Title: Policy and Planning Coordinator
State Role Title: Policy Planning Spec III
Hiring Range: The starting salary range is $115,000 to $120,000.
Pay Band: 6
Agency: Dept of Criminal Justice Svcs
Location: Washington Building
Agency Website: www.dcjs.virginia.gov
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES ADVERTISEMENT
ROLE TITLE: Policy Planning Specialist III
Working Title: Policy and Planning Coordinator
Pay Band: 6
Position #: 00422
The Department of Criminal Justice Services is seeking a collaborative and innovative team player to serve as a Policy and Planning Coordinator, full-time in Richmond, Virginia. This position supports the Office of the Director. Public service offers the opportunity to do important rewarding work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. If you want to be part of an agency that cares about our constituents, rigorously advocates and promotes opportunities for all Virginians, we’d love to have you join us!
What you will do:
• Serve as the agency’s designated authority for the administration of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and as a central leader in governance, policy development, and legal coordination within the Office of the Director.
• Conduct legal research on matters related to regulation, legislation, and other administrative matters as needed, requested, and/or in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General.
• Provide critical support as an advisor in preparing, reviewing, and finalizing various documents, including legal documents and MOUs from draft to final copy.
• Provide a wide range of support in both day-to-day activities and special projects including reviewing and coordinating subpoena and discovery requests and must handle highly sensitive information with professionalism and confidentiality.
• Act as a key integrator across agency divisions, ensuring consistency, legal compliance, mitigating risk, and supporting strategic decision-making through effective management of complex, sensitive institutional matters.
• Represent the agency’s interests at administrative hearings and proceedings including but not limited to regulatory hearings, administrative hearings, and employee grievance hearings.
• Draft analyses, regulations, policies, and legislative documents, and review for legality, accuracy and clarity, and serve as a member of the agency’s Legislative Team.
Minimum Qualifications
• Documented experience working with Virginia State government; local government; Virginia legislature; and local, state, and federal court systems.
• Documented experience working with the Criminal Justice System in Virginia.
• Documented experience working with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, State and Local Government conflict of Interest Act, Public Procurement Act, and Administrative Process Act and the United States Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act.
• Documented experience working with investigative processes and procedures.
• Considerable documented experience developing and editing written materials, including reports and briefing documents.
• Documented experience conducting legal analysis.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent analytical and logical reasoning skills and abilities.
• Considerable documented experience researching, analyzing, and making recommendations.
• Ability to think strategically and cross culturally, and independently implement new initiatives and projects.
• Ability to articulate, both orally and in written form, clear and concise program objectives and goals and summarize achievements of programs in reports and other documents as requested.
• Documented experience working as an active, contributing team member, as well as an independent and self-motivated employee.
• Demonstrated ability to meet critical deadlines, handle multiple assignments, changing priorities, and ensure timeliness and quality of completed assignments.
Additional Considerations
• Experience working with the Office of the Governor's and/or Secretary of Public Safety practices and procedures.
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in public administration, public policy, criminal justice, political science, law, or related field. A Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school is strongly preferred. Candidates with an advanced degree or substantial experience in legislative, regulatory, legal, or public policy administration will also be given strong consideration.
Special Instructions
Interview candidates may be required to demonstrate the skills and abilities necessary for satisfactory performance of work. The candidate selected for the position must successfully complete a criminal background investigation and complete and submit a Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) which will be entered into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization. The individual may also be responsible for submitting an annual Statement of Personal Economic Interest. In addition, the selected candidate who begins original employment or re-employment in this position must serve a 12-month probationary period effective from the date of employment. The starting salary range is $115,000 to $120,000 plus the state’s benefits package.
Applications for this position are only accepted electronically through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Electronic Recruitment System at https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/home. All applications should be submitted by 11:55 pm on August 14, 2026. The application and supplemental questions must be completed in a comprehensive manner and reference any pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as any previous experience that relates to the position. Fax, email, or mail applications will not be accepted. Résumés and cover letters may be attached to the online application.
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any accommodation in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at (804) 786-8000 to notify us of any needs related to completing the job application. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service Alumni are encouraged to apply. The Department also encourages and invites veterans to apply.
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to your account at https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/home for the status of your application and this position.
Contact Information
Name: Nicole Harris
Phone: (804) 786-9469
Email: nicole.harris@dcjs.virginia.gov
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.
The Commonwealth of Virginia is located in the South Atlantic region of the United States. It was the 10th state to be admitted to the Union on June 25, 1788. Home to approximately 8 million residents, Virginia is the 12th most populous state in the United States. The capital is Richmond, and its most populous city is Virginia Beach.
The narrative history of the Commonwealth of Virginia often begins with the founding of Jamestown in 1607, near what is now modern day Williamsburg, Virginia. Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement in the New World, and the Virginia General Assembly, established on July 30, 1619, is now recognized as the oldest legislative body in the western hemisphere. When Virginia became a royal colony in 1624, the robust tobacco trade that had been developing in Virginia helped establish the American colonies as a powerful economic force. During the American Revolution, Virginia witnessed the final surrender of British forces at Yorktown and later became known as the birthplace of many revolution-era figures and future American presidents, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. To date, 8 United States presidents have been born in Virginia, more than in any other state.
The modern government of Virginia is nearly identical in structure to the federal government, and is divided into 3 branches, these being the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches. The Virginia General Assembly is comprised of the 100-member House of Delegates and the 40-member Senate. A governor and lieutenant governor are elected every 4 years. Governors cannot be elected to or serve consecutive terms. Virginia’s judicial system consists of the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Court of Appeals of Virginia, the Circuit Courts, and the lower General District Courts and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts. Virginia has 13 electoral votes in presidential elections, and possesses 11 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
