The Council of State Governments is the nation’s only nonpartisan association of state officials serving all three branches of government in all 50 states and the U.S. territories. CSG is a region-based, national organization that promotes excellence in state government. CSG fosters the interstate exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy, and it offers unparalleled regional, national and international opportunities to network, develop leaders, collaborate and create problem-solving partnerships.
CSG Midwest focuses on meeting the needs of state policymakers and leaders in the 11 Midwestern states Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In addition, four Canadian provinces: Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan are members or affiliate members of CSG Midwest’s Midwestern Legislative Conference. To learn more about careers at CSG, and about our comprehensive benefit offerings, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, PSLF eligibility and more, please visit our website here.

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Legislative Training Programs Coordinator is responsible for planning, coordinating, and carrying out the organization’s professional development and educational training programs and activities for state legislators and legislative staff.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative team environment.
• Driven to provide excellent customer service.
• Ability and willingness to grow existing programs and educational and training
• Strong writing skills, including editing skills.
• Ability to function in high-pressure situations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, maturity, and an ability to work independently and in a team setting.
• Entrepreneurial, creative, and able to identify new processes and opportunities.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and complete multiple projects in a detail-oriented manner.
• Possess solid computer skills, specifically Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Self-motivated, able to take initiative and see complex tasks through completion.
• Excellent work ethic, dependable, resourceful, and willing to work non-traditional hours.
• An effective program administrator who can exercise initiative and good judgment.
• Ability to prioritize and coordinate activities to meet schedules and timelines.
• Ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing, with business contacts and legislators in a courteous and professional manner.
• Ability to work in and thrive in a nonpartisan organization that is committed to good governance.
• Ability to understand, assess, and discern professional development, educational, and training needs of legislators and legislative staff and recommend programming to meet those needs.
• Analytical, with an ability to distill and concisely present complex information.
• Dedication to public services with an unfailing commitment to act with civility, be nonpartisan in performing CSG duties, and be a responsible steward of member and donor funds.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including self-awareness, sensitivity, and valuing others.
• Flexibility and willingness to take on new tasks as necessary to meet evolving needs and objectives of organization and its members.
• Willingness to travel as needed, including several trips per year.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• A Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree (a field such as public policy, political science, public administration, or related field preferred). Additional relevant experience may be substituted for education requirement.
• At least three years of experience in program management, preferably with demonstrated experience in skills development training for state legislators and/or legislative staff, or public officials at other levels of government.
• Experience in state government and/or state legislative environment is a plus.
• Knowledge of and understanding of state legislative institutions and the legislative process and environment preferred.
• Event and/or meeting planning is a plus.

• Plans and coordinates the organization’s professional development programs, including the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD), Under the Dome, policy workshop series, virtual training and webinars, training during the annual meeting, and the Legislative Service Agency Directors Group.
• Designs and prepares communication materials for the organization’s program, including the BILLD program’s recruitment materials, application, ranking forms, promotional materials, correspondence, and other materials.
• Coordinates and conducts logistics for BILLD, trainings, conferences and events, including speakers, registration, entertainment, transportation, facilities, technology, equipment, logistical requirements, printing, food and beverage, and other related tasks, in conjunction with CSG Midwest operations team.
• Participates in fundraising team efforts to promote, raise, and expand resources to support professional development and educational programs and activities.
• Works with legislative leaders, legislative staff, and faculty to coordinate and schedule in-state and virtual capacity trainings.
• Provides recommendations and strategic insights to expand the organization’s legislative training and educational offerings to the senior leadership team.
• Works with and coordinates effectively with the operation team to plan and execute programs and events.
• Maintains communications, conducts outreach, and establishes rapport with legislators, as well as with legislative partisan and nonpartisan staff of the states in the CSG Midwest region.
• Leads the execution of the CSG Midwest professional development programs, including, but not limited to BILLD, Under the Dome, Policy Workshop Series, and virtual trainings and webinars
• Leads and manages application process, faculty coordination, and member outreach for BILLD.
• Serves as lead staff liaison for the BILLD Steering Committee, and supports committee meetings and communication with members.
• Serves as liaison to the Legislative Service Agency Directors Group, including working with the chair to develop an agenda, identifying speakers, and coordinating sessions for its annual meeting, as well as any ad hoc virtual meetings throughout the year.
• Facilitates and leads communications and organization of in-state training activities, as part of the CSG Midwest Under the Dome initiative, including but not limited to, identification of state training needs, speaker/trainer coordination, event promotion, and traveling to represent CSG Midwest/support training sessions when appropriate.
• Expands and improves the organization’s professional development offerings through online research, referrals, and in-person gatherings.
• Manage professional development programs within the Annual Meeting. Duties include, but are not limited to, providing administrative support, developing program agendas, identifying and securing speakers, and executing programming onsite.
• Prepares surveys or other evaluation tools to assess training and educational programs.
• Monitors assigned states and assists in the state visit planning of assigned states.
• Periodically represents CSG Midwest at in-person events across the Midwest, and other regions as deemed appropriate.
• Assists with virtual trainings and webinars, including programming planning and execution. Duties also include technical knowledge for running webinar platforms, such as Zoom webinars.
• Performs all other reasonably assigned responsibilities and duties.