Legislative and Communications Analyst

Initial Posting Date:

09/09/2024

Application Deadline:

09/22/2024

Agency:

Higher Education Coordinating Commission

Salary Range:

$4,136 - $6318

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Legislative and Communications Analyst

Job Description:

Legislative and Communications Analyst

FT/Perm

Office of the Executive Director

Salem, Oregon

REQ - 164934

Come for a job. | Stay for a career. | Make a difference… for a lifetime!

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) has a new and exciting career opportunity as a Legislative and Communications Analyst (Operations and Policy Analyst 1) in the Executive Director’s office, Communications team . This position is a full-time, unrepresented position.

Why Join Us

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) envisions a future in which all Oregonians benefit from the transformational power of high-quality postsecondary education and training. Come work with a team that values equity, affordable access to education, and lifelong learning within beautiful Salem, Oregon!

Agency Values - Transparency, Equity, Integrity, Trust, Collaboration, Accountability, Lifelong Learning

Check out our vision - The Higher Education Coordinating Commission

Equitable Recruiting

The HECC strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet every one of our qualifications listed. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of these positions, please feel free to contact us to discuss your application.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every one of the qualifications listed. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a non-traditional background.

What You Will Be Doing

The primary purpose of this position is to coordinate and administer various aspects of communications and legislative engagement work in support of the Commissions’ goals to improve equitable access to postsecondary education and training statewide. Primary areas of work include: coordination, planning and project management of communications projects in a highly collaborative environment; development of communications materials in multiple formats; analysis and support of communications systems (including website, email marketing, social media, and intranet); establishing, facilitating, and overseeing a Rules Advisory Committee and other processes related to the development of agency administrative rules; legislative bill tracking and analysis; and oversight of processes for agency rule development and engagement. This position will help the HECC to increase our agency capacity to achieve communications and legislative goals, develop and respond to initiatives, and increase inclusive engagement with diverse audiences, legislators, and partners.

Duties Include

Planning, analysis, and coordination:

• Providing analysis, planning, and guidance on agency-wide communications and legislative strategies to achieve strategic goals, working with leadership and staff across the agency. Focus strategies and processes on inclusive engagement with diverse partners.
• Manage collaborative communications projects across the agency, facilitating and convening inter-office teams and processes.

Legislative workflow management and analysis:

• Track and evaluate legislative measures, primarily focused on workforce development, to identify their effect and determine opportunities for agency engagement in the legislative process.
• Collaborate with workforce teams to determine implementation plans for key legislative initiatives.

Development of strategic communications and legislative materials and content:

• Contribute writing, editing, creative development, graphic/visual design, and delivery of strategic agency communications materials, including reports, newsletters, web content, media releases, social media content, presentations, infographics, and other content to achieve agency goals and advance initiatives.
• Draft testimony and other materials for legislative engagement.
• Collaborate with numerous contributors on communications materials and customize materials for audiences.
• Contribute to media responses, proactive media relations, and other public engagement activities.

Management of communications systems:

• Manage and develop communications policies, protocols, training resources, internal templates, and branding tools to promote a unified communications approach across the agency.
• Serve as lead website content manager and technical expert with agency staff for the communications technology systems serving the agency, including the agency website, social media accounts, the email marketing program, and the intranet.
• Lead and train inter-office teams focused on management of digital communications systems to ensure accessibility, accuracy, and up to date content.

Management of administrative rules processes:

• Establish, coordinate, lead and oversee new HECC Rules Advisory Committee process.
• Facilitate the agency rulemaking process, including the filings processes with the Secretary of State.

For a complete list of duties and working conditions, please contact the recruiter for the position description.

Working Conditions

• Daily team interactions.
• Open office environment.
• Extensive computer use.
• Simultaneous work on multiple tasks with frequent interruptions.
• Requires remaining stationary for extended periods.
• Requires physical activity normally associated with filing and sitting for extended periods, occasional bending, stooping, and walking to meetings within the building.
• This position requires statewide and occasional out-of-state travel; some weekend duty, occasional evening meetings; and work weeks that extend beyond 40 hours. This position is required to either possess and maintain a valid driver's license by the state of residence or provide an acceptable mode of alternative transportation, in order to travel to required training and meetings. Additionally, in state and occasional out of state travel may be required for mandatory training and meetings.

This position will be headquartered at HECC’s Salem Office. Currently, the Executive Director’s office has a 1-day minimum in office for most positions, which is subject to change to meet position and operational needs. There may be additional in-office expectations during the training period; the details of the work schedule will be finalized with your supervisor.

Desired Attributes/Skills

• Strong organizational and project management skills and experience
• Strong writing, editing, and strategic communication skills and experience
• Interpersonal, teamwork, and collaboration skills
• Skills and experience in interpreting and laws, rules, policies and procedures and applying interpretations to specific situations
• Skills and experience in design of professional communications materials in multiple formats
• Ability to analyze, evaluate and solve procedural problems
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences
• Skills in website content management and the ability to learn and apply new technology and skills.

If you have these qualities, let us know! It’s how we will choose whom to move forward!

Minimum Qualifications (Required Skills)

A Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration; Political Science; English, Journalism, History or another field in the Humanities; Behavioral or Social Sciences; Business; or any degree demonstrating the capacity for the knowledge and skills.

OR - Any combination of experience or education equivalent to three years technical-level experience that typically supports the knowledge and skill requirements listed for the classification.

The Benefits

• Competitive medical, vision and dental benefits package for the employee and qualified family members.
• Opportunity to participate in a deferred compensation savings program.
• A fabulous retirement program. Click here to visit our full benefits website.
• Work-life balance.
• 11 paid holidays per year.
• 3 additional paid "Personal Business Days" per year.
• 8 hours of sick leave accumulated every month.
• Progressive vacation leave accrual, starting at 8 hours per month, with increases every 5 years.

How to Apply

*Current State of Oregon Employees: Please apply through the Career worklet within your Employee Workday Profile*

• Click the apply button and fill in the application fields.
• Complete the questionnaire.
• Upload your resume.
• Attach a cover letter - Limit to no more than two (2) pages and clearly demonstrates how your education and work experience meet the desired attributes of this position.

Help Your Application Rise to the Top!

Your candidate profile, cover letter, and resume are the perfect opportunity to highlight your interest in the position and showcase the amazing skills and experience, making you the best candidate for the position. Candidates whose training and/or experience most closely match the requirements and needs of the position and who attach all necessary documents will be eligible for an interview. Submissions will be screened for consistency of information and communication skills at the professional level (attention to detail, spelling, grammar, etc.)

Need help?

Contact Jenny Chadwick, HR Analyst, at jenny.chadwick@hecc.oregon.gov or call (971) 372-1275 with questions about the recruitment and selection process (e.g., supplemental questions, clarification of job announcement information, etc.) If you need an alternate format in order to complete the application process, please contact Jenny and be prepared to describe the alternate format needed.

The Fine Print

Salary Range: The range listed is the Non-PERS salary range. Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) participating members will have their base salary increased by 6.95% and pay a 6% employee contribution to PERS.

Veterans: If you are a veteran you may receive preference. A request will be sent to your applicant inbox to submit your veteran’s DD214 form. Click here for more information about veterans’ preference.

Criminal Records Check: Employment maybe is contingent on the outcome of a criminal records check which may require fingerprints (FBI). Any history of criminal activity will be reviewed and could result in the withdrawal of an offer or termination of employment.

Future Vacancies: We may use the candidates from this posting to fill future vacancies.

Visa Sponsorship: We do not offer Visa sponsorships. If you are hired, you will be required to fill out the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming you are able to work in the US.

The HECC is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) Employer Committed to Workforce Diversity Employment Opportunity Commission under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). HECC does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring, and employment practices.