The office of Council Member Susan Guidry is seeking applicants for the position of Chief of Staff for the District “A” Council office, which is located in City Hall.
Council Member Guidry is Chair of the Criminal Justice Committee, and is a member of the following Council Committees: Budget, Audit and Board of Review; Community Development; Governmental Affairs; Transportation and Airport; and Utility, Cable, Telecommunications and Technology.
The Chief of Staff manages the staffing of the office to ensure the priorities of the Council Member, on behalf of District “A” constituents, are addressed through legislation or via policy changes with the administration. This position requires broad knowledge of the functioning of government and successful strategies for reform and implementation of best practices for municipalities.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Manage the Council Member’s District “A” office and team of five employees, supervise volunteers and interns, and oversee the planning and implementation of the Council Member’s official schedule.
Staff the Councilmember for the Governmental Affairs Committee, including researching legal issues related to appointments, coordinating interviews with candidates, and ensuring completion of necessary application documents.
Staff the Councilmember for the Budget Committee, by preparing briefings and analysis of City operating and capital budgets throughout the year. Coordinate staff preparation for review of annual City budget as presented by the administration.
Assist Legislative Director in staffing and advising the Council Member on criminal justice matters. Assist the Council Member in formulating and implementing the agenda for municipal criminal justice policy. Major initiatives include reforming arrest and summons practices, pre-trial services and diversion/deflection, juvenile justice, bias free policing, reforming court practices and procedures, and local incarceration population reduction.
Provide legal, factual, and political analysis of proposed legislation, draft legislative instruments reflecting the Council Member’s legislative priorities, and conduct outreach to gauge and build support for initiatives.
Serve as liaison between Council Member and staff in other District Council offices, the administration/intergovernmental relations, and the state legislature.
Serve as liaison to stakeholders and community leaders for criminal justice matters and other general, neighborhood association concerns. Periodic attendance at evening and weekend meetings and events is required.
Draft external communications to respond to constituent concerns.
Working in tandem with the Communications Director, coordinate media outreach efforts both specific to legislation and generally related to issues affecting District “A” constituents.
Conduct research and draft talking points, prepare presentations, and write statements for use by the Council Member.
Represent the Council Member as designee or appointee for various criminal justice working groups, boards, and commissions, and staff the Council Member in her position as Council designee to the Children and Youth Planning Board.
Organize and coordinate community meetings on topics ranging from community services such as housing and small business assistance, to topical forums on specific legislation such as juvenile transfer and bail reform.
Other duties as assigned.
· Must be a New Orleans resident;
· J.D. from accredited law school;
· Minimum of 3 years’ experience working with local, state, or federal officials, entities, or departments;
· Demonstrated management experience;
· Familiarity with drafting and/or analyzing legislation, particularly at the municipal level;
· Familiarity with statutory and regulatory research;
· Familiarity with parliamentary procedure;
· Preferred experience with obtaining and analyzing data;
· Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with diverse staff, coalitions and community groups;
· Excellent written and oral communication skills;
· Experience drafting press releases and managing media outreach efforts;
· Ability to work independently and keep organized in a fast-paced environment, manage several projects simultaneously, and adjust strategy to frequently changing demands;
· Strong organizational skills and ability to maintain orderly records; and
· Proficiency with MS Office.
Please submit: (1) letter describing interest in the position; (2) resume; (3) a writing sample, not more than 10 pages long; and (4) three references to Gordon McLeod at [email protected].
Applications will be accepted until December 2, 2016, and will be considered on a rolling basis. No phone inquiries, please.
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