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Legislative Analyst

State of Iowa

Des Moines - 50319 - Polk County, IAFull-time$57K/yrPosted 3 days agoStill listed 1 day ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$57K/yr
Location
Des Moines - 50319 - Polk County, IA
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

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Job overview

The Legislative Analyst supports the Iowa Senate Republican Caucus by researching and analyzing legislation and government policy, assessing policy implications, and preparing clear synopses and recommendations. The role supports Senators during the legislative session, tracks legislation through the process, and responds to Senator and constituent inquiries. Preferred candidates have working knowledge of the legislative process and three years of related professional experience.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Legislative ResearchLegislative AnalysisOral CommunicationWritten CommunicationVisual CommunicationReading ComprehensionAttention to DetailTeamworkCustomer ServiceLegislative ProcessPolicy Research

Qualifications

Three Years Related ExperienceBachelor's Degree or Equivalent Experience

Full job description

This is a courtesy posting for Iowa Senate. Applicants should follow instructions in "To Apply". Job Summary: Performs research, develops complex analysis, and delivers both advantages and disadvantages of policy synopses under strict deadlines with superior attention to detail in fast paced Senate legislative environment, on the partisan Republican caucus staff team, under the general supervision of the Senate Republican Caucus Staff Director. This is a full time, year-round position for a Legislative Analyst on the Iowa Senate Republican Caucus staff. Responsibilities for this partisan Republican legislative analyst position include demonstrating superior communication skills, both verbally and in writing; the ability to research, develop, and analyze complex legislation; manage and build interpersonal relationships on our team with elected officials and their constituents. The successful candidate will navigate a fast-paced environment while performing under strict deadlines and providing exemplary customer service. (See Job Description below.) ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:1. Research, analyze, determine advantages and disadvantages, and provide detailed and accurate synopses of complex legislation and government policies at the federal, state, and local level.

  1. Assess the technical and political implications of proposed legislation and communicate this information orally or in writing in a straightforward manner to promote understanding with audience.

  2. Research and respond to Senator inquiries in person and/or electronically.

  3. Attend subcommittee and committee meetings during legislative session.

  4. Prepare and support Senators for subcommittee, committee, and floor debate daily during legislative session.

  5. Organize meetings between legislators and stakeholders, to include committee meetings, and other meeting requests.

  6. Complete work products in support of caucus objectives as designed by members of the Senate Republican Caucus and/or staff leaders on behalf of the caucus.

  7. Track bills, resolutions, policy ideas, and other developments in your assigned issue area(s) through the legislative process from idea to becoming law.

  8. Provide information to promote or reject proposed legislation, as determined by Senators’ goals.

  9. Understand the amendment process (including its strategic and tactical use).

  10. Understand and be able to apply Senate rules, Senate/House Joint rules, the legislative process, and Senate tradition.

  11. Apply knowledge of Code, rules, policy, federal legislation, other states, think tanks, court rulings, executive orders, academic writings, and media to legislative questions, initiatives, and requests of Senators, including knowing how stakeholders view each issue.

  12. Request bill and amendment drafts and work with the Legislative Services Agency to shape the language based on input from Senators and stakeholders.

  13. Manually and electronically maintain tracking systems of legislative activities, including keeping records of subcommittee and committee actions, (will require lifting of up to 25 pounds on an occasional basis), and providing regular updates to the staff director.

  14. Provide public policy research and recommendations for future policy development.

  15. Act as a liaison with Judicial and Executive branch/agency personnel related to assigned committee(s) and issue area(s) as needed.

  16. Help constituents, primarily within assigned policy area(s), with an emphasis on answering legislative questions and requests, helping navigate executive branch agencies and departments, and understanding the legislative process to promote strong, positive, and lasting constituent relationships with Senators.

  17. Maintain a good working relationship with legislators, staff, and constituents.

  18. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities as assigned. ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

  19. Will demonstrate knowledge of rules and floor operations of Iowa Senate.

  20. Maintains exemplary customer service with legislators, coworkers, and the public.

  21. Works a flexible schedule that includes partial compensatory time. Preferred candidates will possess a working knowledge of the legislative process with three years of professional experience in a field related to legislative affairs, public policy, issue advocacy, government affairs, association management, or public service.Please submit your cover letter, resume, and names/contact information of three professional/supervisory references to: [email protected] The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

BA/BS 4-year degree from an accredited University or College or equivalent experience. Demonstrated oral, visual, and written communication skills; with superior reading comprehension and adherence to detail. Ability to contribute on a team, provide exemplary customer service, and work a flexible schedule that includes partial compensatory time.

How this job compares

Set against the 457 open Policy Analyst jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 31, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$57K/yr
  • US median$90–137K/yr287 salary ranges

This rate, $57K, is 50% below the US median midpoint ($115K) — in the lowest quarter of Policy Analyst salary ranges across the US.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 457 open Policy Analyst jobs across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most across the US
Experience
Policy Analyst postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 2 to 8 years (366 postings).
Education
239 of the 457 open Policy Analyst jobs (52%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 31, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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