Affairs/Legislative Liaison

Essential Functions

• Serves as legislative liaison for the Commission on Equity and Inclusion advocating and monitoring laws and regulations.
• Provides consultation, advice and guidance to the Internal/External Communications Officer and other agency staff involved in reviewing, providing input on and testimony to the General Assembly on legislation.
• Performs legislative outreach functions responding to inquiries and requests from the public, legislators, their constituents, officials and governmental entities regarding programs administered by the Commission on Equity and Inclusion, and the agency’s administrative and operating procedures.
• Serves as agency liaison to legislators, legislative committees, and legislative staff involved with agency related legislation to provide information regarding the agency’s programs, operations and objectives and explains proposed and/or revised legislative issues.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four years of college.
• Requires prior experience equivalent to three years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers two (2) years or more of professional experience developing strategy for the passage of legislation and rules pertaining to governmental policy.
• Prefers two (2) years or more of professional experience analyzing and drafting legislation for a government agency or entity.
• Prefers two (2) years or more of professional experience developing and maintaining working relationships with the public, legislators, their constituents, officials and government entities.
• Prefers two (2) years or more of professional experience researching and compiling data to prepare analytical reports pertaining to current and/or pending legislation.
• Prefers two (2) years or more of professional experience participating in the procedures and practices of the Illinois General Assembly.

Conditions of Employment

All applicants must be able to meet the following Conditions of Employment to be considered for this position. The State of Illinois complies with federal and state disability laws and will make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.

• This position requires the applicant to pass a background check.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends. (optional) This also requires the ability to work in a 24 hour ‘on call’ capacity.
• Per Executive Order 2018-07, requires engagement with Business Enterprise Program (BEP) contractors and subcontractors and support for the goals of the BEP program and the Fair Contracting Task Force.
• Requires a valid driver’s license and the ability to travel statewide in the performance of all duties.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

The Commission on Equity and Inclusion (CEI) is a separate and unique administrative agency with distinct functions regarding the promoting of diversity in the State hiring process and encouraging the continuing economic development of minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned and people with disabilities-owned and operated businesses to participate, and succeed, in the State procurement process through the administration of the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities Act via the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) and Veterans Business Programs (VBP).  Both the BEP and VBP are designed to remedy ongoing discrimination and the continuing effects of past discrimination in State procurement. CEI’s mission is to increase participation in the State procurement process by assisting minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities with contracting opportunities with the State through the certification, compliance, and outreach programs under the BEP and VBP. The Commission is also committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity in all areas of the State employment process, including but not limited to the recruitment, hiring, promotion, discipline, discharge, and the awarding of benefits for all qualified individuals.