Congressional Affairs Advisor

Summary This position is located in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Deputy Assistant Secretary for House Affairs (H/HA). The Bureau of Legislative Affairs serves as a liaison between the Department of State and Congress and is responsible for leading the development of and advancing the President's and the Department's legislative agenda in the areas of foreign policy, national security, and strategy. Vacancy closing date has been extended. Responsibilities Serves as the primary liaison with Congress and interagency partners on Department investigations and inquiries. Prepares Briefing Materials and Congressional Testimony. Ensures materials accurately reflect Department positions and are appropriate for the intended audience. Independently prioritizes and manages multiple concurrent congressional inquiries and investigations involving changing deadlines, sensitive issues, and competing demands. Review classified, sensitive, and unclassified information for congressional responses. Recommend strategies to address complex or sensitive congressional concerns. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience serving as a principal point of contact between a federal agency and congressional committees, Members, or staff on oversight inquiries or investigations. This includes coordinating the agency's responses to requests for documents or information, letters, subpoenas, or other investigative demands. Experience developing or critically reviewing congressional testimony, briefing memoranda, talking points, chronologies, or options papers for senior officials. It also includes preparing senior officials or witnesses for hearings, briefings, transcribed interviews, or depositions. Experience analyzing complex, politically sensitive oversight or investigative matters to build response strategies and recommendations for senior leadership. This includes assessing risks, likely congressional reaction, and long-term effects on agency programs. It also includes developing or improving processes for intake, tasking, clearance, and production of responses. Experience working with legal counsel and interagency counterparts on matters involving classified, privileged, or otherwise protected information. This includes preparing classified and unclassified versions of products that remain accurate and complete without disclosing protected information. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-14 position. Education Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement. Additional Information For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at [email protected]. If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions. Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM's CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.