Senior Policy Specialist bei Hennepin County, Minnesota

About the Department

This position is hybrid and will be performed both onsite at 625 4th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415, and remote as job duties require. The position includes travel to attend meetings around the Twin Cities, including frequent presence at the State Capitol while the legislature is in session. Work hours will typically be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with frequent evening and weekend hours during the legislative session as needed. While this position is designated as hybrid, based on current requirements hires must reside in or relocate to Minnesota or Wisconsin. New Employee Orientation (NEO) for all new benefit-earning employees is in-person in downtown Minneapolis. Details about NEO will be provided upon hire.

About the position type: 
This is a full-time, benefit earning position.

• Coordinate solid waste, natural resources, and other environmental legislative policy and work in partnership with Intergovernmental Relations department lobbyists, including:
  • Develop the department’s policy priorities to be considered for inclusion in the county’s state and federal legislative platforms.
  • Develop legislative advocacy materials, including letters of support, talking points for testimony and information requests.
  • Track progress during the legislative session on department platform priorities and monitor emerging legislation of interest.
  • Coordinate with subject matter experts to develop platform proposals, analyze bills, and respond to requests.
  • Summarize session activities weekly and update department program managers and leaders.
• Coordinate legislative activities for the Partnership on Waste and Energy with Ramsey and Washington counties.
• Participate in regional environment policy work with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Solid Waste Administrators Association, Recycling Association of Minnesota, Minnesota Resource Recovery Association, Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Association of Minnesota Counties, Minnesota Inter-County Association, and other local government and environmental associations.
• Assist the department’s strategic initiative manager with strategic planning, implementation and tracking of the department’s strategic priorities, disparity elimination framework, and climate action plan strategies.
• Analyze department program data, summarizing key insights, and drafting findings, especially to support the use of racial equity impact tool and public involvement processes to guide department decisions, policies, and practices.

• One of the following:
  • Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, or other field appropriate to the position and four years or more of experience in general administrative work relating to the management of departmental/organizational operations or in a specialty area appropriate to the position.
  • Eight years or more of experience in general administrative work related to the management of departmental/organizational operations or in a specialty area appropriate to the position.
  • Note: General administrative work is defined as the administration and/or management of programs, policies, and/or budgets.

• Experience:
  • Working on legislative issues and responding to legislative activity.
  • Facilitating effective group process and decision-making.
  • Analyzing program data, summarizing key insights, and drafting findings for public involvement processes.
  • Working on environmental programs, especially solid waste and/or natural resources topics. 
• Ability to: 
  • Collaborate with internal partners across the organization and with external partners to move work forward.
  • Communicate effectively both in writing and verbally, about sensitive and controversial issues.

The Environment and Energy department protects and preserves the environment to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations. We engage communities to develop and enact sustainable solutions. We focus on reducing and responsibly managing waste, protecting and preserving ecosystems, delivering clean energy and promoting environmental stewardship.