Description Position Summary Why It's a Great Opportunity: Pierce County Planning and Public Works (PPW) is seeking a qualified candidate to assist in monitoring, evaluating, and advancing legislative initiatives during the upcoming 2025 Washington state legislative session. The candidate will work with the PPW legislative team to deliver real-time information on bills and state biennial budget proposals, draft bill analyses through a PPW lens, and represent PPW at two weekly legislative briefings with County officials and consultants. Why It's a Great Department: PPW is a diverse and fast-moving department filled with motivated professionals working to ensure Pierce County is positioned to handle growth while building, operating, and maintaining reliable infrastructure to support livable communities. PPW is responsible for a broad and complex portfolio of services that provides unique opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and inspire. We are responsible for the County road and levee systems, sewer systems, airports, ferries, building permits, environmental review, sustainability, community planning, and code enforcement - just to name a few! Learn more about Planning and Public Works here. How to be Successful in the Role: Your success will come from education learned and desire to go beyond that point. Preferred candidates will be a Senior undergraduate or recent graduate with interest or experience in any combination of the following subjects/careers: * Public policy/public administration/legislative strategy. * Urban/regional planning. * Public sector finance. * Sustainability. Core Daily Responsibilities: * Track legislative and regulatory proposals covering a wide range of issues impacting local and regional planning and public works. * Monitor potential and actual state budget line items that implicate PPW policy or capital programs. * Conduct legislative and regulatory research and produce memos and talking points for agency leadership. * Summarize public hearings on bills being tracked. * Attend occasional planning commission meetings (in person). * Deliver weekly briefs on Council and Commission schedule/upcoming ordinances. * Monitor external advocacy conversations that shape County policy. * Identify key stakeholders and analyze the impacts of existing laws and policy. Qualifications * Preferred Qualifications: * A resume and cover letter are required for this position. The cover letter will be considered as part of the selection process. The cover letter should briefly address your career goals and how this internship opportunity can help you reach those goals. Maximum two pages. * Basic understanding of the Washington state legislative processes, including how bills are introduced, debated, voted on, and advanced. * Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills. * Ability to synthesize complex information and draft clear and concise summaries for use by PPW and County leaders. * Ability to multi-task while maintaining attention to detail in rapidly changing information environments. * Ability to work independently and take initiative. * Exceptional professionalism and discretion. * Eagerness, enthusiasm, and a desire to learn and develop new knowledge and abilities. As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration. Supplemental Information To be considered for this opportunity please: * Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to: www.piercecountywa.org/jobs. * If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and specify the Job Number and Title. * If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers. * Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need. This is a competitive selection process. Your application will be reviewed and evaluated for the quality and quantity of education/experience in the areas listed. Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status normally occurs 2 to 3 weeks after the closing date. Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes which may include assessments, phone screen, and interviews. At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step. We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career. We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision. Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a great place people are proud to call home? We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time. Our benefits: Sick Leave Extra hires are eligible to receive sick leave in accordance with the WA State Minimum Wage Act. Extra hires are not eligible for other County benefits. Social Security All Pierce County employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The county and the employee pay an equal amount into the system. Retirement and Deferred Compensation Pro-tem Judges in District Court, Pro-tem Superior Court Commissioners, Extra Hires with Retirement, and Work Study Students with Retirement are eligible for Retirement and Deferred Compensation and Social Security. Pierce County employees are members of the State of Washington's Department of Retirement System (DRS) and depending on the position or previous DRS enrollment may be able to enroll in one of many programs DRS offers. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site. Agency Pierce County Address Pierce County Human Resources 2401 S 35th St, Rm 121 Tacoma, Washington, 98409 Phone (253) 798-7480 For Sheriff's Department positions: 253-798-6250 Website http://www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs