Senior Policy and Budget Advisor - Limited Duration

Senior Policy and Budget Advisor

Department: Office of the Executive Director

Reports to: Chief of Staff

Location Base: Portland Office

Position Type: Hybrid

Status: Limited Duration, Exempt

Salary Range: $114,000 - $159,735

Position Purpose

The Senior Policy and Budget Advisor serves as the agency’s principal advisor on legislative strategy, governmental affairs, public policy development, and budget planning. They will serve as a trusted strategic advisor to Travel Oregon leadership, directing agency legislative activities; helping lead the agency’s internal budget development process; and serving as the primary liaison between the agency, the Oregon Legislature, the Office of the Governor, legislative committees, stakeholder organizations, local governments, and other state and federal partners.   The role leads policy analysis and legislative strategy; translates complex proposals into actionable recommendations; and strengthens Travel Oregon’s relationships with policymakers, state agencies, industry partners, and community stakeholders.

This limited-duration position is established to provide senior policy, legislative, and budget-development capacity during a defined period of agency need. The appointment is expected to conclude when the assigned legislative and biennial-budget objectives are completed, in or about August 2027.

Working closely with the Executive Director, Chief of Staff, Executive Team, and cross-functional staff, the Senior Policy and Budget Advisor advances Travel Oregon’s mission and strategic priorities through thoughtful policy development, coalition engagement, budget and fiscal analysis, and clear communication. The position balances proactive advocacy with rigorous, nonpartisan analysis and sound stewardship of public resources.

Essential Functions / Major Duties

• Serve as the agency’s principal advisor on legislative strategy, government affairs, public policy development, and budget planning.  This role will require direct engagement with partners, including members of the Legislature, the Office of the Governor, legislative committees, travel and tourism partners and others.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with legislators, legislative staff, the Governor’s Office, the Department of Administrative Services, the Legislative Fiscal Office, state agencies, local governments, tribal governments, tourism industry partners, business associations, destination-management organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Represent Travel Oregon in legislative hearings, policy meetings, interagency workgroups, conferences, and stakeholder forums; communicate agency priorities with clarity and professionalism.
• Convene and support coalitions around shared tourism, economic development, community development, and outdoor-recreation policy goals.
• Coordinate the development of fiscal-impact analyses, fiscal impact statements, policy option packages, budget narratives, testimony, briefing papers, talking points, correspondence, and executive-level presentations and testimony, ensuring assumptions, fund sources, position authority, and implementation costs are clearly documented.
• Analyze proposed state and federal legislation, administrative rules, budget proposals, federal funding changes, and emerging issues that may affect Oregon’s tourism economy, agency programs, agency budget, funding sustainability, workforce, infrastructure, land use, outdoor recreation, and communities; develop scenarios and contingency strategies when fiscal conditions change.
• Advise the Executive Team on policy options, legislative risks and opportunities, fiscal and programmatic impacts, opportunities and strategic responses.
• Partner with agency finance and program leaders to analyze state and federal budget proposals and coordinate policy-related work across the Travel Oregon budget lifecycles.
• Translate research, economic data, and stakeholder perspectives into accessible, credible policy narratives tailored to leadership, policymakers, industry partners, and the public.
• Support issues and crisis-management planning by assessing policy implications and preparing internal and external response materials.
• Manage assigned contracts, consultants, budgets, and special projects; establish performance measures and evaluation criteria; monitor expenditures, deliverables, and results; and report whether investments are achieving intended policy, program, and equity outcomes.
• Advance equitable policy practices by assessing how proposals may affect communities historically underrepresented in the tourism industry and incorporating relevant perspectives into recommendations.
• Work alongside the Director of Finance and Accounting to coordinate the agency-wide budget development process.
• Collaborate with division administrators and executive leadership to establish agency budget priorities and funding recommendations.
• Help lead preparation of the budget and supporting materials for submission to the Oregon Tourism Commission.
• Perform other related duties and lead special projects as assigned.

Job Scope

The Senior Policy and Budget Advisor operates with substantial independence and sound judgment on complex, sensitive, and time-critical matters. The work requires the ability to synthesize legal, fiscal, political, programmatic, and stakeholder considerations; make well-supported recommendations; respond effectively during legislative sessions and agency budget development process and other high-demand periods; and maintain complete, accurate, and appropriately confidential policy, legislative, budget, and stakeholder records.

Decisions are made within Travel Oregon policy, budget, and legal parameters. Errors in analysis, communications, or stakeholder engagement may affect agency credibility, relationships, funding, legislative outcomes, and the visitor economy.

Supervisory Responsibility

This role has no direct supervisory responsibility. The position may provide project leadership, technical direction, and coordination to cross-functional teams, consultants, and workgroups but does not hire, evaluate, discipline, or otherwise exercise supervisory authority over employees.

Supervision Received

Reports to Chief of Staff and works under the direction of Chief of Staff and Executive Director. Operates with broad authority and significant independence in carrying out legislative, governmental affairs and budget responsibilities.

Interpersonal Contacts

The position works extensively with internal leadership and staff and externally with elected officials, legislative staff, the Office of the Governor, state and federal agency representatives, tribal and local government partners, industry organizations, community groups and consultants. Contacts may involve confidential, controversial, or politically sensitive matters.

Competencies

Expert proficiency is required in Travel Oregon’s foundational competencies and in the position-specific competencies listed below:

• Policy and Strategic Judgment: Analyzes complex issues, anticipates implications, and develops practical, mission-aligned recommendations.
• Legislative and Fiscal Acumen: Understands Oregon legislative, budget, administrative-rule, and public-policy processes.
• Communication: Produces concise, persuasive written materials and communicates effectively with varied audiences.
• Relationship Building: Builds trust and productive partnerships across differing interests and perspectives.
• Equity and Inclusion: Applies an equity lens to policy analysis, engagement, and decision support.
• Integrity and Discretion: Handles sensitive information responsibly and represents the agency with professionalism.
• Collaboration and Influence: Brings stakeholders together, facilitates alignment, and advances shared goals without direct authority.
• Organizing and Planning: Manages competing priorities, deadlines, records, and projects during fast-paced periods.

Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, political science, economics, business, communications, law, or a related field; or any combination of education, coursework, training, and professional experience necessary to meet the position requirements.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in public policy, legislative affairs, government relations, public administration, budget or fiscal policy, economic development, or a related field, including experience advising senior leaders and coordinating complex, cross-functional work with significant public, fiscal, or organizational impact.
• Demonstrated experience researching and analyzing legislation, public-policy proposals, regulations, or budget issues and translating findings into recommendations for senior leaders.
• Experience preparing high-quality testimony, briefing materials, correspondence, reports, talking points, or other executive communications.
• Experience building relationships with government entities, policymakers, community partners, industry groups, and diverse stakeholder audiences.
• Knowledge of Oregon legislative and public-sector processes, including legislative sessions, committee processes, state budgeting, public meetings, and administrative rulemaking.
• Experience leading development of strategic biennial or annual budgets for a public agency/public agencies.
• Experience facilitating and guiding a successful agency budget development process from initial brainstorming, through internal and external stakeholder engagement, to a detailed budget recommendation and finally to budget approval by the legislature and/or relevant governing body.
• Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree in public policy, public administration, law, business, economics, or a related discipline is preferred by not necessary.
• Experience in tourism, economic or community development, outdoor recreation, or related policy areas.
• Experience with Oregon state budget development, fiscal analysis, grant funding, or public-sector financial management.
• Existing working relationships with Oregon policymakers, agencies, tribal governments, local governments, or statewide industry and community organizations.

Job Effort & Conditions

This position is designated as a hybrid position with some required reporting to Travel Oregon’s office in Portland and with significant travel to Salem to work with the legislature and the Governor’s Office . Essential functions are performed at: Travel Oregon’s designated workplace in Portland, an alternate hybrid workplace and in Salem based on business needs. Regular travel within Oregon and occasional overnight travel are required. Evening or weekend work and extended hours may be required during legislative sessions, budget-development cycles, and other peak periods. The work is primarily performed in a professional office or home-office environment and requires extended periods of stationary work and regular use of electronic devices to communicate and develop work products.