Chief of Staff

Texas House Of Representatives - Austin, TX

Full-time - Senior

Austin, TX

About the position

The Office of State Representative Toni Rose is seeking a well-qualified individual to serve as Chief of Staff. The Chief of Staff (COS) acts as the Chief Policy Advisor and works closely in alignment with the Member. This position is crucial as it develops and implements all policy objectives, strategies, and operating plans for the Member's offices. The COS will play a pivotal role in shaping legislative priorities and ensuring that the Representative's vision is effectively communicated and executed within the legislative framework. In this role, the Chief of Staff will be responsible for overseeing the legislative agenda, managing staff, and coordinating with various stakeholders to advance both short-term and long-term goals. The COS will also be expected to maintain a thorough understanding of the Texas state legislative process, which is essential for navigating the complexities of policy development and implementation. This position requires a disciplined and solutions-oriented approach to tasks, with an emphasis on meeting strict deadlines and managing multiple priorities simultaneously. The Chief of Staff will also be tasked with managing external communications, which includes developing talking points, position statements, and social media content, as well as responding to media inquiries. Building and maintaining strong relationships with constituents, community leaders, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders is a key aspect of this role, ensuring that the Representative's office remains engaged and responsive to the needs of the district.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Representative and staff to develop and implement strategies to advance short-term and long-term legislative, policy, and district priorities.
• Directly supervise all employees in the district and legislative office, including recruiting, hiring, training, managing, assigning and directing work, and ensuring effective internal communication.
• Manage external communications, including development of talking points, position statements, social media posts, monitoring of/response to media inquiries, etc.
• Facilitate effective collaboration/coalition-building with the offices of city, state, and federal officials and the leadership and staff of the legislature.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with constituents and community leaders, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Strong leadership and organizational skills
• Thorough knowledge of the Texas state legislative process
• 5+ years Texas legislative experience
• Proven experience directing legislative policy, research, drafting, negotiation and coordinating
• Exceptionally well-organized with the ability to meet strict deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Disciplined and solutions-oriented approach to all tasks
• Ability and willingness to work long hours and weekends
• Ability to work well under pressure