Legislative Liaison & Policy Analyst

Salary : $65,000.00 – $80,000.18 Annually

Location : Denver Metro, CO

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: EFA-LegisLiaison-06.13.23

Department: Colorado Energy Office

Opening Date: 06/13/2023

Closing Date: 6/30/2023 11:59 PM Mountain

Primary Physical Work Address: 1600 Broadway, Suite 1960, Denver, CO 80202

FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Information

The mission of the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and consumer energy costs by advancing clean energy, energy efficiency and zero emission vehicles to benefit all Coloradans. CEO develops and implements policy and programming to support that mission and achieve outcomes within Colorado’s energy sectors.

The Policy work unit is responsible for CEO’s research and analysis, regulatory interventions and activity at the General Assembly. The legislative portion of the Unit works on behalf of the CEO’s executive leadership team, coordinating and facilitating the legislative agenda and implementation process, articulating the CEO’s position on legislative and fiscal matters, and regularly engaging with external stakeholders, partners, and advocates to accomplish the CEO’s policy and fiscal objectives.
We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
Description of Job
Starting Salary Range: $65,000.00 – $80,000.18 Annually

The Legislative Liaison & Policy Analyst (“Liaison”) supports the Director of Legislative Affairs to develop CEO’s legislative strategies. This role will analyze proposed legislation by other state departments and external stakeholders, and identify potential impacts to CEO programs, communicate with other state departments, external stakeholders, and General Assembly members to help ensure that statutory changes accurately reflect administrative priorities and capability. An ideal candidate will be a self-starter, have an interest and background in clean energy policy, and commitment to CEO’s mission of advancing clean energy to benefit all Coloradans.

Legislative Affairs

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with all members of the General Assembly.
• Partner with the Director of Legislative Affairs as the primary points of contact for General Assembly members and respond to their information requests.
• Track internal and external legislative initiatives from inception to passage. Maintain a database for tracking legislation. This includes entering newly introduced legislation into the database and recording fiscal notes and legislative history as committee assignments and votes are made.
• Coordinate requests from CEO’s management and program staff to take formal positions on pending legislation. This includes gathering information from subject matter experts to substantiate the position, obtaining the CEO’s leadership approval, and communicating the information in a persuasive manner to the Governor’s Office.
• Attend and represent CEO at legislative committee hearings and stakeholder meetings; be prepared to testify before the General Assembly and coordinate CEO staff expert testimony.
• Participate in interagency coordination of clean energy and climate legislative strategy.
• Maintain knowledge of CEO’s programs to accurately convey information and program impacts to members of the General Assembly.
• Work with budget staff to respond to fiscal note requests.
• Assist staff in implementation of recently passed legislation.
• Develop strategies and plans to respond to changing public and legislative opinions in a politically sensitive and demanding environment.
• Assist in planning internal legislative meetings and retreats.
• This position may be responsible for additional duties including coordinating the recruitment, appointment, and confirmation of CEO board, commission, committee, and task force members.

Policy Analyst

• Research and develop policy initiatives in line with the CEO’s mission and goals, as guided by the Director of Legislative Affairs.
• Develop and maintain subject matter expertise on energy issues and advise the Director of Legislative Affairs.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with energy industry stakeholders.

General

• Adheres to all health and safety policies in the planning and execution of activities
• Uses word processing, spreadsheet, database, and scheduling software applications to prepare correspondence, plans, reports, schedules, and other documents related to the project.
• Other duties as requested and required.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

• A bachelor’s degree in a related field and a minimum of 1 year of professional experience, working with legislation and understanding of how to navigate state government. In lieu of a bachelor’s degree, 3 years of professional experience. While there is a salary range, actual salary will depend on years of experience. Salary at the higher end of the range will require at least three years of experience.
• Experience in and knowledge of Colorado energy issues and stakeholders.
• Strong time management and organization skills.
• Strong written, oral, and presentation communication skills.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Highly motivated, detail oriented, and persistent.
• Demonstrates a high level of initiative as well as the ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to work in stressful and high pressure situations.
• Excellent computer skills, including the Microsoft Office suite and Google suite.
• Demonstrated interest in the mission of Colorado Energy Office.

Supplemental Information

To Apply:

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.

The State of Colorado/Office of the Governor offers a generous benefits package including:

• Medical, dental and vision plan coverage – including extensive prescription drug coverage (many preventive medications covered at no cost)*
• Health Savings Account (with state contribution) when electing HDHP medical coverage*
• Wellness programs – participation can reduce employee premiums*
• Short-term and optional long-term disability coverage*
• Life and Accidental Death/Dismemberment Insurance*
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*
• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) job protection and State of Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)
• 12 Paid Holidays Annually and Accrued Annual and Sick Leave
• Retirement benefits** – including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans – https://www.copera.org/
• Hybrid work arrangements
• Variety of discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado’s Work-Life Discount Program
• Training and professional development opportunities, including reduced college tuition through CSU Global (contact CSU Global for latest offerings).
• Access to the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP): offers confidential mental health counseling, professional coaching, employee mediation, 24/7 crisis support
• Free RTD EcoPass to all eligible State Employees
• Credit Union of Colorado Membership Eligibility

*To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit the state’s benefits portal: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits.

**For information on mandatory employee salary deferral (in lieu of contribution to Social Security), see COPERA for details: https://www.copera.org/member-contribution-rates

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

ADAAA Accommodations

The Office of the Governor is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency 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 Staffing Coordinator (the Director of Human Resources) at gov_hr@state.co.us.

Conditions of Employment

Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment.

Effective September 20, 2021, employees will be required to attest to and verify whether or not they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Employees who have not been fully vaccinated may be required to submit to serial testing in the future. Upon hire, new employees will have thirty (30) business days to provide attestation to their status with proof of vaccination. Vaccinated employees must provide proof of vaccination. Note: Fully Vaccinated means two (2) weeks after a second dose in a two-dose series of the COVID-19 vaccine, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two (2) weeks after the single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine, as defined by the most recent State of Colorado’s Public Health Order and current guidance issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment.

Employees who have not been fully vaccinated are encouraged (and may be required) to test before and/or wear a mask while spending time in person at the Energy Office.

Please note that each agency’s contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the “Print” icon.

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