Department Information

Under general supervision, the Legislative Affairs Intern assists the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Department of Higher Education. The position assists on tracking legislation, monitoring legislative committees, supporting logistics for stakeholder engagement, and developing talking points. Opportunities to shadow Department employees, learn about Colorado’s state legislative process, and attend Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) meetings, legislative hearings, and site visits will be provided. The position aims to provide hands-on exposure to day-to-day tasks necessary for a successful legislative session, develop key skills for career development, and provide professional development opportunities and network building.

Supervision Exercised

This position does not supervise any employees.

Scope of Responsibilities

This is an entry level position. Under close supervision, positions at this level learn to perform the full range of legislative internship duties. As experience is gained, assignments become more varied and are performed with greater independence. Work is supervised while in progress and fits an established structure or pattern.

Requirements for Internship Participation

Work consistent weekly hours based on the intern’s individual schedule
Up to 20hours/week, during regular office hours of 8:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday
Ability to commute to and from the Department office and the Colorado State Capitol in Denver
Strong interest in public service

Description Of Job

Job Duties

The duties listed below reflect the different types of work that may be performed. The omission of any specific duty will not prevent the assignment of work that is appropriately related to this position.

Legislative Tracking & Monitoring

Read, track, and summarize key pieces of legislation that have policy and/or fiscal impacts for the Department, including bill amendments.
Monitor and attend legislative committees and bill hearings, documenting committee discussion and actions on bills of interest to the Department
Provide daily committee updates on relevant introduced legislation

Policy Research & Support

Conduct policy research on an array of higher education issues, including performing research and helping write reports, briefings, memos, and studies on policy issues for both internal and external distribution
Support the development of issue briefs, talking points, fact sheets, and other communications regarding policy and/or budget issues/items
Gather information in response to legislator and/or legislative staff questions

Administrative Support for Meetings & Stakeholder Engagement

Support the Department’s stakeholder engagement for legislative issues, including developing agendas for the Higher Education Lobby meetings
Assist with coordination of logistics for testimony, supporting the drafting process

Other Duties

Assist with the reconciliation of legislative funding decisions and program budgets
Support reporting requirements for the Department’s Wildly Important Goals and SMART Act

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Education and Experience

Education:

Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain knowledge and abilities would be:

Currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program at a Colorado Institution of higher education.

Experience:

Minimum of six (6) ' work experience in any capacity

Licenses And Certifications:

Education:

Preferred Qualifications

Seeking a degree in political science, history, public policy, communications, or any similar field.
Minimum if 4 semesters of course work completed at an undergraduate level

Experience:

Experience in policy research.

Knowledge Of:

Colorado’s political landscape
Colorado’s political process
Higher education issues in Colorado

Ability To:

Remain neutral on political topics and maintain explicit confidentiality on non-public topics
Communicate effectively, including writing, verbal communication, and proofreading
Critical thinking and apply reasoning and analysis
Strong work ethic and willingness to learn and grow.

Supplemental Information

Physical and Mental Standards (Hybrid Setting)

The physical and mental standards described here are representative of those that must typically be met by employees to perform the essential functions of this class successfully. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Frequently sit/stand at a desk for extended periods of time
Frequently move from one area/building to another and sit/stand during the course of a day/week/month for meetings
Occasionally may push or pull an object
Frequently use finger dexterity and operate a keyboard
Regularly lift 10 pounds and occasionally lift 25 pounds
Frequently use vision to read documents, view computer screens, and see close and distant objects
Frequently use speech and hearing to engage in conversation, in person, and over the telephone

If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquires to HR@dhe.state.co.us

Typical Working Conditions

The employee typically works in a standard office environment where the noise level is moderate, and the office has controlled temperatures. Works a 40-hour work week, either remotely, hybrid, or in-office, depending on the arrangement met during employment with the supervisor during normal office hours of Monday– Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Job duties may occasionally require working extended hours or hours outside of the regular schedule.
The position may require periodic in-state and out-of-state travel requiring occasional overnight stays.

Notice

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. The duties, expectations, and actions listed for this role may change at any time with or without notice.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The Colorado Department of Higher Education is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our Human Resource Director at HR@dhe.state.co.us or call 720.264.8575.

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Legislative Affairs Intern