Legislative Policy Analyst

Job Description

The Utah Legislature and its legislative work environment offer a uniquely rewarding and fulfilling workplace for those interested in helping lawmakers achieve their policy goals. The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (OLRGC) is a non‑partisan professional staff office of the legislature that facilitates legislative processes and provides policy and legal services to all legislators. OLRGC is seeking applications for a legislative policy analyst.

A policy analyst at OLRGC is assigned to one or more subject matter areas to provide nonpartisan policy‑related services for legislators on legislation, research requests, and committee‑related work.

Policy analysts work collaboratively and coordinate workflow in their subject area with one or more legislative associate general counsels, who provide legal services to legislators, such as drafting legislation and providing legal counsel. Policy analysts may work on a subject‑area team with another policy analyst, depending on the office's needs.

Policy analysts are responsible for facilitating legislative processes and providing policy services in their subject matter areas that include the following:

• Identify requests for legislation that require further policy development to prepare for drafting by an attorney
• Work with bill sponsors to understand their policy goals
• Provide sponsors with legislative and non‑legislative policy options that achieve their policy goals
• Provide research and policy analysis to sponsors that help them navigate policy gaps and hurdles
• Flesh out policy details for the sponsor’s chosen policy solution
• Work with government agencies, stakeholders, and lobbyists at the direction of sponsors
• Communicate policy in legislation accurately and clearly
• Prepare bill‑related documents that convey to the sponsor and drafting attorney the policies for bill drafting and products that summarize and analyze legislation for legislators

• Respond to legislators’ requests for information, research, and policy analysis
• Conduct policy research and present findings to legislative committees, individual legislators, House and Senate caucuses, and legislative leadership
• Create written products and infographics that summarize policy and subject matter area topics

• Staff legislative committees
• Work with committee chairs to develop agendas
• Seek to enhance the committee’s policy learning experience by identifying presenters for agenda items, making presentations, and providing information and analysis to the committee
• Advise the chair and legislators on legislative processes and rules

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public administration, public policy, political science, or another related discipline
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent research and analytical skills
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to adapt written communication style to client needs and effectively communicate organized ideas and complex issues
• Superior organizational skills with the ability to work on multiple projects at one time
• Excellent oral communication skills with the ability to convey organized ideas and complex issues
• The ability to provide objective, neutral, and in‑depth policy analysis
• Ability to function effectively in a high‑pressure, fast‑paced political environment and work on legislation and research that promote various public policy positions while maintaining objectivity and neutrality
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality
• Demonstrate ability to work independently, collaboratively within a team, and in a group setting while communicating frequently and clearly

The OLRGC and its employees are non‑partisan and the candidate must be objective and neutral.

Must be willing and able to work in person. This position has a hybrid schedule of in‑office and remote workdays. The schedule is subject to change based on the needs of the Legislature. However, the incumbent must be in person five days a week during the legislative general session.

Knowledge of the Utah legislative process.

Please note in resume or cover letter any skills or…