This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Legislative Affairs. The primary purpose of this position is to assist with the full range of congressional work including analyzing, researching and formulating official responses to requests from Members of Congress and their staff, and engaging with committees on matters of congressional interest, inquiry, or investigation. Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Duties

As a LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS SPECIALIST, GS-0301-11/12, your typical work assignments may include: Conducting a full range of congressional outreach and legislative work including researching and formulating written and verbal responses to requests from Members of Congress and their staff, tracking and interpreting legislation, scheduling briefings, advising and preparing briefers and hearing witnesses, and engaging with committees on often sensitive matters of congressional interest, inquiry, or investigation. Collaborating within and across teams in the Office of Legislative Affairs, other DHS offices and components, and other federal agencies. Exercises tact, discretion and judgment concerning inquiries and replies received from or conveyed to Congress, its Committees, or staff members directly or through other DHS personnel. All DHS-HQ announcements have a 5 business day open period due to the number of applications received. This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 100 applications have been received, whichever happens first. View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must submit to a pre-employment drug test.
• You may be required to serve a one year probationary period.
• Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
• All DHS-HQ announcements have a 5 business day open period due to the number of applications received.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience: GS-11: You qualify at the GS-11 grade level if you possess one of the following: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in Federal service, performing duties such as: 1) assisting with the evaluation and interpretation of laws, regulations, policies or operations pertaining to current legislative actions; 2) conducting research and preparing drafts or final documents in response to congressional requests for information on current legislative issues; and 3) monitoring and reporting on congressional hearings and legislative actions which may affect the organization and its programs; OR A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; Three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; (or an LL.M., if related. Administrative and Management positions only); OR A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application. NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the first two years may be used to qualify for the GS-11 level. GS-12: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level is you possess: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal government, performing duties such as: 1) formulating official responses and preparing witness testimony for congressional inquiries and hearings; 2) maintaining and controlling access to records on legislative actions, congressional hearings, testimonies, and other congressional activity; and 3) monitoring and reporting on congressional hearings and legislative actions which may affect the organization and its programs. In addition to the minimum qualifications described above, you must meet the following requirement(s) to be considered qualified for the position: Experience evaluating and interpreting Federal laws and policies; and operational experience with direct full-time responsibilities for legislative, congressional, or governmental affairs on legislation with or before the U.S. Congress. All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. 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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Time-in-grade Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade, or a combination of the next lower grade level and an equivalent band in the federal service by the closing of this announcement. Note: Current or former Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment ("position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1"), tenure group (block 24 should show a 1 or 2), grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job). If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION AS A STATUS CANDIDATE. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

Education

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

Contacts

• Address Department of Homeland Security Headquarters OCHCO/HRMS/MS #0170 6595 Springfield Center Drive Springfield, VA 20598-0170 US
• Name: Monique Ladner
• Email: [email protected]