ABOUT THE ROLE

Delegate Irene Shin is looking to fill the primary legislative staff position in her office. The title for this position could be either Legislative Aide OR Chief of Staff, depending on the applicant’s experience and qualifications but in both cases, will report directly to Delegate Shin. An applicant for the Chief of Staff position would be expected to operate with significant autonomy – someone who is skilled at anticipating needs, able to exercise sound, independent judgment, and has previous experience successfully managing stakeholders and projects. Whereas, a Legislative Aide will likely work more closely with Delegate Shin and receive more direct guidance, making this role a strong fit for someone earlier in their career who is excited and willing to learn and grow.

The successful applicant will be a self-starter with a strong work ethic, someone who operates with integrity, and someone who brings a good sense of humor to the team. Ideally, this person would also possess intellectual curiosity, a desire to learn new skills, and a commitment to growth. And given the autonomy of the Chief of Staff role, it would be valuable for applicants to be able to demonstrate past experience where they have seen projects through to completion without requiring close supervision.

Our team is rooted in our values, driven by a deep care for our community and the optimistic outlook that our office can help to build a more just Virginia. Between constituent casework and supporting the Delegate’s priorities to address the most urgent issues in the Commonwealth – this role touches just about everything (and we hope for the right person, that would be an exciting aspect of this opportunity).

This next bit is the fine print that others might glaze over, but we think it’s really important to disclose upfront: General Assembly Sessions are intense! From January through mid-March, the pace is breakneck and the stakes are high. But because that intensity is front-loaded at the beginning of the year, it allows for the rest of the year to move at a completely different pace – one that is more flexible and much more sustainable.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The outline below offers a broad summary of core responsibilities, though no two days in this role ever look exactly the same.

Office Management (25%)

• Manage the Delegate’s calendar, coordinate meetings, and staff her at applicable events
• Supervise interns, fellows, and/or administrative staff as applicable
• Manage office communications, including phone calls, the email inbox, and snail mail
• Support coordination for conferences including registration and travel arrangements

Communications (20%)

• Draft and distribute weekly e-newsletters during session and monthly newsletters outside of session
• Prepare periodic snail mail newsletters during session
• Draft social media content (static posts) for the Delegate’s review
• Draft and distribute press releases and other public communications as needed
• Prepare memos/briefings for the Delegate in advance of major events

Legislative (30%)

• Help turn policy ideas into real legislation by engaging stakeholders and liaising with committee and agency staff
• Prepare the Delegate for committee hearings through research, coordinating stakeholder testimony, and gathering key materials
• Track bills through the legislative process
• Represent the Delegate at meetings with constituents, stakeholders, and partner organizations

Constituent Services & Community Engagement (25%)

• Serve as a primary liaison for constituent casework
• Maintain an internal system to track constituent correspondence and ensure timely responses
• Organize town halls and coordinate the Delegate’s annual “Build Your Own Bill” workshop series
• Identify and coordinate community events for the Delegate to attend
• Support the Delegate in her capacity as the Chair of the Virginia Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• At least two years of relevant work experience for Legislative Aide and at least four years of relevant work experience for Chief of Staff
• A self-starter who takes initiative and doesn’t wait to be told what needs to be done
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• High attention to detail — in this work, the details reflect directly on the office
• Strong research and analytical skills with ability to synthesize information quickly
• Demonstrated record of seeing projects through from start to finish
• Ability to meet deadlines, guard the Delegate’s time, and manage their own time well
• Proficiency with GSuite and Microsoft Office
• Strong interpersonal skills; able to work collaboratively, exercise discretion, and communicate tactfully with constituents, press, and stakeholders

Preferred

• Proven ability to manage competing priorities and hard deadlines with good judgment
• Familiarity with Virginia’s political landscape, particularly Northern Virginia
• Proficiency with tools such as NGP, Action Network, VoteBuilder, Constant Contact, etc.
• Previous communications or media experience
• Previous management experience (required for Chief of Staff consideration)

LOCATION & OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

The Virginia General Assembly Session typically runs from early January through early-to-mid March. During session, staff are required to reside in Richmond during the work week. Outside of session, location is flexible with a strong preference for someone based in Northern Virginia/DC or Richmond. The successful candidate would have access to reliable transportation and be able to work occasional evenings and weekends for special events.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary range is $65,000–$85,000 annually, commensurate with experience and title. For staff based outside of the Richmond area, the state provides a per diem to offset temporary housing and mileage costs during the legislative session. The total salary for this position will consist of funds from both the state and supplemental funds from the Delegate’s campaign committee.

• Healthcare, dental, vision, and life insurance through the state
• Retirement benefits through the state
• Generous PTO
• Flex time
• State and federal holidays

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please send an email to hello@ireneforva.com with the subject line “YOUR FULL NAME — Legislative Staff Application” and include:

• A brief cover letter with a clear indication of which role you are applying for
• A writing sample of your choice (no more than two pages).
  • We’re not expecting you to produce something new at this stage of the application, a previous work product would suffice. (Examples might include a memo or briefing, press release, grant proposal, or even long-form work email.) We just want to get an initial sense of your writing style.
• Your resumé

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with priority given to applications submitted by April 20, 2026. The position will remain open until the right applicant is found.