For more information, please follow this link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3644342/special-assistant-for-federal-affairs-exempt

Salary– $95,713.00 – $103,000.00 Annually

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop implementation actions for federal strategy, including annual budget request, federal legislative priorities, and relationship building needs; provide guidance and technical assistance to agency leadership on federal matters; and lead and coordinate cross-programmatic process to ensure agency readiness in responding to federal issues. 
• Develop innovative approaches to address federal policy issues: 

1. Work closely with the Puget Sound Federal Task Force and its constituent agencies to develop and execute Puget Sound and salmon recovery initiatives. Serve as the agency point of contact for federal agencies to coordinate on their implementation of the Puget Sound Federal Task Force Action Plan. 
2. Work closely with local, state, and tribal partners to identify and remove barriers at the federal level, including those arising from forums with Local Integrating Organizations, the Leadership Council, and other Partnership boards. 
3. Exercise diplomacy to convene or support collaborative discussions among senior government and tribal officials to support productive paths forward in alignment with the agency’s mission and vision and work to remove key barriers to progress. 

• Collaborate with other state agency federal affairs personnel to identify and pursue Puget Sound and salmon recovery-related initiatives, and support other agencies’ initiatives as appropriate, at the federal level. 
• Provide targeted bill analysis and Congressional testimony. 
• Develop written and/or oral briefings as requested by the Executive Director (including those serving to inform board members or other external senior officials) 
• Work with the Communications Team to tell our story at the federal level. 
• Consult routinely with the Deputy Director, Tribal Liaison, and Boards Program Manager to help promote alignment between boards, Puget Sound Tribes and external groups on federal initiatives.
• Assist the Executive Director with organizing and running the annual Puget Sound Day on the Hill event, and work with the Legislative Affairs Director to organize an annual Puget Sound Day on the Sound event. 
• As needed, organize Congressional tours and/or support other agencies’ efforts to do so. 
• Apply adaptive management best practices and common language to all special projects, processes, and communications through collaboration with Partnership staff and external partners. 

Qualifications

Required Experience, Competencies and Technical Skills (experience may be concurrent):

         
OR

Associates degree focusing on environmental management, public policy, planning or related field with four years’ experience working with federal and Congressional policy makers

OR

Six years of professional experience working with federal and Congressional policy makers

• Demonstrated success and breadth of experience in brokering meaningful compromises between polarized constituencies on controversial issues
• Familiarity with Puget Sound recovery and salmon recovery policy issues, particularly those with a federal nexus 
• Commitment to advancing justice, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts

PREFERRED:

• Seven or more years professional experience working with federal partners
• Four or more years of professional experience related to natural resources policy, planning, or management
• Substantial, direct experience working at the federal level on Puget Sound recovery and salmon recovery policy issues

CONDITIONS OF THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
  With or without an accommodation, I am willing and able to:

• Work indoors, at a desk/workstation the majority of a workday, in an open office environment with possible conversation and other noise distractions 
• Work in a tobacco-free, drug-free, and alcohol-free environment
• Work a 40-hour work week (A flexible work schedule may be considered upon request and supervisory approval, after an initial review period)
• Occasionally work in excess of 40 hours per week and/or to adjust normally scheduled hours, which may include evenings and weekends, to meet program needs and critical deadlines
• Occasionally travel throughout the state or to Washington, DC, which may include overnight stays, as required, while performing the duties of this position
• Work in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and competing deadlines
• Maintain confidentiality regarding information accessed or discussed while performing the duties of the position
• Interact and work with partners and staff in a positive, friendly, and supportive manner that meets the needs and standards of the office and the agency