Legislative Officer - Non-Merit

Regular Schedule: 34 hours per week

A Non-Merit vacancy exists in the Office of Law.

Non-Merit positions are not classified within the Baltimore County Government Classification and Compensation Plan.

A list of eligible applicants will be established based on the examination as outlined below.

Current and future vacancies occurring in any Office or Department of Baltimore County General Government may be filled from the list of eligible applicants.

All interested candidates must apply at this time.

List all promotions and changes in job duties due to reclassification as separate work experiences on your application. Applicants must include the dates of the promotions and reclassifications.

Note: Failure to complete all fields of the "Work Experience" section of the application will result in your application not being considered. A resume will not be considered in determining your qualifications for a position. Applicants selected for an interview may provide a resume at that time.

You can attach your transcript(s) or license(s) to your application.

Failure to submit proof of Licenses, Certifications and Education will result in your application not being considered. Proof of licenses, certifications, and/or education must be submitted with each application.

Examples of Duties

Baltimore County Office of Government Affairs seeks a Legislative Officer. The Legislative Officer (LO) serves in an important support function within the Office of Government Affairs, assisting the Director and Deputy Director of Government Affairs in efforts to promote Baltimore County’s legislative priorities on the local, state and federal levels of government. The LO, under the supervision of the Director, conducts content and legislative research, tracks legislative initiatives, and writes issue briefs, letters, testimony, and related content.

Examples of Duties

• Conducts policy research, collecting data and information on specific issues, legislative proposals, and actions in other jurisdictions to inform the development of Baltimore County policy priorities and positions on the state and local levels.
• Prepares informational memos, briefing materials, policy analysis and presentations for use by the Office of Government Affairs at internal and external meetings.
• Provides administrative support to the Office of Government Affairs, including but not limited to, coordinating and scheduling meetings at the request of elected and public officials, creating agendas and briefings materials, compiling meeting notes, and filing/disseminating follow-up materials, as necessary.
• Monitors, attends, and reports on state and local legislative hearings and committee meetings at the direction of the Director.
• Monitors, attends, and prepares weekly notes of Council work sessions, legislative meetings, and other relevant meeting of the Baltimore County Council.
• Serves as a liaison to the Baltimore County Council and Council aides and the Baltimore County Delegation of the Maryland General Assembly.
• Maintains document management including writing, preparing, and electronically submitting testimony, letters, amendments, and related legislative materials.
• Engages Executive Office Communications and Scheduling, and Departmental leaders as necessary, to gather information for press statements, fact sheets, and web content related to legislative initiatives on behalf of the Director.
• Assists with bill tracking and departmental review process for state and local legislation; runs regular reports on priority bills and communicates regularly with departmental liaisons to ensure County bill positions and testimony adequately reflect the needs of the County.
• Prepares materials for recurring legislative meetings with the County Executive and senior staff, including agendas, bill lists, and timely updates, in coordination with the Director and Deputy Director
• Assists Government Affairs Team in resolving constituent issues that come through elected officials’ offices, including outreach to relevant agencies, providing timely responses and follow-up with officials’ offices, and tracking engagement and outcomes.
• Other duties as may be assigned to support the legislative and intergovernmental responsibilities of the Office.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, political science or related disciplines
• And/or has at least two years of public sector experience
• Ability to balance multiple tasks efficiently, provide attention to detail and meet deadlines
• Ability to research and retain information on briefs and materials on a wide variety of policy topics and issue areas
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a dynamic team
• Strong oral and written communication skills; strong organizational and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in social media platforms
• Proficiency with Office Applications and Web-based systems, including SharePoint, Word, Excel, and Microsoft Teams.
• Flexibility; ability to flex schedule to accommodate evening hearings, work sessions, and occasional events.

Conditions of Employment

Employment Background Investigation
Applicants selected for an appointment to a position in Baltimore County must successfully complete an employment background investigation, including, but not limited to a criminal background, education, and fingerprint check.

Employment Benefits for Non-Merit or Non-Classified, Part-Time Employees

Baltimore County General Government offers the following benefits to part-time, non-merit or non-classified employees. New employees are eligible for benefits upon hire, unless noted otherwise.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Baltimore County is an equal opportunity employer and encourages minority, female and disabled applicants.

Smoke free workplace
All Baltimore County offices are smoke free.

Drug free workplace
Baltimore County provides a drug free workplace. Prospective employees are required to submit to urinalysis drug testing as part of the pre-employment physical examination.

Employee Assistance Program
Our Employee Assistance Program provides confidential and professional assessment and referral assistance for employees and eligible dependents in the household who are experiencing personal problems that may be affecting work performance, job satisfaction, or overall quality of life.

Health Insurance
In order to qualify for health insurance benefits (medical, prescription, dental and vision insurance), part-time employees must be scheduled for four (4) full work days plus two (2) hours each week.

Health Insurance benefits elected become effective the first day of the month following the date of hire if the employee has completed online enrollment prior to that date. New employees must enroll within thirty (30) calendar days of hire. Plans offered include:

Medical, Prescription, Dental and Vision insurance.

Flexible Spending Accounts
Opportunity to set aside pre-tax dollars, through payroll deduction, for eligible unreimbursed medical care expenses and/or dependent care costs.

Life Insurance
In order to qualify for life insurance benefits, part-time employees must be scheduled for four (4) full work days plus two (2) hours each week.

Employees may elect basic term life insurance for themselves equal to one time the employee's annual salary, rounded to the next higher $1,000. Employees contribute a portion of the premium through monthly payroll deductions. The County also offers an Additional/Employee paid Life Insurance plan with coverage up to $100,000.

Retirement
Employees are required to participate in the Baltimore County Employees' Retirement System, with very limited exceptions.

Paid Leave
Sick Leave - Monthly sick leave earnings prorated based on the number of hours worked per week. No maximum on accrual. Accrued balance can be applied toward service credit at retirement.

Vacation Leave - Monthly vacation leave earnings prorated based on the number of hours worked per week. Earnings increase after five, ten and fifteen years of service generally.

Holidays - Part-time 30 to 39 hour non-merit or non-classified employees will generally be paid for ten holidays per calendar year. Other part-time, non-merit or non-classified employees working 29 hours per week or less will receive two paid holidays per calendar year. These holidays are the Christmas holiday and the Independence Day holiday.

Bereavement Leave
Jury Leave
Military Leave

Baltimore County Employees Federal Credit Union
Membership in Baltimore County Employees Federal Credit Union offers a full range of savings programs, loans, checking, direct deposit, payroll deduction, savings bonds, and other financial services.

Direct Deposit
Payroll through direct deposit to the financial institution selected by employee is required.

Deferred Compensation
Nationwide Retirement Solutions offers a 457 retirement plan allowing for payroll contributions of tax deferred dollars to investment options of your choice.