What are the responsibilities and job description for the Legislative Director position at Legislative Assembly?
Initial Posting Date:
08/04/2025
Application Deadline:
08/18/2025
Agency:
Legislative Assembly
Salary Range:
$4,741 - $7,110
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
Legislative Director
Job Description:
Representative Andrea Valderrama is seeking an experienced Legislative Director (LD) to join her legislative team. The LD oversees the day-to-day operations and management of Representative Valderrama’s office, not including intern and staff management. That falls to the Representative. The LD develops and implements legislative and budget agenda strategies, monitors bills and deadlines, budgets, and committees, and conducts extensive research to provide policy analysis and advice. The LD strategically builds and strengthens coalitions and community relations, collaborating with directly impacted communities to draft key messaging, communications, and correspondence. The LD also files necessary paperwork related to legislative and budget requests, staffs the Representative at Committee meetings, floor sessions, meetings, events, and performs other related duties as required. The Legislative Director reports directly to the Representative. This position is represented by IBEW Local 89.
This is a limited duration position, beginning in early September and concluding March 31, 2026.
OFFICE SUMMARY
Rooted in the principles of racial, economic, disability, and gender justice, Representative Valderrama’s legislative agenda, Delivering for Oregon: Thriving Families, Safe Communities, Stronger Schools, is focused on delivering meaningful results for all Oregonians, including:
- Thriving families with access to affordable homes and prescriptions;
- Essential services for elders, low-income families, and people with disabilities;
- Successful businesses offer fair wages and safe workplaces for workers.
- Resilient housing and transportation infrastructure to tackle our homelessness crisis and improve transportation safety;
- Quality education, especially for foster youth and Black and Brown communities;
- Safe, welcoming neighborhoods for immigrants, refugees, and LGBTQ individuals; and
- Ensuring every Oregonian has a voice in our democracy.
Representative Valderrama currently serves on the following committees:
- Member, Joint Ways and Means / Member, Joint Emergency Board
- Co-Chair, Joint Ways and Means subcommittee on Human Services
- Member, House Rules Committee
- Member, Joint Addiction and Community Safety Response
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Legislative Director is responsible for:
- Supporting the Member in efforts to advance the policy agenda and legislative goals of the office. Develops and implements legislative strategies.
- Develops and implements budget agenda and strategies for key investments, and staffs the Representative for her budget committees.
- Providing counsel, guidance, and feedback on legislative initiatives and policy decisions.
- Monitoring committee hearings, floor debates, and reports on legislative action or developments.
- Tracking bills.
- Drafting letters, speeches, talking points, and testimony.
- Researching bills, policies, current laws, and topics. Creates reports based on findings.
- Working with legislative counsel to draft or amend legislation.
- Attending and staffing work groups, task forces, meetings, tours, and other events.
- Coordinating meetings, hearings, town halls, and other events. Assists with management of the Representative’s calendar as needed.
- Contacting and arranging for speakers, presenters
- Arranges travel and lodging accommodations
- Manages external communications, including social media accounts, newsletters, and press releases. Formulates and executes communication plans to ensure constituents understand the work being done.
- Interfaces with the general public, constituents, lobbyist, business leaders, other legislators, legislative staff, and interest groups to understand issues, draft legislation and help get legislation passed and signed into law.
- Provides responsive constituent services, such as tracking and assisting with responses to constituent communications, acting as a liaison to constituents, and helping to provide constituents with resources and solutions.
- Manages the day-to-day activities of the office, including clerical tasks, record[1]keeping, research, and reports.
- Acts as the primary contact for all visitors, answers phones and emails.
- Building and sustaining relationships with elected officials, community leaders, lobbyists, and various other outside groups.
- Other key responsibilities as needed
MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor’s degree and three (3) to five (5) years of related experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position may be considered.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
We believe in personal and professional growth and transformation. The work history and experience of the successful candidate will include:
Knowledge of/experience in:
- Institutionalizing racial, gender, and economic justice into policies, practices, and plans
- Proven commitment to diversity, racial equity, and inclusion, especially in staff management practices and office culture
- Substantial experience in policy and budget-related advocacy, including direct lobbying
- Experience working effectively with diverse populations and an approach that values differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability and ability, and socio-economic circumstance
- Grassroots organizing and coalition work
- Oregon state legislative processes and practices
- Oregon state budget process and advocacy requests
- Existing legislation and its ramifications
- Historical and current context of policies
Skill in:
- Strategic planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of office goals, roles and responsibilities, systems, and culture
- Office oversight and management
- Excellent problem-solving skills, ability to juggle multiple ongoing projects, and exercise good judgment under stressful situations
- Effective verbal and written communication, including public speaking skills
- Data entry, tracking, reporting, and management
- Researching and analyzing complex policy issues
- Event organization
Ability to:
- Pay close attention to detail
- Manage time effectively and stay organized
- Multitask and manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Remain calm and flexible under pressure
- Understand complex legislative, budget, and political issues
- Provide excellent customer service and maintain a friendly, welcoming, and professional disposition
PREFERRED SKILLS & ABILITIES
- Bilingual or multilingual
- Demonstrated experience and fluency with the following software: OLIS, Google Docs, Outlook Teams, and Zoom
- Experience in labor negotiations or collective bargaining
- Knowledge of current bills in progress in the legislative session
Please note that this knowledge, skills, and abilities reflect the primary skills needed for this position, but it is not required that you have all of them at the time of application. If you are eager to learn and grow and possess most of these skills and abilities, we encourage you to apply.
To review the position description in its entirety please click here.
TO APPLY:
- IF YOU ARE NOT A STATE EMPLOYEE: To apply for this position, follow the "Apply" link and complete the application & questions online. If this is your first time applying in our new system "Workday", you will need to create a new user profile. You can even drag and drop your resume into Workday and it will read and generate your Work History! Be sure to attach a cover letter and resume.
- CURRENT STATE EMPLOYEES: Login to Workday using the Career app on your Home Page. Prior to clicking "Apply", update your employee profile to reflect your Education, Skills, and Job History (including your current job).
- Attach your current cover letter and resume. Applications submitted without both documents may not be considered.
- Please monitor your Workday account, as all communication will be sent to you through this system. You must have a valid e-mail address to apply.
- This announcement closes at 11:59 PM on the close date listed.
SPECIAL INFORMATION:
- The Capitol Building will be undergoing extensive renovation and construction projects which may limit accessibility to employees. This will require Legislative employees to work both from home and within the building as the construction project dictates. While working from home, personal, stable and high-speed internet access will be required to perform the functions of this position. There may be occasions that require employees scheduled to be working from home, to report to the Capitol or an offsite building. Every effort will be made to provide reasonable notice. However, employees may be required to report to the building under short notice. The Capitol building is located at 900 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301.
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Oregon state government provides qualifying veterans and disabled veterans with preference in employment in accordance with ORS 408.225, 408.230, and 408.235. If you are requesting veterans' preference, you may receive an additional questionnaire in your Workday account. In order to ensure your privacy, we are asking that you complete the Veterans’ Questionnaire and attach your qualifying military documents at that time. This questionnaire will be sent to your Workday account after you submit your application. We ask that you complete the questionnaire before the application deadline; extensions may be granted if necessary and reasonable. For questions about documentation, please visit: Veterans Resources. Or call the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666.
- The salary in this job posting reflects the base salary without contributions to the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS). Employees eligible for PERS will have their salary increased by 6.95% and 6% will be automatically subject to a mandatory employee contribution to PERS.
- The work experience and/or education section of your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet all the minimum and desired skills listed above.
- An offer including salary will not be extended until an equal pay analysis is completed pursuant to ORS 652.220 and 659A.357. An equal pay analysis will be conducted utilizing the education and work experience section of the legislative application.
- Work Authorization: The Oregon State Legislature does not offer visa sponsorships. On the first day of employment, all hires will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. In addition, hires will have three business days from their first day of employment to present documents that establish employment authorization and identity. The Oregon State Legislature is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States.
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If you have questions regarding this recruitment, or need assistance to participate in the application process, please contact Aimee Steketee, Human Resource Analyst, at aimee.steketee@oregonlegislature.govor (503) 986-1373.
- The Oregon State Legislature is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to Workforce Diversity.