Office of the Director (OOD)
1717 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Salary: $109,000-$135,000 

Grade: 28

Closing Date:  August 9, 2026

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES) we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals who are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov; or click on the link here to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come Join the DES Team!

The Department of Economic Security, Office of the Director (OOD), is seeking an experienced and highly motivated professional to join our team as a Legislative Liaison Chief. This position provides executive leadership within the DES Legislative Affairs Office to establish, cultivate, and advance critical relationships with elected officials, legislative staff, and diverse stakeholder networks. As an authorized public lobbyist, the Chief Legislative Liaison spearheads a proactive, enterprise-wide government affairs strategy, partnering directly with the Governor’s policy and legislative teams alongside the DES executive leadership team to formulate, draft, and advance key legislative initiatives and bills, and to provide public testimony on behalf of DES. This senior leadership role orchestrates the comprehensive review and analysis of hundreds of pieces of state and federal legislation annually, evaluating potential operational, compliance, or financial impacts on the Department’s various programs, clients, and staff. The position coordinates high-level feedback, strategic briefings, and political alignment across internal DES divisions, the Governor’s Office, the Arizona congressional delegation, and key external stakeholders, driving effective messaging to inform and influence decision-makers on complex program and budget initiatives. Additionally, the Chief Legislative Liaison directs the resolution of complex constituent cases, leveraging case data to identify systemic trends, operational gaps, or potential policy vulnerabilities.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely within Arizona based upon the department's needs and continual meetings of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, commissions, many State employees participate in the State's Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Serves as the primary authorized public lobbyist and Chief Legislative Liaison for DES, leading the development and execution of a proactive, enterprise-wide government affairs strategy and drafting, advancing, and testifying on key agency bills in direct partnership with the Governor's office, the Assistant Director of Public Affairs, and the DES executive leadership team.
• Orchestrates the comprehensive review, tracking, and analysis of all state and federal legislation to evaluate policy, financial, operational, and compliance impacts on the department's various programs, synthesizing complex policy data into strategic briefings and unified agency positions.
• Establishes, cultivates, and leverages critical relationships with state legislators, legislative staff, the Arizona Congressional delegation, and diverse stakeholder networks to build consensus and drive effective messaging on complex policy and budget initiatives.
• Directs the timely, department-wide implementation of newly enacted laws and ballot propositions, ensures statutory compliance for all mandatory external agency reports, and oversees the resolution of high-priority constituent cases to identify and resolve systemic operational vulnerabilities.
• Provides executive leadership and administrative direction to the DES Legislative Affairs Office, managing daily divisional workflows and mentoring, training, and developing professional staff and interns within a high-stakes, politically sensitive landscape.
• Attend Department meetings (e.g. Executive Leadership, Business Reviews, Budget and Planning meetings, assigned Steering Committees, Strategic Planning meetings, as well as others).

Knowledge of:
• Arizona and federal political process and environment
• Arizona and federal budget process
• Contemporary management principles, practices, strategies, and theories
• Government relations and advocacy strategies
• Community populations served by the agency
• Principles of public administration and government operations
• Political and governmental structures, including roles of elected officials and legislative staff

Skills In:
• Building and maintaining relationships with elected officials, legislative staff and stakeholders
• Crisis communication and management
• Strategic planning and policy development
• Negotiation and consensus building
Written and verbal communication, including public speaking and presentations
• Legislative bill analysis and tracking
• Conflict resolution and diplomacy
• Critical thinking; effective and active listening

Ability to:
• Work effectively under pressure, in a fast paced environment
• Effectively manage people
• Analyze, evaluate, and act on a variety of complex data, and or sensitive situations
• Set goals and prioritizes at an enterprise level and manage to those goals
• Negotiate and comprise to achieve department strategic objectives
• Exercise sound judgment and discretion
• Effectively operate in a political environment
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals
• Balance priorities and respond to inquiries accurately, succinctly, and courteously
• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, and legislative directives

This ideal candidate for this position will have:
• Any combination of formal education coupled with executive-level managerial experience. Masters or doctoral degree. A combination of education, training and experience in administration or professional experience that equals 10 years. Experience in management of complex programs requiring expertise in analytical thinking and strategic planning.

• This position may require driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).
• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child.
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact us at email OODHRstaffing@azdes.gov.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.  Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting OODHRStaffing@azdes.gov.  Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.