• This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-14. At the GS-12/13 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-14. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. Promotion is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied.
  
  The employee serves as a member of the professional staff of the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs with responsibility for managing a segment of the Department's Congressional and Legislative Affairs program. The position entails a variety of assignments dealing with the Department's programs and policies, congressional oversight and legislative agenda.
  
  Major Duties:
  • Provides special expertise and knowledge in the area of legislation and of the interests and concerns of Members of Congress and congressional committees
  • Provides technical and specialized expertise to the Legislative Advisor in development of VA's legislative program
  • Assists assigned department and/or staff offices concerning matters within the Congressional Relations Officer's area of program and legislative responsibility.
  • Assists Presidential nominees for positions of high responsibility within the Department in the Senate confirmation process.
  • Provides reports on significant legislative and congressional activities to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for weekly submissions to the White House report.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• May be required to serve a probationary period.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required.

Qualifications

For the GS-12: You must possess one year of specialized experience to at least the GS-11 level. The specialized experience for this position is: having skills in analyzing and interpreting complex issues that are often times politically sensitive; determining identified problems, or weaknesses in the system or in communication with Capitol Hill; having thorough knowledge of intricacies of the legislative process and the Department's and Administration's legislative agenda in order to execute responsibilities and applies that knowledge to individual scenarios when providing guidance and support to key program officers and to offices of Members of Congress; and accurately interprets implications and urgency of verbal or written statements, requests, and positions presented. OR

For the GS-13: You must possess one year of specialized experience to at least the GS-12 level. The specialized experience for this position is: having skills in analyzing and interpreting complex issues that are often times politically sensitive; determining identified problems, or weaknesses in the system or in communication with Capitol Hill; having thorough knowledge of intricacies of the legislative process and the Department's and Administration's legislative agenda in order to execute responsibilities and applies that knowledge to individual scenarios when providing guidance and support to key program officers and to offices of Members of Congress; and accurately interprets implications and urgency of verbal or written statements, requests, and positions presented; and analyzing and interpreting attitudes and opinions for application in the trouble-shooting process and recommendation aspect of the position. OR

For the GS-14: You must possess one year of specialized experience to at least the GS-13 level. The specialized experience for this position is: Having expert skills in analyzing and interpreting complex issues that are often times politically sensitive; determining identified problems, or weaknesses in the system or in communication with Capitol Hill; having expert and thorough knowledge of intricacies of the legislative process and the Department's and Administration's legislative agenda in order to execute responsibilities and applies that knowledge to individual scenarios when providing guidance and support to key program officers and to offices of Members of Congress; accurately interprets implications and urgency of verbal or written statements, requests, and positions presented; analyzing and interpreting attitudes and opinions for application in the trouble-shooting process and recommendation aspect of the position; providing mastery of effective communication techniques is essential in order to recognize sensitive issues and developments both on Capitol Hill and within the agency; and providing expert accuracy in analyzing and interpreting attitudes and opinions is essential for application the trouble­shooting process and recommendation aspect of this position. AND

This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration.

The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: Experience overseeing public relations activities and communications for an organization to include compiling research and writing reports, arranging speaking engagements and coordinating briefings.

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Communications
• Oral Communication
• Organizational Stewardship
• Quality Management
• Writing

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
• Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.