Director, Legislative Affairs

Why Ryan?

• Hybrid Work Options

• Award-Winning Culture

• Generous Personal Time Off (PTO) Benefits

• 14-Weeks of 100% Paid Leave for New Parents (Adoption Included)

• Monthly Gym Membership Reimbursement OR Gym Equipment Reimbursement

• Benefits Eligibility Effective Day One

• 401K with Employer Match

• Tuition Reimbursement After One Year of Service

• Fertility Assistance Program

• Four-Week Company-Paid Sabbatical Eligibility After Five Years of Service

The Legislative Affairs Director assists the Principal and the Advocacy Services Practice with directing, implementing, managing, coordinating, overseeing, and supervising multistate legislative efforts of the Firm, or the Firm’s clients as needed. This includes, without limitation, drafting, reviewing, and tracking proposed state legislation that we support and oppose. They are the lead with internal subject matter experts developing the Firm’s state legislative agendas and working through hearings, testimony, amendments, and all other legislative functions. The Director coordinates with external lobbyists, third party groups and other policy influencers and may be required to register as a lobbyist and give testimony.
The Legislative Affairs Director also assists the Practice Leader with drafting, reviewing, and implementing policies and procedures pertaining to the Advocacy Services Practice. They will lead communications both internally and externally as needed.

Duties and responsibilities:

People:

• Leads development of legislative agendas for assigned states.
• Coordinates with subject matter experts from Practices on content, amendments, and passage of legislation.
• Coordinates testimony and may be called upon to testify.
• Leads coordination with external groups and lobbyists in support of legislative efforts.
• Provides legislative expertise to other departments where needed and may be asked to give written, PowerPoint and formal public presentations.
• Supports Principals with political insights and tracking and policy campaign management.

Client:

• Assists with and manages client-related state legislative efforts.
• Develops client workplans and schedules associated project deliverables.
• Prepares and conducts client presentations.
• Reviews and reconciles client data and identifies tax issues to research.
• Responds to client inquiries and requests from state agencies.
• Researches and provides legislative insights, threats, opportunities and trends.

Value:

• Plans and directs various aspects of the Firm’s Legislative Affairs Practice.
• Supports coordination of the Firm’s multistate legislative agenda.
• Assists in managing the Firm’s relationship with its outside counsel and lobby groups.
• Tracks and monitors tax legislation in various states.
• Drafts and reviews proposed state tax legislation including amendments.
• Interprets laws, rulings, and regulations for the Firm.
• Prepares and reviews state lobby reports as needed.
• Maintains comprehensive database of public policy initiatives and facilitates status update meetings.
• Performs research and advises on state tax legislative matters.
• Writes communications documents some of which are: white papers, testimony, update documents (internal and external), persuasive one pagers, and more.
• Manages complex state and local tax projects.
• Negotiates tax resolutions with state agencies.
• Negotiates tax issues, ideas and policies with elected officials, agencies, thought leaders and their staff members.
• Assists with other projects as needed.

Education and Experience:  Juris Doctor Degree (“JD”) from an accredited law school and at least seven years related experience in a similar environment. Understanding of State and Local Tax policies and statutes. Experience in policy, communications and government affairs.

Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual must have intermediate knowledge of Microsoft® Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Internet navigation and research.

Certificates and Licenses: Valid driver’s license required. License to practice law within the United States required.  Membership to the American Bar Association preferred. May be required to register as a lobbyist.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  This job directly supervises employees in the Legislative Affairs Practice and carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Firm’s policies and applicable laws. 

Work Environment:

• Standard indoor working environment.
• Occasional long periods of sitting while working at computer.
• Position requires regular interaction with coworkers, clients and elected and appointed government officials in person, via e-mail and telephone.
• Requires some evening and weekend hours.
• Independent travel requirement: 30 to 50%

Equal Opportunity Employer: disability/veteran