Legislative Liaison

Legislative Liaison

Mines is pleased to announce the creation and opening of a new position in the Office of Public Affairs and External Relations. The Legislative Liaison serves as the university's primary staff lead for state government relations, coordinating and managing legislative engagement, and supporting the execution of the institution's state advocacy and outreach strategy. While state relations are the primary focus, the position supports and advances the Office of Public Affairs and External Relations' government and community engagement portfolio, including relationship building with community organizations and cross cutting government relations initiatives.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Public Affairs and External Relations, this position plays a critical operational role during the Colorado legislative session by monitoring legislation, coordinating institutional responses, supporting testimony, and advancing policy and funding priorities aligned with the university's mission. The position works with university leadership, faculty, staff, and external partners to ensure a coordinated local, state, and federal legislative and outreach strategy.

The role collaborates with communications colleagues to provide support for advocacy related press, outreach, and social media tied to governmental relations efforts. This role requires regular and frequent presence on campus in Golden, Colorado.

• Manage and coordinate, in partnership with external government affairs partners, engagement with the Colorado General Assembly and relevant executive-branch agencies during the legislative session.
• Monitor, track, analyze, and summarize state legislation, budget actions, regulatory developments, and policy proposals affecting the university.
• Coordinate institutional testimony, witness preparation, bill support or opposition materials, and legislative meetings.
• Prepare and distribute briefing materials, bill analyses, talking points, memos, and written updates for senior leadership and campus stakeholders.
• Provide policy research and operational support to inform the Executive Director's review and institutional decision-making regarding positions on state legislation, policy proposals, and funding priorities.
• In collaboration with internal and government affairs partners, support the development and implementation of the university's annual state legislative strategy in alignment with institutional goals.
• Advance awareness of the university's research strengths, academic programs, workforce development capacity, and innovation ecosystem.
• Advocate for policy and investment in higher education, science, engineering, innovation, training, and infrastructure aligned with institutional priorities.
• Track legislative outcomes and assess impacts, in coordination with government affairs partners, to help inform future advocacy strategies.
• Work closely with the Executive Director and campus partners to ensure alignment of local, state, and federal legislative priorities, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy across jurisdictions.
• Share legislative intelligence, policy analysis, and engagement outcomes across the university to support institutional planning and decision-making.
• Assist with federal relations activities as needed, including policy tracking, preparation of briefing materials, coordination of meetings or visits, and issue research.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with state legislators, legislative staff, executive-branch officials, and policy advisors.
• Support engagement with local and regional officials and community-based organizations in coordination with the Office of Public Affairs & External Relations.
• Represent the university in meetings, briefings, hearings, coalitions, and external forums.
• Maintain situational awareness of political, policy, and budgetary dynamics to anticipate emerging issues and opportunities.
• Position the university as a trusted and preferred partner for state and regional government entities.
• Support engagement with industry partners, higher-education associations, advocacy coalitions, and community organizations aligned with…