Important Notice
Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The Arlington County Manager’s Office is seeking a talented Legislative and Policy Analyst to serve on the legislative affairs team working collaboratively with the County Board’s Policy Manager to manage, support and advance the County’s legislative priorities. This position will manage the legislative review process, research and track the progress, status, and impacts of state and federal legislation on County operations and policies and communicate the impacts of legislation to County leadership. This position will provide project management and program support to projects/programs that have countywide impact.
Specific duties for this position include:
Monitoring state legislative committee hearings and meetings prior to and during regular and special sessions where Arlington County’s adopted legislative priorities are under consideration;
Coordinating work with contracted professional lobbyists;
Attending or directing meetings and hearings to stay informed and to represent County interests or concerns;
Explaining complex legislative or regulatory issues to different audiences;
Advocating and promoting County and community interests to legislative representatives and community groups, or similar organizations;
Building coalitions through consensus, forging and developing collaborative relationships and strategic partnerships with legislative representatives, policy developers, community members, constituent and business groups, regional organizations, and executives at the County, local, regional, state, and federal levels;
Advising and developing action plans with input from the County Manager, the County Board Policy Manager and County Board Members for attaining legislative objectives and coordinating the County’s response among all County agencies;
Identifying, researching, and analyzing financial, operational, legal and policy issues;
Conducting benchmarking research to formulate best-practice strategies;
Monitoring and providing timely updates on project timelines and associated activities with particular focus on critical deadlines and sensitive political and or policy issues;
Leading and/or participating in cross-departmental project work groups as a County Manager’s Office representative, to provide the County Manager and Deputy County Managers with updates and key information; and
Drafting executive summaries on project status, results, findings, and recommended actions.
The successful candidate will have the following:
Familiarity with local government challenges, opportunities and interests;
Experience effectively assessing operational and fiscal impacts of public policy issues and legislation;
Technical writing skills to draft legislation, written communications, or narrative reports;
Working knowledge of state and local legislative processes with strong lobbying skills and the ability to represent and advance issues or interests on behalf of the Arlington community; and
Proven ability to successfully lobby the County’s public policy interests with legislative and executive officials or with special interest groups, agencies, or organizations.
This employee reports directly to the County Manager’s Chief of Staff, makes judgments and decisions independently while representing the County on critical legislative issues, handles a large volume of work in a high pace environment, and reacts quickly to changes in priorities and new information.
Minimum:
Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, Communications, Governmental Affairs or related field from an accredited college or university; plus
Significant and progressively responsible experience as a legislative specialist that included the following:
- Representing governmental agency legislative interests at the local and state or federal levels;
- Building community coalitions to advance issues of mutual concern;
- Analyzing, and advising agency executives of the impacts of legislative regulations on government agency policies and operations; and
- Developing policies and executing strategies to achieve agency legislative agendas.
Licenses/Certifications:
Ability to register as a Lobbyist with the Virginia General Assembly.
Substitution: Additional qualifying related experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.
Desirable Qualifications: Master’s degree in a related area. If you have experience in one or more of the following areas, you may be given preference:
- Serving at an executive level as a legislative liaison or policy analyst for a local government agency;
- Performing legislative affairs or serving as a registered lobbyist with the Virginia General Assembly;
- Building partnerships and coalitions on local, state, and federal levels to promote local and/or regional legislative actions or community issues and interests; and/or Working with state and federal lobbyists to advance local government or community interests.
Special Requirements
Please note: An online application is required. A complete application includes a cover letter and resume. Please provide a cover letter that explains how your education, experience and training meet the qualification requirements of this position and highlight your accomplishments in these areas. Please use the space provided in the Supplemental Questions section of the online application for your cover letter or attach the cover letter and resume to your online application.
Completion of the Commonwealth of Virginia Statement of Economic Interest form will be required of the successful candidate upon hire and annually thereafter. A background check will be made on all candidates who are finalists for the position. It may include checks on the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit rating and may require signing a release authorizing the County to obtain this information.
This position requires considerable travel. This Liaison will represent the County during the annual legislative session of the Virginia General Assembly and attend legislative meetings throughout the year, primarily in Richmond, as well as other sites in the state. Applicant must possess, or obtain by the time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator’s license (or CDL) from the applicant’s place of residence.
Additional Information
Starting salary will depend upon the qualifications and experience of the candidate selected and by applicable pay rules within the yearly salary range of $103,084.80 - $159,764.80 (effective 7/1/2025).
Arlington County offers a generous benefit package. For details about our benefits please follow the County Benefits link .
The County Government consists of 13 departments and 5 elected constitutional offices providing a full array of urban services, with over 3500 employees. In addition, there is a close working relationship with Arlington's school system which is funded through the County Board. For more information about the County, please click here .
Applicants who have questions or need assistance with the application may telephone (703) 228-3500 or visit the Human Resources Department. Our staff will be happy to work with you to enter your application into the system. Public access computers are available at all County Libraries, and in the Human Resources Department.
Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process. Please call the ADA Coordinator at 703-228-3559 (voice) or email pers@arlingtonva.us .
Website
https://careers.arlingtonva.us/