Description

The new State Relations Analyst will join a team of professionals who work in a collaborative environment with respected water leaders across the state to develop and advance critical water management policy priorities on behalf of California’s public agricultural and urban water agencies and water users. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and proactive individual to gain a wealth of knowledge regarding the California water industry by providing critical support and being an integral part of ACWA’s State Relations Department.

ACWA is the largest statewide association of public water agencies in the nation. Since its inception in 1910, ACWA has served as a leader in California water policy, advancing comprehensive statewide strategies to meet the state’s future water needs, and a respected voice for its members in both Sacramento and Washington, D.C. ACWA is headquartered in the heart of Sacramento, just a few blocks from the State Capitol. 

ACWA’s member agencies deliver approximately 90% of the water distributed to California communities, farms, and businesses. Together, members play an active role in managing the State’s water resources and creating progress in groundwater management, safe drinking water, water recycling and desalination and water use efficiency.

The Position:

The State Relations Analyst is responsible for researching and analyzing state legislation, regulatory issues, and public policy in relation to their potential impact on ACWA members. The incumbent writes policy analyses, tracks legislation, and responds to member requests and inquiries. The State Relations Analyst also edits and drafts key documents such as legislative position letters and regulatory comment letters, and updates on policy issues and programs and provides analytical support to advocates.

The Ideal Candidate:

The department is seeking a strong writer who pays close attention to details, enjoys working collaboratively with colleagues, is excellent at research and asking questions, and demonstrates initiative in a challenging and rewarding environment. Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and, at a minimum, one year of state legislative or policy analyst experience in California.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Research and analyze legislation to determine the impact on ACWA and its members for identified policy issue areas.
• Track ACWA-analyzed legislation through multiple amendments and re-analyze each amendment for potential State Legislative Committee position changes.
• Respond to ACWA member requests regarding state legislative and/or regulatory policy issues within portfolio.
• Assist State Relations Assistant in determining which bills and subsequent amendments should be reviewed by ACWA’s State Legislative Committee.
• Obtain requisite background information for bills and regulatory proposals identified as having an impact on ACWA or its members from legislative authors, state agencies, bill sponsors, websites, periodicals, newspapers, and other relevant sources.
• Compile annual Summary of Legislation and Summary of Appellate Cases.
• Represent ACWA at meetings, including taking meeting notes, with other organizations upon request of Advocates.
• Develop and analyze surveys results for use in state legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts.
• Write drafts of ACWA’s position letters on legislation
• Write drafts of regulatory comment letters.
• Perform a variety of research projects on state legislative and regulatory policy issue areas.
• Attend and participate in ACWA’s State Legislative Committee meetings, giving status updates to the Committee as requested.
• Attend and participate in ACWA’s Monday Morning Lobby Group meetings, giving updates on legislation as requested.
• Write drafts of state legislative and regulatory updates on policy issues and programs in conjunction with Advocates.
• Create ideas and write drafts for ACWA News articles, e-news, other social media, ACWA’s website, and other Communications Department material.
• Assist Advocates in their ACWA Committee and Subcommittee duties including taking meeting notes, updating committee websites, writing policy content, and sending communications to the committees as requested.
• Assist the Advocates in planning advocacy events such as ACWA Fall and Spring Conferences, ACWA Legislative Symposium, and ACWA’s State Legislative Planning Meeting including researching and analyzing proposed ACWA legislative sponsorship requests. 
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other association employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of procedures, operations, and functions of the legislative and executive branches of the federal or state government.
• Knowledge of methods and procedures of policy research.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of technical report preparation and presentation.
• Skills to independently research, analyze and present state legislative and regulatory issues and determine their impact.
• Skills to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive reports.
• Ability to gather, summarize, and distribute a variety of informational materials.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to operate a computer, office equipment and word processing software.

Compensation and Benefits:

This position is part of a series and candidates with experience at the State Relations Analyst I and State Relations Analyst II level will be considered. The hourly range for this position is $37.74-$54.09 with placement within the range dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate. This full-time non-exempt position has excellent benefits package including CalPERS retirement and employer paid medical, dental, and vision. This position provides hybrid telework opportunities, with employees required to work in-person at least two days per week from the Sacramento Office.

How to apply:

To be considered for this exciting career opportunity, please upload your cover letter and resume. Applicants must also include a 1–2-page analytical writing sample; the topic does not need to be related to the position. Please also include email addresses for three work or education related references (who will not be contacted until after an interview takes place). This posting will remain open until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received but may close at any time without any notice after Monday, May 6, 2024. Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

Questions:

If you have any questions regarding this position, please feel free to contact ACWA Human Resources at Janeo@acwa.com or (916)441-4545. 

Requirements

Education and Experience:

State Relations Analyst I

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; AND
• One year of responsible state legislative or policy analyst experience.

State Relations Analyst II

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; AND
• Two years of responsible state legislative or policy analyst experience.