Director, Office of Intergovernmental Relations

ABOUT THE JAWANDO ADMINISTRATION:

In June 2026, Democratic primary voters in Montgomery County chose their next County Executive: Will Jawando, a civil rights lawyer, Obama White House alum, and two-term County Council member who won by the widest margin of victory in an open primary in nearly two decades. He won on a promise to fully fund public schools, build affordable housing, and grow the economy from the bottom up.

Jawando is building his incoming team now, with a mandate to expand housing options and renter protections, invest in early childhood education alongside K-12 schools, treat equity as a standard for every decision, protect immigrant families and federal workers who call the county home, and craft a budget centered on working people. The Director of Intergovernmental Affairs will be a crucial component of turning that mandate into results in Annapolis and Washington, ensuring the County secures the State and Federal partnerships, funding, and legislative protections needed to deliver on it.

ABOUT THE OFFICE:

The Office of Intergovernmental Relations represents the County's interests at the regional, state, and federal levels. The office prepares the County's annual state legislative program and annual federal priorities request, and it serves as the County's liaison with state government and with the County's state and congressional delegations. The office is the lead agency representing the County before the Maryland Association of Counties and the National Association of Counties, managing the legislative programs and priorities that connect Montgomery County's interests to decisions made at every level of government.

DEFINITION OF CLASS:

This is executive level work directing the operation of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations. Contacts are with high ranking legislative and executive officials within County and State Government, officials of equivalent rank in other governmental jurisdictions, and private sector and community organizations or groups. The purposes of the contacts include presenting, justifying and defending controversial positions where conflicting and opposing viewpoints, goals and objectives are strongly advocated and must be reconciled to develop suitable alternatives or arrive at acceptable compromises.

The employee in this class plans, develops, implements, and evaluates governmental lobbying activities designed to improve the relationship between the County and State Governments. The Director represents the County Executive's as well as the County Council's interests in the General Assembly; monitors State legislation and County Executive actions and programs to improve the County's ability to respond to State budget and legislative issues; establishes a liaison with various State departments, agencies, commissions and committees; provides information to County agencies and citizens on local issues before the General Assembly; publishes an annual summary of the bills passed by the Assembly which affect the County; and serves as the County Executive's spokesperson on legislative issues. The work is performed under broadly defined missions and functions and general administrative direction with little technical guidance. The employee exercises full and final accountability for all matters associated with completing work assignments including determining the work to be performed and the methods used. Results of the work are considered technically authoritative and are evaluated in terms of the extent of consideration given to County legislative concerns by the General Assembly. Guidelines consist of broad policy directives and basic legislation, which require the employee to use considerable judgment in interpreting the intent of the guidelines and generating specific policies and guidance for use by subordinate staff in promoting various aspects of the County's legislative agenda. The complexity of the work is reflected in the need for planning and directing a lobbying program aimed at obtaining State Legislators' support for a wide range of County Council and County Executive sponsored legislative initiatives. The work requires consideration of all aspects of Government operation such as economic, societal, land use, and health and welfare, among others, and development of solutions which accommodate conflicting objectives from a variety of organizations, groups and individuals. The work of directing the lobbying program is essential to the mission of the County Government and affects all aspects of citizens' lives throughout the County. The work is primarily sedentary, performed in a typical office setting, and subject to common everyday risks.

Beyond legislative tracking and advocacy, the Director is expected to advance the County's Racial Equity and Social Justice Act through the County's State and Federal agenda, including advocating for policies and funding that protect immigrant families and Federal workers affected by Federal actions, and to ensure that municipalities, community organizations, and civic leaders across the County have a voice in the positions the County advances in Annapolis and Washington.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: (Illustrative Only)

• Establishes and maintains liaison between the County Council, County Executive, the Delegation, and the General Assembly concerning legislative policy issues.
• Works with the County Executive, County Council, and County departments and agencies in the preparation and presentation of local legislation.
• Analyzes proposed legislation, reviews and coordinates statements and testimony, and presents the position of the County Government relative to significant State-wide and local legislation affecting Montgomery County.
• Makes recommendations to the County Executive and County Council for the development of a
• legislative package of statewide interest and is responsible for ensuring the legislation is introduced and given a public hearing and that the County Executive's and County Council's viewpoints on the legislation are presented to the General Assembly.
• Attends subcommittee hearing on legislation, voting sessions, and Delegation meetings and responds to inquiries regarding the legislation.
• Prepares an annual summary of legislation enacted by the General Assembly which affects Montgomery County and is responsible for informing the County Government and citizens of such legislation.
• Represents the County Executive with the Maryland Association of Counties, other County Executives, and the Mayor of Baltimore City.
• Oversees the day-to-day operation of the Office of State Affairs, particularly as it pertains to budget and management functions and the assignment of research duties.
• Performs other related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Extensive knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of public administration with particular emphasis on the legislative process.
• Extensive knowledge of the legal and fiscal relationship between the State and local governments.
• Extensive knowledge or the ability to rapidly acquire such knowledge of the functions and activities of County Government departments and agencies and of the State agencies which deal with the County.
• Skill in analyzing and drafting legislation.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with legislative and executive officials at both the State and County levels as well as civic and private groups.
• Skill in oral and written communication sufficient to develop defenses of, and justifications for, positions advocated.
• Skill in negotiating agreements which accommodate conflicting interests and viewpoints of numerous groups and organizations.
• Ability to attend meetings and perform work assignments at locations outside the office.

RECOMMENDED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience: Extensive (seven (7) years) experience as a legislative analyst or lobbyist or related field, with at least four (4) years in a managerial or supervisory capacity which included responsibility for fund and budget administration, program planning, implementation and administration.

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's Degree in Public

Administration, law or related field.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

LICENSE: None.

SALARY SCALE: $200,000 - $280,000; commensurate with qualifications and experience.

MEDICAL EXAM PROTOCOL: Medical History Review.