This position serves as a Congressional Liaison Representative to the Congressional Liaison service staff, which is organizationally located within the office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs (OCLA). The incumbent performs a variety of administrative and technical duties in the conduct of liaison activities between the Department of Veteran Affairs, VA and members of both houses of current Congress. Manages congressional casework and provides resolutions.

Duties

Provides technical advice and lends assistance and guidance to members of Congress and their staff in response to inquiries from their veteran constituency related to the full range of benefits and programs administered by the department. Reviews and interprets congressional legislation procedures, policy and institutions in connection with such veterans' health and benefits issues. The incumbent explains the application process and criteria for determining eligibility for VA benefits and interprets, and clarifies decisions related to individual claims. The incumbent shares the responsibility for all administrative process of the offices of the congressional liaison services. This includes such studies as but not limited to analysis of congressional inquiries, administrative support, resource management, timekeeping, preparation of statistical reports, managing and resolving computer issues. Manages workflow of both offices of the congressional liaison services and develops procedures for the administrative operation of the office perform necessary research to furnish OCL management and staff in the congressional liaison office. The background materials needed for the full development of satisfactory solutions to individual's problems of a complex nature brought to the attention of the services, including those of a sensitive political nature. This task involves gathering and presenting materials regarding rights and benefits occurring to veterans, their dependents and beneficiaries under various laws administered by the VA, administrative matters of the agency concerning employees, procurement, and related matters. This includes review and analysis of veteran records, and review and interpretation of agencies, rules and regulations, laws and information receive from other VA offices and other agencies. Daily, the incumbent enters data into a correspondence tracking software. Independently determines assignments and required actions of VA administration to complete written responses to Congress. Tracks work assignments from receipt to completion using congressional database tracking tools. Manages purchase card transactions to include placing orders for both offices of the congressional liaison services, verifying the accuracy of orders and contacting vendors to rectify discrepancies. Incumbent monitors office equipment for the purpose of assuring that such equipment is improper condition for the conduct of business and timely, timely places orders for regular maintenance service and repairs as appropriate and necessary. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Congressional Liaison Representative PD#8175OA. The full performance level of this position is GS - 12. At the level GS-11/12, you will perform similar duties but under closer supervision. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/06/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-11 Qualifications: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: (a) coordinating the preparation of testimony for Congressional hearings; (b) responding to Congressional inquiries on issues of a general or policy nature based on the head of an organization's position on the issues; (c) preparing reports on congressional hearings, briefings, markups, and/or floor actions; (d) defending proposals, providing guidance, and/or preparing briefing materials concerning legislative initiatives of Congress. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related. OR, Combination: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a Masters Degree. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Conflict ManagementCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Knowledge ManagementOral CommunicationOrganizational Awareness 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary and performed in an office environment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

Education may be substituted for experience as described in "Qualifications. "If qualifying based on education, you must submit TRANSCRIPTS (unofficial copies are acceptable).

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Human Resources Service Center 810 Vermont Ave NW Washington, DC 20420 US
• Name: Eric Whittaker
• Phone: 2024895179
• Email: [email protected]