Congressional Liaison

Job Title

The following are the duties of this position at the full working level. If this vacancy includes more than one grade and you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform these duties and receive training to help you grow in this position.

Facilitates legislative and non-legislative relations between the IRS and Congress in conjunction with the National Director for Legislative Affairs. This is accomplished by maintaining continuing liaison with key Congressional staff. Furnishes authoritative information regarding IRS policies, programs, operations, and activities. Formulates and implements a comprehensive plan to carry out Legislative Affairs initiatives, elevates successful initiatives for broader implementation. Adapts Legislative Affairs initiatives to Congressional Members' and staff preferences, priorities, and available resources to accomplish agency objectives. Evaluates the effectiveness of ongoing initiatives in achieving Service goals and identifies and implements changes needed to improve effectiveness, and/or communicates needed modifications to responsible functions.

Assists with the preparation for and follow-up to Congressional hearings. Assist in the preparation by business units throughout the IRS of testimony and briefing materials for Congressional hearings, as needed. Plans and carries out feasibility, cost, and other types of comprehensive analytical and evaluative studies of current and contemplated Legislative Affairs operations to ensure accomplishment of the Service's goals.

Serves as the contact point on IRS questions, problems, and issues for Congressional offices and their staffs. Provides technical and administrative guidance on Legislative Affairs issues to internal and external customers. Serves as top-level management advisor on complex and sensitive Legislative Affairs issues with senior level IRS officials. Stays abreast of new developments and communicates them to the appropriate IRS or congressional staff. Advises higher level management of local issues with potential nationwide impact. Initiates and maintains regular contact with assigned Congressional office(s) to convey IRS corporate messages, such as news releases and information on tax law changes, and to offer help. Coordinates with legislative affairs points of contact throughout the Service to provide informational meetings and briefings and convey key IRS messages. Serves as a team leader or member of multi-functional IRS teams with Legislative Affairs implications. Serves as a coach to less experienced Congressional Liaisons. Identifies complex systemic issues that negatively affect IRS and/or taxpayers and facilitates multifunctional coordination designed to resolve problems/concerns. Serves as a resource for other operating divisions on difficult, complex, or unique issues, such as those involving multifunctional relationships among programs, agencies, organizations, or similar entities.

Analyzes congressional inquiries, news reports and other sources to identify developing issues and trends. Reports periodically to Legislative Affairs on substantive contacts with Congressional committee offices. Responds to a broad range of inquiries from Congressional offices regarding IRS policies, programs, processes, and legislative issues. Provides ongoing formal communication, such as disseminating guidance, congressionally mandated reports, and Commissioner correspondence to Congressional offices. Independently initiates, plans, and conducts meetings with Congressional offices for the purpose of education about IRS programs in their jurisdiction. Identifies, evaluates, and responds to many varied requests from numerous congressional offices for technical assistance and information, training, and other types of tax administration assistance and services. Determines the most appropriate operating division officials for meetings and assistance as requested by Congressional offices. Manages, coordinates, and integrates legislative affairs with all IRS functional programs, Department of the Treasury, and other Administration offices. Establishes communication network to deliver legislative affairs information to all customers.