General Characteristics

The Energy Program of NCSL is seeking a Senior Policy Specialist to perform legislative research, analysis,  and project management focusing on energy issues.  This professional position requires demonstrated competence in research and analytical skills, project management.  The position also requires independence and initiative, expertise across the energy industry and an in-depth knowledge and understanding of state legislatures and NCSL.  A senior policy specialist has a inter/national network of professional contacts in the energy field.   

Contact with legislators, legislative staff, federal officials and other officials outside of NCSL is extensive, including discussions or presentations at meetings and before legislative committees, and involves work with legislative committee staff.  A Senior Policy Specialist produces high quality work that does not require close continuing review, operates effectively and skillfully in any NCSL forum, and can handle independently and with a high degree of competence the full range of tasks and services of a program.

Responsibilities and Expectations

Typical duties include most of the following:

Project Management and Coordination

• Participates and assists other managers in developing program budgets, goals, and priorities.
• Coordinates activities with other staff in the program.
• Independently identifies and develops relations with new funding sources.
• Negotiates with funding agents concerning budget, deliverables, specifications, and schedules including the most sensitive negotiations to commit the organization's resources without compromising policy or services.

Research and Policy Analysis

• Anticipates emerging issues of importance to state legislatures and initiates research, technical assistance, or seminar programs to respond.
• Conducts complex, integrative research projects with an understanding of their political context and can provide substantive advice and intricate policy interpretations to legislators and legislative staff.
• Develops and maintains networks with other public interest groups, the private sector, and state, federal or other governmental officials, thus helping to promote NCSL positions, activities or programs.
• Coordinates research efforts between projects in an NCSL program and with other organizations to enhance policy formulation and program development.
• Participates in planning, work plan development and issue identification for a program.

Writing and Information Dissemination

• Identifies opportunities and initiates ideas for presentations, publications, technical assistance workshops, videotapes, letters, memos, newsletters and articles.
• Writes skillfully and with minimal need for editing for the full range of publications including books and magazine articles.

Meetings, Seminars and Technical Assistance

• Initiates innovative approaches to technical assistance programs, concurrent sessions, and seminars.
• Independently plans, organizes and conducts comprehensive and balanced technical assistance programs, major state or regional conferences and national seminars and may play the lead role in coordinating the work of other professional staff in large, multi-topic seminars.
• Independently manages multi-state or particularly complex technical assistance efforts.
• Provides technical assistance to states that goes beyond general information dissemination and includes state-specific policy analysis and options, and in-depth problem solving.

Organizational Support

• May manage and staff a committee, task force, staff section, subcommittee, advisory group or ongoing working group.
• Develops concepts for new projects in one's own and other subject areas, initiates proposals for new activities or funding opportunities, and independently develops complex project budgets and grant applications.
• Assists with developing relations and conducting negotiations with new funding sources.
• Establishes and maintains effective relations with leaders, legislators and legislative staff involved with difficult issues, states, or special constituencies.
• Represents NCSL in substantive discussions and can explain and interpret NCSL programs and policies.
• Performs other responsibilities as assigned.

Supervision Exercised

May supervise one or two professional staff on an ongoing basis or serve as coordinator of a team of other professionals on a short-term project.

Minimum Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree plus six years of relevant and progressive work experience.  The following work experience or some equivalent combination is preferred: two years of professional experience at the level of a Policy Specialist with NCSL or another organization, two years of state or federal legislative or government experience, and two years of professional experience in the assigned subject area.  Post baccalaureate education is preferred, and up to three years of post baccalaureate education may be substituted for the required work experience.
• Excellent writing, speaking, research, analytic and organizational skills.
• Skill and competence in working effectively with legislators and legislative staff and dealing with politically sensitive constituencies.
• Excellence in working independently and under pressure on multiple projects.
• Skill and competence in the interpersonal skills needed to supervise, coordinate and lead others.
• Substantial knowledge and technical expertise in assigned policy areas.
• Able to maintain confidentiality and handle politically sensitive work.

Closing Date:  May 15, 2008