Legislative Specialist

A career in public service awaits you. COME JOIN OUR TEAM!

A great benefit of working for the State of Arizona is a fantastic work/life balance. State employees enjoy challenging work, popular remote work options, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, and career growth opportunities.

What You'll Do:

Under direction of the Chief Legislative Liaison, this position will work closely with all areas of the agency, including agency leadership, subject matter experts, external stakeholders, other state agencies and the Governor's Office. Managers. The Legislative Specialist, working with the Chief, will support the Agency's mission by monitoring, tracking, researching, and analyzing laws and legislative activity impacting AHCCCS and relevant health policy.

The position will also support the agency and the Chief Legislative Liaison by communicating legislative priorities with State legislators and their staff, coordinating meetings between the legislative team, key agency staff and legislators, and researching and responding to legislative inquiries. Along with the Chief Legislative Liaison, the position will also represent the agency in meetings, committee hearings and/or workgroups pertaining to legislative initiatives impacting the agency.

The position will also provide updates and information to agency staff in understanding the needs of the legislature, coordinating the submission of statutorily mandated reports to the legislature, and serving as a point of contact for stakeholders, the legislature, and Governor's Office.

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Under the direction of the Chief Legislative Liaison, provide information and communicate the agency's legislative priorities to the legislators, staff and stakeholders, arrange meetings, present to stakeholders and legislators, and serve as an agency point of contact. Attend and monitor relevant committee hearings, floor sessions and other legislative activities during the legislative session. Represent the agency in committee, as needed, by testifying to the agency's position on legislation.
• Research and organize the agency response to complex policy and legislative issues, in order to analyze and take positions, and/or recommend changes on legislation, in coordination with the Chief Legislative Liaison, subject matter experts and agency leadership. Coordinate, update and monitor the internal legislative tracking system to document/report status of pending legislation; regularly communicate with agency leadership, SMEs, stakeholders, and others to evaluate impact of proposed changes.
• Communicate the agency's legislative priorities with legislators and their staff, coordinate meetings, and represent the agency in workgroups, stakeholder meetings and events. Build relationships with stakeholders, legislative members and staff, other agency contacts, and coordinate responses to information requests and inquiries as needed. Serve as point of contact for legislative constituent case referrals to the agency.
• Serve as the agency lead in tracking and monitoring of timely submission of statutorily required reports to the legislature, including coordinating with division staff, providing technical assistance and updating the internal report tracker.

Knowledge:
• Arizona state government's structure, functions, operations, and processes including development of state budget
• Arizona Legislature's processes and parliamentary procedures
• Advanced legislative drafting & interpretation
• Invaluable points of contact at legislature
• How AHCCCS is funded
• Federal Medicaid program structure, purpose, covered populations, services, etc.
• Affordable Care Act
• AHCCCS mission, values, history, delivery system, population, partnerships, and stakeholders
• Current issues in health care policy
• Health care policy challenges/opportunities

Skills:
• Superior interpersonal skills
• Advanced research skills (statutory & policy)
• Highly developed verbal communication skills including public speaking
• Critical listening skills
• Develop compelling arguments and effectively persuade
• Advanced problem-solving skills
• Very strong organizational and planning skills
• Coalition building skills

Abilities:
• Team-oriented, collaborative attitude
• Exercise effective administrative and technical supervision over professional staff
• High aptitude for critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and strategic planning regarding complex systems and policies
• Write clearly, concisely and effectively regarding complex and often sensitive subject matter
• Evaluate likely impacts of proposals on statewide, agency-wide, industry-wide, stakeholder and member levels within a specific political environment
• Project confidence while being respectful at all times
• Superior judgment and sophisticated sense of discretion in interactions with diverse stakeholders regarding often controversial issues within a dynamic environment
• Quick to adapt to new information and changing circumstances/priorities
• Thrive under pressure
• Highly reliable

Minimum:
• Three years of experience within the last 5 years in a staff, administrative, supervisory and/or policy making capacity in a field closely related to programs of an agency, and which must have included assignments requiring the preparation and presentation of information to agencies, lay groups, other groups, associations or individuals. A Master's degree in a field related to work performed in the agency may be substituted for one year of the required experience

Preferred:
• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Public Administration, Health related field, or related legislative field.

• Successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify), applicable to all newly hired State employees.
• Successfully pass fingerprint background check, prior employment verifications and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• Travel may be required for State business. Employees who drive on state business must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.) AND have an acceptable driving record for the last 39 months including no DUI, suspension or revocations and less than 8 points on your license. If an Out of State Driver License was held within the last 39 months, a copy of your MVR (Motor Vehicle Record) is required prior to driving for State Business. Employees may be required to use their own transportation as well as maintaining valid motor vehicle insurance and current Arizona vehicle registration; however, mileage will be reimbursed.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Among the many benefits of a career with the State of Arizona, there are:
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Vacation and Sick time off (13 and 12 days per year respectively) - start earning it your 1st day (prorated for part-time employees)
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Other Leaves - Bereavement, civic duty, and military.
• A top-ranked retirement program with lifetime pension benefits
• A robust and affordable insurance plan, including medical, dental, life, and disability insurance
• Participation eligibility in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must meet qualifications)
• RideShare and Public Transit Subsidy
• A variety of learning and career development opportunities

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Lifetime Pension Benefit Program
• Administered through the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Defined benefit plan that provides for life-long income upon retirement.
• Required participation for Long-Term Disability (LTD) and ASRS Retirement plan.
• Pre-taxed payroll contributions begin after a 27-week waiting period (prior contributions may waive the waiting period).

Deferred Retirement Compensation Program
• Voluntary participation.
• Program administered through Nationwide.
• Tax-deferred retirement investments through payroll deductions.

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by emailing careers@azahcccs.gov.
Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.