Protect our Homeland, Ascend with Us!

Ascension is seeking an experienced Policy Analyst & Legislative Researcher to provide objective, data-driven legislative research and policy analysis in support of municipal decision-making for an elected legislative body. This role is central to ensuring that City Council members receive timely, accurate, and well-documented information to evaluate legislation, fiscal impacts, and policy options.

The ideal candidate is someone who thrives at the intersection of policy research, analytical writing, and public-sector governance. This individual should be comfortable working independently, synthesizing complex information across policy domains, and translating findings into concise, decision-ready products for elected officials and senior leadership.

This role directly supports the effectiveness, transparency, and credibility of legislative deliberations and plays a critical role in strengthening evidence-based policymaking for the client.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Policy Analyst & Legislative Researcher provides independent analytical support across a wide range of legislative and policy topics. The role focuses on researching proposed legislation, evaluating policy alternatives, assessing fiscal and operational implications, and preparing written analyses and briefing materials for City Council use.

Because legislative needs evolve rapidly, the analyst must be highly organized, self-directed, and adaptable, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent research requests under compressed timelines. The role requires strong judgment in identifying credible sources, clearly documenting assumptions, and distinguishing facts from interpretation.

This position regularly supports:

• Legislative research and issue briefs
• Comparative policy analysis across jurisdictions
• Fiscal impact summaries (in coordination with financial analysts)
• Council meeting preparation and follow-up analysis
• Ad hoc research requests driven by emerging policy questions

Tools commonly used include Microsoft Word, Excel, SharePoint, Teams, and online legislative research databases. Familiarity with municipal governance structures and public-sector policy processes is essential.

Position Responsibilities and Anticipated Activities

• Conduct legislative and policy research on municipal, state, and federal issues relevant to City Council decision-making
• Analyze proposed ordinances, resolutions, and policy initiatives for legal, operational, and policy implications
• Prepare clear, concise written products such as policy memoranda, issue briefs, and comparative analyses
• Research best practices and peer jurisdiction approaches to inform policy options
• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative data into decision-support materials for non-technical audiences
• Track legislative developments, regulatory changes, and policy trends as requested
• Support Council meeting preparation through background research and briefing materials
• Coordinate with the Project Manager/Senior Policy Lead and Financial Analyst to align findings
• Respond to time-sensitive, ad hoc research requests with professionalism and accuracy
• Maintain organized research files and documentation to support transparency and reuse