Automatic Short-Term and Optional Long-Term Disability Coverage

• Life and AD&D Insurance

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) job protection and State of Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)

• 11 Paid Holidays Annually and Accrued Annual and Sick Leave

• Variety of discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Employment Discount Program

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits visit: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits.

ADAAA Requests

The State of Colorado is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our office will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator at [email protected].

We believe that diverse teams produce better results and encourage people of a variety of backgrounds and qualifications to apply.