Deputy Chief of Staff (Legislative Senior Aide III, Grade N26)

Salary: $89,721.00 - $144,272.00 Annually
Location : 100 Maryland Ave Rockville MD 20850 USA
Job Type: Non-Merit
Job Number:
Department: County Council
Division: CCL 01 Council Members and Staff
Opening Date: 11/09/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Exempt

About the Position
Please note: The salary range below represents this position's earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $89,721 to $122,876, based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

The Office of a Montgomery County Councilmember seeks an accomplished legislative and policy professional to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Management. Reporting to the Chief of Staff, this position leads assigned legislative priorities, supervises and develops policy staff, and turns complex issues into accurate, actionable recommendations. The ideal candidate has experience moving public policy from research and drafting through governmental decision-making, implementation, and oversight, and can independently manage competing deadlines with sound judgment and exceptional attention to detail.

What You'll Be Doing
Key Responsibilities but not limited to:

• Lead assigned legislative and policy initiatives from problem definition, legal-authority research, and drafting through committee consideration, Council action, implementation, and oversight.
• Analyze legal, fiscal, budgetary, equity, operational, and stakeholder implications; recommend whether legislation, budget action, administrative action, or another response is appropriate.
• Coordinate with the Chief of Staff, Council offices, legislative attorneys, agency staff, and community stakeholders to identify concerns, refine proposals, and advance policy priorities.
• Direct preparation of legislative memoranda, amendments, testimony, hearing materials, committee briefings, and concise decision-ready recommendations.
• Supervise and coach professional legislative staff; assign work, review research and writing for accuracy, set deadlines, address performance issues, and maintain accountability without taking over staff assignments.
• Manage policy portfolios including health and human services, public health, public safety, and shared transportation and environmental responsibilities; maintain legislative trackers and monitor implementation.
• Anticipate risks, escalate consequential decisions, safeguard confidential information, and support occasional evening and weekend Council and community commitments.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Three (3) years of professional level experience in legislative or policy research experience, or professional experience relevant to local government administration.

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences
Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to independently research and synthesize complex public policy issues, write accurately, manage deadlines, and coordinate multiple stakeholders.
• Five or more years of relevant legislative, policy, or government experience, including ownership of significant policy initiatives and supervision or mentoring of professional staff.
• Direct experience drafting, advancing, implementing, or overseeing legislation, including committee processes, amendments, stakeholder engagement, and legislative negotiation.
• Knowledge of Maryland or local government, fiscal and equity analysis, legislative counsel coordination, change management, and health or public safety policy.

Application and Selection:

Submit a resume, professional references, and a cover letter of no more than one page.
The letter must identify a specific legislative or governmental policy initiative the applicant personally helped develop, advance, or implement; explain the applicant's own role, collaboration, outcome, and relevant staff leadership experience. Generic statements without concrete examples do not address the requested criteria.
Finalists may complete a timed legislative analysis and executive writing exercise. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until filled.
Checking and Understanding Your Application Status: Your current application status is always available on GovernmentJobs.com. Learn what your application status means and review our FAQs here.

Leave Benefits

Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.

Retirement Benefits

All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.

Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness

Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.

Free Mass Transit Benefit

County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.

Reduced Child and Health Care Costs

Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.

Employee Wellbeing

We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.

Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits
01

MQ Question LEGISLATIVE SENIOR AIDE III(000713)

What is your highest level of completed education?

• N/A
• High School/GED
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Juris Doctor
• Doctorate

02

MQ Question LEGISLATIVE SENIOR AIDE III (000713)

How many years of professional level experience in legislative/policy research and/or professional level experience in a subject area relevant to local government administration?

• No Experience
• 1 Year Experience
• 2 Year's Experience
• 3 Year's Experience
• 4 Year's Experience
• 5 Year's Experience
• 6 Year's Experience
• 7+ Year's Experience

Required Question