Now Hiring: Legislative Aide
The Maine Senate Majority (Democratic) Office seeks hardworking and team-oriented individual for the role of legislative aide.
The ideal candidate will be a strong communicator and writer, be adept at balancing and organizing multiple priorities, and will enjoy working as part of a team to meet diverse challenges.
The Senate Majority Office staff supports and enhances the work of the Maine State Senators in the Democratic caucus as they carry out their duty to serve their constituents and strives to have tangible, positive impacts on the lives of all Maine people. The Legislative Aide serves multiple members of the Democratic caucus helping with constituent services, communications, and legislative work.
The anticipated salary for this position is $55,848, which is accompanied by the strong state employee benefits package. The biweekly dollar values of some state-paid benefits for full-time employees include: $14.60 for dental insurance; 13.16% of employee’s pay towards retirement; and, depending on the employee’s annual pay, at least 85% ($412.23) of health insurance premiums (more information is available here).
Job Summary:
This mid-level professional performs constituent casework, routine research, and press and public relations functions for Senate Democratic caucus members. The position requires basic familiarity with the legislative process, the functions of state government, and policy interests of the caucus and the district of assigned caucus members. The Legislative Aide is supervised by a senior staff member (Chief of Staff), who may review and track their work for accuracy, completeness, content, timeliness and methods.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Assists constituents of assigned caucus members in dealing with state agencies, quasi-governmental entities, and other organizations as appropriate in obtaining services or resolving problems either in person, by phone or email and in consultation with the senator.
- Monitors statewide and in-district events and news.
- Works closely with communications staff to timely draft and review news columns, opinion pieces, press releases, media advisories, legislative testimony, floor speeches, and more.
- Helps research, write, edit, format and oversee the production of annual newsletters and questionnaires in conjunction with senators.
- Helps organize in-district and other meetings for senators.
- Tracks assigned caucus members’ legislation through the entire legislative process; monitors committee hearings or floor debates and reports legislative action or developments to other staff or legislators.
- May assist assigned senators with social media, email, and other correspondence and legislative business.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or other equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Ability to communicate, coordinate and work effectively with the public, members of the legislature, legislative staff and executive branch.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills; experience in communications, journalism, and/or traditional or social media.
- Research and computer skills experience.
- Ability to work independently, as part of a team, and under pressure.
- Demonstrated interest in politics and/or state government.
- Familiarity with Maine and its different regions.
To Apply:
- Application requires a cover letter, current resume, writing sample (see instructions and prompt below), and minimum two references submitted by email to the Chief of Staff at isabel.mullin@legislature.maine.gov. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
- Writing Sample instructions: The written response to the below prompt should be entirely your own work. You should not consult others for any part of the assignment including copy edits. The time limit is 1 hour 15 min total on the response (45 min for research and 30 min for writing), and it should be no more than 400 words (headers included). This is being conducted under the honor system, and trust is a key part of our staff relationships. You may do research using any trustworthy sources available to you. If a statement is based on a source, please hyperlink the relevant text to that source.
- Prompt: It is February 22, 2022. The senator you support just presented LD 1807, “An Act To Expand Nursing Education Programs,” for its public hearing. Please draft a press release about the bill, public hearing, and the broader significance of the legislation for Maine’s health care system.
- Here are a few resources that may be helpful:
- http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0634&item=1&snum=130
