Job Overview

Position Profile

The Office of Program Research (OPR) is currently seeking candidates for two post-graduate fellowships: the BUDGET FELLOWSHIP and the POLICY FELLOWSHIP.

• The Budget Fellow will serve as a Fiscal Analyst with the House Appropriations Committee, which considers the operating budget bill and related legislation, budget processes, and fiscal issues. The committee also considers bills with operating budget fiscal impacts.
• The Policy Fellow will serve as a Research Analyst or Counsel with one or more House policy committees, which consider legislation relating to a broad array of policy areas consistent with committee descriptions.

These fellowships include specialized training on legislative process and other subjects related to committee assignments, such as budget development and bill drafting. As part of OPR, these fellowships are nonpartisan and exempt from civil service laws. These are full-time, temporary positions with anticipated start dates by October 1, 2025, and end dates of August 31, 2026.

Responsibilities

How You’ll Be Expected to Contribute

• Meeting office standards for nonpartisanship, objectivity, and confidentiality.
• Developing subject matter expertise for assigned agencies, programs, or policies.
• Conducting research and analysis.
• Analyzing budget proposals and/or policy options.
• Drafting budget provisos and/or legislation as well as staff reports.
• Developing and evaluating options to assist House members in meeting their goals.
• Presenting and explaining budget proposals and/or legislation.

Qualifications

The Successful Candidate Will Meet These Qualifications

• Candidates must be available for full-time work beginning October 1, 2025, and must have graduated after January 1, 2024, or expect to graduate by January 1, 2026, from one of the following types of graduate programs:
• For the Budget Fellow:
  • a Masters or Ph.D. program in public administration, business, economics, or an allied field.
• For the Policy Fellow:
  • a Masters or Ph.D. program in public administration or an allied field or a J.D or other graduate program in law.

The successful candidates will also have:

• A substantial interest in a career in public service.
• An interest in budget development or policy development.
• An ability to perform high quality, objective research and analysis.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite and other relevant computer applications. (For the Budget Fellow, a demonstrated ability to use Excel is necessary.)
• Excellent research, writing, oral presentation, and organizational skills.
• A proactive, creative, flexible, collaborative, and service-oriented approach to work.
• An ability to deal effectively with the complex situations found in the fast-paced, high pressure legislative environment.
• An ability to develop and maintain cordial, effective working relationships.
• An ability to work independently and within a team.
• An ability to work the long, irregular hours that are common during a legislative session.

Work Environment

Conditions of Employment/Working Conditions

Session - An on-site/in-person presence on the Capitol Campus in Olympia is generally required during session. Some telework outside of normal business hours may be authorized in limited circumstances. The hours typically exceed 40 hours weekly, are often irregular, and may include evenings, weekends, and holidays during sessions.

Interim - Interim schedules allow for more flexibility. In-state telework is allowed during interim for up to five days per week with an expectation to have an on-site/in-person presence when requested.

Benefits

Employee benefits include vacation and sick leave; paid state holidays; health, life, and other optional insurance; retirement; social security; and military leave.

About the Organization

The House of Representatives (House) comprises half of the Washington State Legislature and is made of 98 members, elected to serve two-year terms representing 49 legislative districts. The House employs 250 full-time year-round staff and 100 temporary session staff and interns. The Legislature meets annually beginning on the second Monday in January in the Capitol Building in Olympia. Regular legislative sessions take place January through March in even-numbered years and January through April in odd-numbered years. Special legislative sessions occur as needed.

Our workplace is on the beautiful Capitol Campus in Olympia. The 486-acre campus includes the Legislative Building and other historic structures, as well as popular parks and trails with views of Capitol Lake, Budd Inlet, and the Olympic Mountains.

The House of Representatives holds themselves to the Legislative Code of Conduct which expects the following:

• We conduct ourselves with self-awareness, self-respect, and professionalism;
• We treat others with respect, dignity, and civility, regardless of status or position; and
• We refrain from engaging in hostile, intimidating, offensive, or unlawful activities or behaviors that may amount to discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, or bullying.

How to Apply

Please submit the below items combined in one document

1. A letter of interest (1 page) specifically addressing your qualifications and specifying the fellowship(s) of interest to you;
2. A current resume (1 page);
3. An unofficial graduate school transcript;
4. A minimum of three professional or academic references with email addresses and telephone numbers.