Liaison Officer 1

The Ohio Latino Affairs Commission is a state agency, established by Legislative Act and signed into Law by Governor James Rhodes on July 8, 1977. The Statute provided for eleven members on the board of commissioners appointed by the Governor with the advise and consent of the Senate. The Statute requires that all Board Members shall speak Spanish, shall be of Hispanic/Latino origin, and shall be American citizens or lawful, permanent residents. The membership shall be representative of the geographical and numerical distribution of Ohio’s Hispanic/Latino population. 

The purpose of the Ohio Latino Affairs Commission is to advise state government on issues affecting Hispanic Ohioans, to connect the diverse Latino communities across the state, and to build the capacity of community organizations so they may better serve the fast-growing population of Ohio.

The Liaison Officer 1 plays an important part at the Ohio Latino Affairs Commission. In this role, you will be responsible for: 

• Developing and maintaining process by which local government officials, organizations, and general public become involved in departmental programs
• Assisting OCHLA in obtaining state or private funding for various projects
• Independently handling legislative affairs
• Lobbying State legislators to enact or retain legislative action to fund agency projects
• Developing and maintaining process by which local government officials, organizations, and general public become involved in departmental programs
• Assisting OCHLA in obtaining state or private funding for various projects
• Independently handling legislative affairs
• Lobbying State legislators to enact or retain legislative action to fund agency projects
• Researching existing and proposed legislation for potential impact on the Latino Community (e.g., Medicaid–federal legislation and the Impact on Ohio bill; Education Initiatives in K–12 education bill)
• Monitoring legislation movement through legislative process
• Assisting in preparing hearing testimonies and testifying at hearings as needed (e.g., sunset review, budget hearing, etc.)
• Analyzing and reviewing contracts or proposals for special programs (e.g., Legislative Visit Day, Civic Engagement Workshops, and DHO)
• Preparing correspondence, reports, and OCHLA public policy newsletters
• Preparing news releases, public statements, and/or articles for publication (e.g., annual reports and OCHLA Community Reports) and uploading them on OCHLA’s website
• Obtaining registration as lobbyist or legislative agent pursuant to Section 101.72 of Revised Code (if representing agency before state legislature)
• May travel as needed, which may include overnight stay
• Holding an unclassified position pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 124.33

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

• 3 years of experience involving public speaking/public contact to explain policies, procedures and programs of agency, writing of promotional and/or explanatory publications and materials and/or drafting legislation and/or administrative rules for government agency.
• Or 24 months of experience as legislative aide or page.
• Or completion of undergraduate core coursework in English, journalism, communication or political science AND 12 months of experience in handling legislative and/or public affairs for government agency.
• Or 12 months of experience as Assistant Liaison Officer, 63510.
• Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.

Preferred Qualifications For This Position:

• Able to speak, write and interpret Spanish.

• Unless required by legislation or union contract, salary will be set at the lowest rate of the salary range with gradual increases in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code or OCSEA/AFSCME Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• Applicants must clearly indicate how they meet the minimum qualifications. Applicants are also encouraged to document any experience, education and/or training related to the job duties of the position applying for. You must clearly identify how you meet the minimum qualifications throughout your application and in your supplemental question responses.

Background Check and Drug Test 

• The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check as well as other investigative reviews. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position, unless restricted under state or federal law or federal restrictions. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.
• The final applicant selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis prior to appointment to test for illegal drug use. An applicant with a positive test will not be offered employment.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.