Congressional Affairs Specialist

Duties

• Serve as legislative liaison, strategist, and analyst.
• Serve as a staff officer responsible for researching, identifying, recommending, and conducting outreach to other organizations, both within and outside of the Executive Branch, to advance the Command's strategic goals.
• Provide assistance in coordination and synchronization of command-wide interagency efforts in strategic planning, theater security planning, deliberate planning, crisis planning, crisis response, transition, and post-crisis reconstruction activities.
• Track Congressional budget actions and conduct analysis of legislation at all stages to assess their impact on the Command's programs.
• Analyze the commands programs, plans, and current problems to determine specific areas where Congressional interest may have favorable or unfavorable impact on the Command.
• Assist in the development and execution of a congressional engagement plan that effectively supports the Command's priorities and goals.
• Advance understanding of the Command's programs, funding and authorities; and maintain appropriate contact with key members and staff.
• Monitor policy developments of importance to Command by observing hearings and reviewing relevant press and policy materials.
• Distribute key information to Command staff and component staffs and assists in the development of strategies to overcome legislative obstacles.
• Provide advice to senior leadership on issues of Congressional interest, assist in preparing leadership to engage with Members of Congress and their staff, and to deliver testimony and informational briefings.
• Provide analytical support and expert advice concerning organizations' capabilities, limitations, and approaches; and articulate potential opportunities and pitfalls to the Command leadership and staff.
• Work with Command staff and government agencies in the Washington DC area to ensure a common understanding of each other's capabilities, limitations, and intentions.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Position requires a Security Clearance at the TOP SECRET/Special Sensitive Level as the incumbent will be required to access, process, use, and safeguard classified National Defense information.
• This position is covered by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Program. The incumbent must pass urinalysis testing, as required prior to appointment and periodically thereafter.
• This position requires up to 25% TDY.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

• Current Department of Army Civilian Employees
• Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce
• Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
• Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
• Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
• Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
• Reinstatement
• Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998

In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is .

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service which includes experience with highly sensitive political and congressional liaison principles, methods, practices, and techniques; analytical methods; and interpersonal relations practices in order to develop and apply successful approaches to the most difficult and complex congressional problems. Skill in preparing background analytical reports for Members and committees of Congress and their staff on defense and foreign policy issues and the organizational processes. Working experience with US governmental political and legislative processes, to include both of the legislative Chambers' processes, institutions, personal and Committee staffs, parties, and personalities, and the relationships between them. Responsible for independently planning, designing, and carrying out projects, studies, and communicating in a clear, concise, and effective manner both in writing and orally in order to support mission requirements.

You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:

• Organizational Awareness
• Planning and Evaluating
• Strategic Thinking
• Technical Competence

Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-13).

Education

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Additional information

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• One year trial/probationary period may be required.
• Direct deposit of pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the information sheet.
• This is a Security and Intelligence Career Field position.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.
• Advanced In-hire may be authorized subject to organization/management discretion.
• Relocation, Recruitment, or Retention Incentive may be authorized subject to organization/management discretion.
• Ability to speak Spanish desired but not required.