State and Local Legislative Policy Analyst

Job Description

Job Description

Are you passionate about economic fairness and social justice? Do you want to improve the lives of working people and strengthen the labor movement? If you answered, “Yes!,” then the AFL-CIO may be the right place for you. We are the largest federation of labor unions in the United States, and our team of dynamic professionals is dedicated to growing worker power and ensuring every working person has a voice on the job. When you work at the AFL-CIO, you’re more than just an individual employee—you’re helping to lead a movement with a proud history and a bright future ahead.

The AFL-CIO Advocacy Hub unifies the labor movement around a pro-worker policy agenda, developing, coordinating, and advancing it in the halls of power.

The State & Local Legislative Policy Analyst serves as a core strategic partner within the State Advocacy team, supporting the development, coordination, and execution of the Federation’s state and local legislative agenda. The position plays a critical role in ensuring continuity, depth, and readiness across the organization’s state and local legislative portfolio.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

● Evaluate legislative proposals to assess policy impacts, political, and strategic implications for state and local stakeholders.

● Track and identify emerging trends, cross-state patterns, risks, and opportunities.

● Provide clear, actionable policy analysis to inform leadership decision-making.

● Produce high-quality written materials, including policy memos, briefs, legislative summaries, talking points, and analytical reports.

● Write and verbally communicate clear and concise policy findings.

● Ensure work products are accurate, timely, and suitable for senior leadership, affiliates, and partners.

● Contribute substantively during planning, prioritization, and rapid-response situations.

● Coordinate with internal departments, including Office of the General Counsel, Advocacy, Communications, and Research teams, to incorporate relevant legal, policy, and strategic perspectives into analysis.

● Support alignment between federal priorities and state-level legislative efforts.

● Track and analyze state legislative activity within assigned issue areas.

● Prepare regular legislative updates, including daily, weekly, and end-of-session reports that synthesize activity and implications.

● Support planning and execution of national and regional legislative convenings, including preparation of background materials and strategic summaries.

● Assist with staffing and policy support for the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and the AFL-CIO's National Labor Caucus (NLC).

● Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

● Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Economics, Business, Industrial and Labor Relations, History, Sociology, Public Policy, or a related field is required.

● Master’s degree or a Juris Doctor degree is beneficial.

● At least five (5) years of work experience in legislative and policy issues.

● At least three (3) years of experience within the labor movement or allied advocacy environment.

● Demonstrated strong policy analysis ability.

● Demonstrated experience in tracking and analyzing state legislative issues.

● Demonstrated excellent public speaking skills.

● Effective time-management skills, including the demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks and projects.

● Proficiency in web-based research tools, including Policy Note, Quorum, LexisNexis, and standard office software (word processing, spreadsheets, email programs).

● Demonstrated superior verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to adjust tone and arguments for a variety of audiences.

● Demonstrated ability to work effectively in politically sensitive and high-pressure environments.

● Demonstrated ability to work independently in line with established strategic priorities.

● Demonstrated superior attention to detail.

● Demonstrated ability to build and work effectively within team-based environments, in both lead and support roles.

● Ability to travel in the performance of the duties of the job.

Top candidates will receive a writing exercise.