Director of Legislative Affairs

Introduction

The Director of Legislative Affairs reports to the Chief of Staff and serves as a direct manager for legislative aides senior legislative aides and certain legislative fellows in coordination with the Policy Director and other senior staff as appropriate.

The Director mentors staff identifies learning gaps supports recruitment and retention and helps maintain a strong internal staff pipeline for the caucus and state government. The position plays a central role in onboarding training performance review staff support and early dispute resolution. As part of the staff mission of supporting legislators and the public the Director in coordination with the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff is expected to act as a short-term backstop in situations where Legislative aide performance is unable to meet the needs of their legislator or their constituents.

The Director is expected to maintain regular communication with members and staff assess whether staff assignments are meeting member needs and address concerns before they become larger operational problems.

In coordination with the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff the Director also helps manage formal staff feedback systems including annual performance evaluations staff check-ins and annual staff surveys designed to identify operational concerns training needs and opportunities to improve caucus support.

Summary Statement

The Director of Legislative Affairs is a senior caucus staff position responsible for legislative operations committee management staff development stakeholder coordination and strategic support for the House Majority Caucus.

The Director supports the Chief of Staff Speaker leadership team members legislative staff fellows and policy staff to ensure legislative work constituent services committee coverage and internal operations are coordinated professional and responsive.

The role requires strong judgment discretion staff-management experience knowledge of state government and the ability to manage complex assignments in a fast-paced legislative environment. The Director is expected to anticipate issues resolve problems early and strengthen caucus systems staff culture and external relationships.

Essential Functions

Management Mentorship and Culture
Supervise support and mentor legislative aides senior legislative aides and assigned legislative fellows in coordination with the Chief of Staff Policy Director and other senior staff.
Conduct standing meetings organic check-ins and performance reviews with staff and elected members to assess staff needs identify concerns and support professional growth.
Help recruit interview hire onboard train and support legislative staff and fellows including participation in dispute processes and succession planning when needed.
Promote recruitment and retention by strengthening staff culture supporting future planning for staff and maintaining positive relationships with staff who move into other roles in state government or related fields.
Develop or update guidance documents onboarding materials training resources and internal processes to fill learning gaps especially for newer staff.
Coordinate the annual staff survey process with the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff including developing questions encouraging candid feedback reviewing results identifying trends and recommending improvements to caucus operations communication training morale and staff support.
Oversee the annual staff performance evaluation process in partnership with the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff including collecting member feedback reviewing staff input where appropriate identifying strengths and areas for improvement and assisting with follow-up meetings coaching conversations or performance plans.

Management and Legislative Operations
Lead coordination of the committee schedule committee planning room assignments agenda requests meeting preparation and related logistics in partnership with the Policy Director policy analysts legislative aides and other staff.
Ensure committee-related information is shared with the appropriate members and staff in a timely organized and useful manner.
Synthesize notable committee actions testimony member comments stakeholder concerns amendments and emerging issues for the Chief of Staff and leadership.
Coordinate with policy staff on committee work assigned to legislative fellows and ensure fellows receive appropriate guidance and oversight.
Continue to improve and refine House committee operations process through each successive session of the General Assembly.

Support and Constituent Issue Resolution
Maintain open communication with legislators to assess whether staff assignments constituent work committee coverage and district support are meeting member needs.
Assist in resolving member concerns involving legislative aides senior legislative aides fellows agency responsiveness constituent matters or committee support.
Work with individual constituents constituent groups community organizations and public agencies to gather information resolve conflicts present issues or disseminate information when appropriate.
Identify recurring district or constituent issues and elevate patterns to members senior staff policy staff or leadership.
Serve as a backstop for situations where staff are unable to meet the needs of their members and their constituents.

Stakeholder and Strategic & Support
Provide accurate and timely research recommendations and background information on legislative issues and proposals.
Engage stakeholders legislators agencies and outside partners on policy initiatives and caucus priorities.
Work with the Communications Director and communications staff to support messaging plans for legislation caucus initiatives and special projects.
Provide research and consultation to leadership and members on administrative operational procedural or policy issues affecting the caucus.
Develop tactics and strategies that respond to changing priorities member needs legislative dynamics and emerging challenges.

External Relationships and Governmental Liaison Work
Develop and manage training opportunities for legislative aides senior legislative aides fellows and senior staff with outside partners such as NCSL CSG state agencies the Governors Office the judicial branch community organizations nonprofits and other relevant partners.
Serve as a general liaison between the caucus and executive branch agencies when helpful particularly when members or staff need assistance obtaining information or resolving agency-related issues.
Strengthen connectivity between caucus staff and other branches of government to improve responsiveness professional development and institutional knowledge.
Represent the caucus on assigned committees task forces project teams or external meetings as directed.
Represent members at community gatherings stakeholder meetings and public events when needed.

Duties
Maintain awareness of statewide issues agency developments caucus priorities House Rules legislative procedures and political dynamics affecting members and staff.
Support caucus operations staff planning and legislative strategy during session and interim periods.
Perform additional tasks as assigned by the Chief of Staff Speaker or leadership.

Job Requirements

Please attach a resume with your online application or use the resume tab in DEL to provide a detailed description of how your education training and/or experience meets each job requirement including employer experience/responsibilities and dates (month/year) of employment/training.

1. Bachelors degree in Public Administration Political Science Business Administration Communications or a related field; Equivalent legislative or administrative experience may be substituted.
2. Three to five years of progressively responsible administrative governmental or legislative experience.
3. Experience working in a legislative governmental or public sector environment is preferred.
4. Knowledge of parliamentary procedure is highly desirable.

Additional Posting Information

• Work is performed primarily in a professional office environment within Legislative Hall.
• Extended hours including evenings weekends and holidays are required during legislative session and other periods of legislative activity.
• Position requires attendance during all scheduled House sessions and special sessions.
• Frequent interaction with elected officials legislative staff executive agencies and members of the public.

Position Characteristics:

This position is one of trust and confidence within the Delaware House of Representatives. The Director of Legislative Affairs must demonstrate professionalism impartiality integrity discretion and a comprehensive understanding of legislative operations while supporting the constitutional procedural and administrative responsibilities of the House. The position serves as a key steward of institutional knowledge and operational continuity helping preserve the traditions procedures and effective functioning of the Delaware House of Representatives across successive General Assemblies.

Benefits

The House of Representatives also offers paid sick and annual leave time public employee retirement benefits and medical vision and dental benefits with an employee share.

Selection Process

Once you have submitted your application on-line all future correspondence related to your application will be sent via email. Please keep your contact information current. You may also view all correspondence sent to you by the State of Delaware in the My Applications tab .

The application and resume are evaluated based upon a rating of your education training and experience as they relate to the job requirements of the position. It is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application and resume to include dates of employment job title and job duties. For education and training list name of educational provider training course titles and summary of course content. Narrative information supplied in response to the questions must be supported by the information supplied on the application including your employment education and training history as it relates to the job requirements.

Accommodations

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process.

Individuals who use TDD may request auxiliary aid or service by calling or by visiting .

If you need assistance with an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or general applicant support you may call or email .

The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race color religion age sex national origin disability status genetics protected veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or expression.

Required Experience:

Director