Government Relations Policy Advisor

Position Details

THIS POSITION IS OPEN UNTIL FILLED. APPLICATIONS RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 17th AT 11:59 PM WILL BE GIVEN PRIORITY CONSIDERATION.

The City of Auburn, a thriving municipality in the Puget Sound area, is seeking a Government Relations Policy Advisor
. This position performs professional work managing the City’s external relationships with other governmental agencies and legislative bodies whose deliberations and actions impact the City and its citizens. Duties include advising the Mayor, Chief Administrative Officer, Council, and staff (directors and professional staff at all levels within the organization) on a broad range of intergovernmental and regional policy issues effecting the City and region;

providing leadership in strategic planning, policy development, and advocacy on a broad array of City and regional issues; developing and coordinating City positions on legislative issues; and advancing the City’s interests in regional and interjurisdictional forums, working in cooperation with staff and elected officials.

Step in and contribute immediately. Partner closely with the Mayor, City leadership, and the City Council to advance the City’s legislative priorities and bring an effective system for tracking, analyzing, and sharing legislative developments. Establish a consistent, ongoing process for managing legislative priorities and conduct regular check‑ins on regional policy issues. Stay well‑informed on federal, state, and regional politics. Exceptional organization and strong communication skills are essential.

The City of Auburn is a dynamic and growing city in the South Puget Sound with a vibrant city core and diverse population of engaged residents. The Government Relations Policy Advisor represents and champions the City to the various legislative bodies across the state while working closely with government partners to further the City of Auburn’s agenda and policies. The position works under the discretion of the mayor alongside the executive leadership team to develop wide‑ranging policy and advocate on the behalf of the city on regional issues.

As the Executive branch of the City of Auburn’s government, the mayor’s office implements the will of the voters via the city council. The Government Relations Policy Advisor is an integral part of the inner workings of the City of Auburn, responsible for advancing the City’s interests in cooperation with staff and elected officials. The work is challenging, but very rewarding, and there’s opportunity to work collaboratively with the executive leadership team.

• Represent the City of Auburn during the Washington State Legislative Session, track, monitor, analyze and coordinate the City’s interests with lawmakers across the city.
• Advise City leadership on a broad range of intergovernmental and regional policy issues affecting the City and region via regular meetings and check‑ins.
• Develop strategic initiatives and approaches around policy creation and implementation.
• Create and maintain an annual legislative agenda with staff alongside City leadership and lobbyists, with materials that will evolve and change throughout the months and years. Keep this living document in a publicly‑accessible area such as the City website, with concerted, deliberate and timely updates.
• Manage and monitor the work of contracted consultants as it relates to government relations and policy advisement.

While these duties are the primary focus of the job, the full job description includes a more comprehensive list of responsibilities. For details, review the class specification.

• Bachelor’s Degree in public administration, business, political science, or related field.
• Four (4) years professional experience related to governmental issues at the local, regional, and/or state levels.
• OR a combination of experience, education, and training that would indicate the level of skills, knowledge, and abilities required to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the job.

• Possess and retain a valid state driver’s license throughout tenure of employment without…