Congressional Affairs Specialist

Summary

About the Position: Serves as a Congressional Affairs Specialist providing a full range of congressional affairs activities. The employee supports the Congressional Affairs Office with monitoring, tracking, and reporting on items of congressional interest to the Command; assists in preparing the Command to engage with Committees, Members of Congress and their staff; and tracks and coordinates Headquarters and interagency staffing actions.

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Duties

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• Manages and tracks inquiries from Members of Congress, their staff, and committees.
• Analyzes inquiries to identify issues, conducts research, and finds information for resolution.
• Synthesizes information and composes official responses to Congressional inquiries.
• Prepares correspondence and reports like position papers, fact sheets, and testimony for Congress.
• Provides staff oversight for SOUTHCOM and subordinate commands on all Congressional issues.
• Oversees visits by Members of Congress and their staff to SOUTHCOM subordinate commands.
• Acts as a subject-matter expert for all responses to congressional inquiries.
• Supports the Congressional Affairs Chief with internal coordination, budget, and security.

Requirements

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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 has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement of 20% of the time.

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 Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

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 in this document.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service which includes experience with political and Congressional liaison principles, methods, practices and techniques used in developing and applying to complex congressional problems; receiving, tracking, monitoring and controlling inquiries; experience in effective writing techniques, and unique writing styles and requirements, to compose official congressional responses; and experience developing broad, long-range objectives, identifying work to be done, and establishing deadlines for completion of plans.

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

• Attention to Detail
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Teamwork

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-12).

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 aloneno 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.
• This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• 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 Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• This is a(n) MISC ADMIN & PROGRAM SERIES (60) Career Field position.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit for more information.
• 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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.