Legislative Operations Lead

Salary: $78,504.00 - $102,996.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Lacey, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number:
Department: Utilities and Transportation Commission
Division: Policy
Opening Date: 10/13/2026
Closing Date: 10/28/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step

Description
WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

Legislative Operations Lead

Management Analyst 5
Salary Consideration: Range 64, Step A ($78,504) - Step L ($102,996) annually.

The starting employment offer will be determined based on the successful candidates' qualifications. Typically Step M of the pay range is a longevity step.

This recruitment is open until October 28, 2026, at 11:59pm.UTC reserves the right to make a hiring decision and/or choose to close or extend this recruitment at any given time.
Persons needing accommodation in the application process may contact the recruiter via telephone at (360) 664-1130 or email the UTC HR office at humanresources@utc.wa.gov. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Services at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
The Opportunity:The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is seeking to fill the role of one (1) Legislative Operations Lead Management Analyst 5 (MA5) in the Policy and Legislative Affairs division.The Legislative Operations Lead serves as the Commission's expert-level lead for agency-wide legislative operations. This position owns the institutional systems that support the Commission's legislative work across the full lifecycle-from legislative intake, assignment, analysis, fiscal-note coordination, and decision support through implementation tracking and statutory deliverables. The successful incumbent provides expert analysis, consultation, process design, and continuous improvement, on highly complex, multidimensional issues affecting agency-wide programs and policies.
Hybrid:

Although this is a hybrid opportunity, the successful incumbent must reside within Washington state and must be available to report to the Lacey, Washington headquarters building when needed.
Travel:

Moderate travel may be required, typically within the state and to conduct business at a utility headquarters. Occasionally, travel outside of the state may be required. Travel may occur outside of normal work hours.
Duties
What you'll do:

Under administrative direction of the Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, the Legislative Operations Lead independently establishes the methods, management systems, standards, analytical approaches, work objectives, and procedures necessary to accomplish the commission's legislative objectives and ensure the success of the legislative programs. In this role, the incumbent independently plans, designs, and carries out agency-wide legislative operations and implementation projects and represents executive management on assigned interagency and external initiatives. The Legislative Operations Lead establishes analytical and coordination methods and leads cross-functional and cross-agency work involving multiple divisions (Policy & Legislative, Regulatory Services, Administrative Law), agency leadership, other state agencies, the Governor's Office, regulated companies, and external stakeholders. This role exercises substantial independent judgment in the agency process to develop policy options, recommendations, implementation approaches, workflow standards, and analytical products for decisions reserved to the Policy Director, Executive Director, Commissioners, or other authorized decision-makers.

Additional duties include, but aren't limited to the following:

• Serves as the expert-level owner of the Commission's agency-wide legislative operating framework and independently design, establish, and continuously improve the systems, standards, controls, workflows, and accountability mechanisms used to execute legislative work and implementation.
• Provides agency-wide expert analysis and consultation on highly complex, multidimensional, and unprecedented legislative implementation, organizational, regulatory, and business-process issues.
• Represents executive management on assigned legislative-operations and implementation initiatives and provide expert consultation and complex reporting to executive leadership, Commissioners, governmental entities, and external organizations.
• Performs other advanced management, policy, regulatory, legislative, and special-project assignments consistent with the level and purpose of the position.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:

The commission values diverse career paths and recognizes that competencies may be acquired through a combination of education, training, certifications, research, volunteer service, lived experience, military service, professional practice, or other demonstrated accomplishments.

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, economics, political science, law, public policy, or a closely related field AND five years of progressively responsible professional experience conducting complex management, policy, legislative, regulatory, program, or organizational business process implementation and analysis. Qualifying experience must demonstrate extensive knowledge gained through research and experience sufficient to independently resolve highly complex, critical, or novel issues and provide specialized technical guidance. Additional qualifying professional experience may substitute for education year for year; relevant graduate education may substitute for a portion of the required experience consistent with agency classification practice.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities in:

• Legislative Analysis & Consultation - Demonstrated advanced ability to analyze, interpret, and provide recommendations on complex legislative, regulatory, and organizational issues. Applies expert judgment to resolve precedent-setting challenges and support executive decision-making.
• Process Design & Continuous Improvement - Designs, establishes, and continuously improves agency-wide management systems, workflows, and accountability mechanisms for legislative operations. Proactively identifies and addresses process gaps, risks, and inefficiencies, driving organizational change and improvement.
• Strategic Stakeholder Engagement & Communication - Builds and maintains credible relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including executive leadership, Commissioners, legislative staff, and partner agencies. Communicates complex information clearly and effectively, facilitates workshops, and represents executive management in sensitive or adversarial environments.
• Results Orientation & Accountability - Manages workload, prioritizes tasks, and ensures timely delivery of statutory, regulatory, and organizational requirements. Accepts personal accountability for outcomes, maintains performance visibility, and recommends corrective or preventive actions as needed.

Demonstration of Equity Competencies:

• The ability to take action to learn and grow: Takes responsibility for knowing their own strengths and weaknesses and uses their learning to make government programs and processes more efficient and effective to serve all in Washington.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others: Flexible, adaptable, customer-service focused, and willing and able to empathetically respond to the unique needs of the people they work with and serve.

UTC Core Competencies:

• Accountability
• DEI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment
• Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth
• Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships
• Inclusive Excellence & Allyship
• Measuring Success and Improvement
• Customer Focus
• Results Focus
• Communication Skills
• Adaptability/Flexibility
• Self-Development
• Continuous Process Improvement

Desired Experience, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

One or a combination of the following:

• Demonstrated experience with Washington state or other legislature environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives or agency-wide process improvement.
• A graduate degree in public administration, economics, public policy, law, business administration, or a closely related discipline.

Supplemental Information
READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION COMPLETELY:

• This position is included in a bargaining unit represented by the
• RCW 80.01.020 limits the UTC's ability to employ any person who owns stock in any company the UTC regulates or is otherwise financially interested in such company. Such interests include those of an employee's spouse.
• UTC does not use E-Verify; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit

How to Apply:

Interested in joining the UTC team? Click the Apply button at the top to begin! We only consider candidates for further screening if the following documents are attached to your completed application packet.

• Letter of Interestdescribing how you meet the position qualifications and why you believe you are the ideal candidate.
• Resume detailing your applicable experience and education.
• References: At least three (3) professional references with current telephone numbers and email addresses. One (1) contact MUST be your current or most recent supervisor.

The initial screening of candidates will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the application, including answers provided to the Supplemental Questionnaire, along with the required attachments - letter of interest, resume, and references submitted as part of the application process.

Please note, see resume will not substitute for completing the "work experience" section of the application or supplemental questionnaire.

If you have gotten this far and are thinking you do not qualify, consider again! Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the UTC, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. If you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may just be the candidate needed for this or other roles.

All information may be verified; additional documentation may be required. Candidates may be disqualified if the education and/or work experience does not include information used to meet the minimum qualifications of the job.