Location:
1000 Red River
Austin, Texas, 78701
United States
Government Affairs Associate or Specialist
| Requisition ID: |
req1153 |
Employment Type: |
Unclassified Temporary Full-Time (UFP) |
| Division: |
Government Affairs |
Compensation: |
Compensation based on education and Experience |
| | Closing Date: |
November 17th at 5:00 pm, CST |
WHO WE ARE:
Service, Respect, and Connection are core to the individual and collective TRS experience. We know that great service rests on a foundation of relationships that connect us all to an empowering and rewarding career. At TRS, we’re inspired by our diverse community who bring authenticity and commitment to our mission to improve the retirement security of public education employees and retirees throughout Texas.
As a group of achievers, we tap collaboration and innovation to raise the bar in performance, administering and counseling pensions and healthcare benefits to ensure certainty for the future of our members. We invite you to join us, where both personal and career growth are respected and where you can make a difference in our members’ lives every day.
This is a full-time, limited term assignment that will start on December 1, 2024, and end on August 31, 2025. Must be willing to work under tight deadlines and work similar hours to the Texas Legislature.
The Government Affairs Specialist Associate is responsible for performing legislative and consultative work. The incumbent will assist with planning, organizing, coordinating, and monitoring activities related to legislation: assist with developing and implementing strategies and programs to promote effective governmental relations; communicate with government officials and represent the agency at legislative hearings; respond to legislative inquiries; and provide tracking, analysis and implementation of legislation. This position will proactively work with executive management, members of legislative staff, and employees. This position will work under the direction of the Deputy Director of Government Affairs
The Government Affairs Specialist Associate is responsible for performing legislative and consultative work. The incumbent will assist with planning, organizing, coordinating, and monitoring activities related to legislation: assist with developing and implementing strategies and programs to promote effective governmental relations; communicate with government officials and represent the agency at legislative hearings; respond to legislative inquiries; and provide tracking, analysis and implementation of legislation. This position will proactively work with executive management, members of legislative staff, and employees. This position will work under the direction of the Deputy Director of Government Affairs
This vacancy will be filled at one of two levels - Government Affairs Specialist Associate or Government Affairs Specialist. Selected applicant will be offered the position that most closely matches their education and experience.
Salary Range
Government Affairs Specialist Associate - $75,000 - $100,000 annually
Government Affairs Specialist - $90,000 - $120,000 annually
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
Legislative Action Analysis
•Tracks legislative and government entities actions of interest to TRS.
•Reviews legislation and bill action reports
•Monitors and reports on committee hearings and floor action.
•Analyzes and reports on the impact of proposed legislation on TRS operations and members.
•Coordinates requested agency response on legislation and developing briefing material.
•Assists with the development of bill folders and hearing materials.
•Assists with the agency’s response to requests for information from legislative and government entities.
•Assists with training and advising the Board of Trustees, executive management and agency staff on the legislative process, status of pending legislation and other government affairs and legislative issues.
•Assists with the preparation of the compilation and analysis of data, and the preparation and presentation of periodic and ad hoc reports, surveys, forms, tables, and charts.
•Participates on agency projects and committees.
Strategy and Program Development
•Assists with planning, developing, and implementing strategies and programs to promote effective agency relationships with legislative and executive officials and their staff.
•Establishes and maintains positive contacts with federal and state legislators and their staffs, the governor’s office, and other government agencies and officials.
•Assists with the development of the agency’s legislative responses and fiscal notes.
•Represents the agency at legislative meetings and coordinating TRS testimony, including preparing testimony for agency executives.
•Assists with or responds to complex telephone and written inquiries regarding TRS laws, rules, operations and member account status received from legislators or other government officials.
•Assists with planning, organizing, coordinating, and monitoring activities and operations of the Government Affairs Department. (Government Affairs Specialist)
•Performs related work as assigned.
WHAT YOU WILL BRING:
Required Education
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in government, political science, public policy, communications, business administration, or a closely related field.
Required Experience
• One (1) year of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience in governmental affairs, as a legislative liaison, or related experience (Government Affairs Specialist Associate)
• Three (3) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience in governmental affairs, as a legislative liaison, or related experience.(Government Affairs Specialist)
• At least one legislative session in the Texas Capitol.
Preferred Qualifications
• Direct experience in Texas legislative committee.
• Direct participation in at least one legislative session.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:
• Familiar with the workings of Texas legislature.
• Knowledge of agency reporting relationships, areas of responsibility and operations.
• Various legislative tracking resources.
• Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives rules and procedures.
Skills in:
• Writing and communicating, including preparing and delivering complex constituent correspondence, reports, presentations, bill summaries, and talking points.
• Analyzing legislation and making policy recommendations.
• Planning, organizing, tracking and prioritizing legislation to manage a high-volume workload in a fast-paced and changing environment, meeting frequent and/or multiple deadlines, and managing conflicting priorities and demands.
Ability to:
• Present legislative briefings to staff.
• Establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with TRS members, elected officials and their staff, and other stakeholders.
• Conduct independent research.
• Collaborate with executive level colleagues and other managers on assignments.
• Work effectively in a professional team environment and independently.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Codes:
Veterans, Reservists or Guardsmen with experience in the Military Occupational Specialty (
https://www.trs.texas.gov/files/trs-military-crosswalk.xlsx
) along with the minimum qualifications listed above may meet the minimum requirements and are highly encouraged to apply. Please contact Talent Acquisition at
careers@trs.texas.gov
with questions or for additional information.
To view all job vacancies, visit www.trs.texas.gov/careers
or www.trs.csod.com/careersite.
For more information, visit www.trs.texas.gov.
