Career Opportunities

LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT – The Office of Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) seeks a Legislative Assistant to lead a portfolio focused on agriculture, energy, environment, housing, tax, transportation, and additional issues as assigned. This role works directly with the Member, Chief of Staff, Legislative Director, and other staff to help develop and implement the Member’s policy agenda, and includes managing the Member’s work on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture. The salary range for this role is $70,000 - $75,000; salary and title commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Responsibilities of this position include drafting and analyzing legislation; developing and leading new policy ideas; building and managing stakeholder coalitions; conducting research and monitoring relevant internal and external developments; drafting policy memos, talking points, and remarks; meeting with constituents; staffing events, hearings, and markups; and other duties as assigned. 

Essential strengths of successful candidates include curiosity and a commitment to public service; excellent legislative drafting and analysis skills; the ability to quickly execute multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment; strong research, fact-checking, writing, and communication skills; organization and attention to detail; the ability to distill complex information in a way that is compelling to different audiences; and exceptional interpersonal and advocacy skills.

This is not an entry-level position. Qualified candidates should have congressional experience or relevant experience in agriculture policy. The position is located in-person in our Washington, D.C. office, with occasional telework opportunities. The position offers health coverage; comp time; retirement benefits with an employer match; paid sick, bereavement, and vacation leave; paid parental leave; paid FMLA leave; transit or parking benefits; access to life insurance coverage; and access to the student loan repayment program.

The office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, religion, disability, age, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, LGBTQ identification, family status, or military status. Women, people of color, and other members of traditionally underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The office will contact the best qualified candidates to begin our interview process. To apply, please email Underwood.DCJobs@mail.house.gov with “Legislative Assistant” in the subject line and the following application materials attached as one combined PDF: 

• Cover letter 
• Résumé
• Three references including name, current title and organization, phone number, email, and a one-sentence description of your relationship to the reference (of course, we will not contact these references without reaching out to you for your approval)