What are the responsibilities and job description for the Ethics Specialist - Entry position at State of Wisconsin - Ethics Commission?
Introduction
Do you want to help enhance representative democracy and help inform the public about its government?
The Wisconsin Ethics Commission is recruiting to fill two entry-level Ethics Specialist positions.
The mission of the Wisconsin Ethics Commission is to promote and strengthen the faith and confidence of the people of Wisconsin in their government, support the operation of open and responsible government, preserve the integrity of the governmental decision-making process, and protect the rights of individuals through the administration of Wisconsin’s campaign finance, lobbying, and ethics laws, and through readily available and understandable disclosure of information. For more information about the Ethics Commission, visit our website.
This position is located at the Department of Administration (DOA) building in the heart of downtown Madison near the State Capitol. This vibrant area is home to many nearby restaurants and shopping venues as well as Madison’s notable farmer's markets and food carts. It is also close to the University of Wisconsin and is easily accessible by both the Madison Metro Bus route and the Capital City bike path.
These positions are located at the Department of Administration State Office Building, 101 East Wilson Street, Madison, WI.
Position Summary
The Ethics Specialist provides operational execution of the Wisconsin Ethics Commission’s statutory responsibilities, and ensuring compliance with Wisconsin’s campaign finance, lobbying, financial disclosure, and ethics laws. The individual in this position must be able to respond to questions involving complex application of statutes and administrative code and assist individuals and organizations to comply with registration/licensing and reporting requirements. The individual in this position conducts policy and legal analysis related to the administration of Wisconsin’s campaign finance, lobbying and ethics laws, and reviews applicable court decisions for potential impact on the Commission’s responsibilities.
This position requires computer skills as the incumbent will utilize Microsoft Office software to perform job duties, including Excel, Outlook, Word, and SharePoint as well as statistical software and relational databases.
The position reports to the Assistant Administrator, Administrator and Commissioners on a regular basis the success of programs, policies, and procedures, and develops and implements more effective, efficient ways to achieve program goals. This position receives and responds to requests for information and requires the judgment necessary to discern what information may or may not be released to the public.
Due to the nature of the responsibilities of the Ethics Commission, this position works with and is privy to statutorily confidential information. Therefore, this position requires an increased level of professionalism and the maintenance of confidentiality in order to preserve the public trust in the efforts of the Commission. Wisconsin Ethics Commission staff members are required to be non-partisan, in accordance with WIS. STAT. §19.47(10).
For more information, please view the complete position description.
Salary Information
Pay for current state employees will be set in accordance with the Wisconsin State Compensation Plan at the time of hire.
Job Details
Political neutrality is imperative so staff can maintain the confidence of the Commission, the individuals, and organizations the Commission regulates, and the public. Therefore, all staff members are prohibited from participating in any political activity that compromises the ability of that person to discharge with neutrality, efficiency, and integrity his or her duties and obligations to the Commission. The selected candidate must not have given a political contribution to a candidate for a partisan state or local office in the twelve months prior to appointment and must comply with the agency's nonpartisan requirements during employment.
All employees are expected to live and work in Wisconsin. This position will have the option of working remotely upon agreement of the supervisor but will be asked to come into the office periodically. This schedule may change based on operational needs and organizational requirements. If you are invited to interview, this aspect can be discussed more in the interview process.
Qualifications
It is critically important that your application materials clearly describe your experience related to the stated job qualifications.
Qualified candidates will have education, training or experience with each of the following:
- Preparing, developing, and distributing professional written correspondence and documents
- Providing support in an office setting (e.g., assisting professional staff, answering customer client/inquiries, etc.)
- Using spreadsheet software to organize, analyze and maintain data
In addition, well-qualified applicants will also have education, training or experience with at least one of the following:
- Assisting/participating in program or project management
- Applying campaign finance, lobbying and/or code of ethics laws or administrative rules
- Statistical Software (STATA, SPSS or similar)
- Relational Databases (SQL, MS Access, or similar)
How To Apply
The steps to apply online are quick and easy! Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application. Be advised that there will be no opportunity to change your application materials once you have clicked “Submit.”
Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions section for general wisc.jobs user information and technical assistance.
Your letter of qualifications and resume are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. Please review instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications. Your cover letter is limited to a maximum of two (2) typed pages, single-spaced, no smaller than 10-point font, with 1-inch margins. Resumes should be limited to no more than two (2) pages (no format requirements). Pages more than the specified limits may not be evaluated. References are not necessary at this stage of the process.
Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.
Permanent classified state employees who are eligible for consideration (transfer or voluntary demotion) should complete the application process as described above by the stated deadline.
The State of Wisconsin is committed to providing opportunities to all applicants from all backgrounds. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. Any applicants and employees with a disability may request reasonable accommodations.
The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability. If you are a qualified veteran, please visit the Veterans Employment page for application instructions to be considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment (VNCA) program.
Questions can be directed to Paula Langbecker at paulag.langbecker@wisconsin.gov.
Deadline to Apply
Applicant materials are due by 11:59pm Thursday, April 16, 2026.
Salary : $27 - $33