The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) is a U.S. government agency that invests in community-led development across Latin America and the Caribbean. The incumbent serves as a Congressional and Legislative Affairs Specialist within the Office of External and Government Affairs (EGA) and is a key part of the IAF team responsible for establishing and maintaining effective relationships and communications with Congressional Members, staffs, and Committees.
Summary
The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) is a U.S. government agency that invests in community-led development across Latin America and the Caribbean. The incumbent serves as a Congressional and Legislative Affairs Specialist within the Office of External and Government Affairs (EGA) and is a key part of the IAF team responsible for establishing and maintaining effective relationships and communications with Congressional Members, staffs, and Committees.
Advises agency leadership on congressional strategy and/or provides analysis to inform congressional strategy.
Develops briefing materials in support of Congressional communication and relationship strategies for current and emerging programs.
Researches past agency positions and keeps abreast of Committee direction, concerns, and issues to be addressed and/or resolved. Develops draft responses to Congressional inquiries.
Participates in meetings with Congressional staff. Stays abreast of IAF program and policy developments and future plans. Provides advice and assistance to IAF staff on procedural Congressional matters.
Drafts Congressional testimony, speeches, talking points, statements, and other related documents for use by the Foundation management and senior staff.
Participates in the review of reports, documents, correspondence, memoranda, and other material submitted by other offices for completeness and conformity with requests made and directives issued.
Researches and drafts reports or other documents such as the annual budget justification. Provides information and analysis regarding Congressional impacts and considerations.
Drafts written memorandum of meetings and the necessary follow-up actions.
Provides support for Congressional Staff delegations including the identification of participants, logistical support and development of briefing materials.
Suitable for Federal employment, determined by background investigation.
Direct Deposit of pay is required.
Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.
Qualifications
This position contains a selective placement factor (SPF) that is part of the minimum requirement of the position. If you do not meet the SPF, you are ineligible for further consideration. The SPF for this position is: Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in English and Spanish. This experience must be clearly documented in your resume.
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements and the SPF described by the closing date of this announcement. Applicants must also meet the specialized experience and/or the education listed below.
For the GS-11 grade level, must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level.
Examples of specialized experience at this grade level include, but are not limited to:
Experience monitoring and advising on legislative activities, and providing analysis and comments on proposed legislation, including impacts on programs and considerations; establishing and maintaining effective relationships and communications with members of congress and their staff members; and experience facilitating and arranging for Congressional meetings between agency staff and Members of Congress and/or their staff members. Must also demonstrate writing experience and interpersonal skills to represent governmental officials and their staff in a professional manner.
For the GS-12 grade level, must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level.
Examples of specialized experience at this grade level include but are not limited to:
Experience includes demonstrated experience of legislative and congressional committee processes on politically sensitive issues, policies, and objectives; experience communicating with Members of Congress, Administration officials, or other executive level officials to explain, relate, and/or defend controversial legislative proposals or actions; experience communicating complex matters, both in person and in writing, in a clear, concise and logical manner to be able to present the views of the Agency on matters of Congressional interest to Members of Congress and key staff, and to accurately convey Congressional views to high-ranking officials both inside and outside an Agency; and experience that demonstrates a detailed knowledge of the concepts, principles, and practices of the legislative process including parliamentary procedures in the House and Senate. In addition, specialized experience includes managing legislative liaison initiatives for Agency programs, assisting in the preparation of Agency staff and coordinating legislative documents for Congressional hearings or briefings, and understanding of the political, social and/or development challenges of Latin America and the Caribbean.
For the GS-13 grade level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level.
Examples of specialized experience at this grade level include but are not limited to:
Experience drafting formal reports, legislative proposals, testimony and other briefing materials; responding to inquiries and correspondence affecting regulatory policies and programs; experience researching legislative regulations and Congressional information; experience establishing contacts and maintaining relationships and liaison with certain United States Senate and House of Representative Committees; experience in providing information to management about Congressional trends or events that might affect the organization and ensure that Congressional offices keep abreast of current issues involving the organization; experience in providing written responses to Congressional inquiries, including constituent inquiries as necessary; experience in assisting in analyzing legislative proposals and bills introduced in Congress to determine the impact on organizational policies, programs, and procedures; and experience in drafting legislative proposals and other bills based on independent research and on review and analysis of comments of an organization's technical and field personnel, and understanding of the political, social and/or development challenges of Latin America and the Caribbean.
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.
Education
Combination of education and/or experience may substitute for the specialized experience requirement at the GS-11 level:
GS-11: A Ph. D or equivalent doctoral degree, or three full years of progressively higher level graduate studies leading to such a degree or LL.M, if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.
Education alone will not qualify for the GS-12 or GS-13 levels.
If qualifying based on EDUCATION you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
Only education from institutions which are accredited or pre-accredited/candidate for accreditation may be used to meet education requirements.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional information
Telework Suitability:
The duties of this position are suitable for occasional telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act.
Stipulations of Employment:
Selection may require completion of a 1-year probationary period.
If selected, you will be required to file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450).
Work Schedule:
This position allows for a flexible work schedule.
Miscellaneous:
IAF uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.
This position is being advertised concurrently with vacancy announcement # IAF-20-MP-10725423JS using Merit Promotion (MP) procedures. If interested, refer to that announcement to determine if you meet merit promotion requirements and can apply to that announcement. NOTE: You must apply separately to each announcement in order to be considered under both.
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days.
If selection is made below the full performance level, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed.
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.
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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The categories for this announcement are defined as: Best-Qualified, and Qualified. Your resume and supporting documentation will then be used to determine if you are qualified for this job. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
Analytical Thinking
Congressional and Legislative Affairs
Interpersonal Communication
Oral Communication
Written Communication
The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three," but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligible within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).
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.
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your Resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment mm/yy and duties performed.
2. Other supporting documents:
College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education or if this position has a basic education requirement
Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)
Cover Letter, recommended
If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If applicable, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. Failure to provide this documentation may result in a non preference determination. For more information on veterans' preference (see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-employment-initiative/vet-guide/).
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.
It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted prior to the closing date of the announcement.
Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
If you have questions about thisjob, please contact the HR Office representative listed in the "Agency Contact Info" section of this vacancy announcement. If you need assistance in applying on-line, please refer to the How to Apply section above and explore the Federal Application Process information on the USAJobs website
Inter-American Foundation
1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 1200 North
Washington, DC 20004
US
Next steps
For status updates on your application, please follow the directions listed above in the How to Apply section. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. If you are selected for an interview for this position, you will be contacted directly. A final job offer for this position is typically made within several weeks after the closing date of the vacancy announcement. After confirming a job offer, all other applicants will be notified of their non-selection.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your Resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment mm/yy and duties performed.
2. Other supporting documents:
College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education or if this position has a basic education requirement
Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)
Cover Letter, recommended
If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If applicable, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. Failure to provide this documentation may result in a non preference determination. For more information on veterans' preference (see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-employment-initiative/vet-guide/).
Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.
Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.
It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted prior to the closing date of the announcement.
Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section of this vacancy.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
If you have questions about thisjob, please contact the HR Office representative listed in the "Agency Contact Info" section of this vacancy announcement. If you need assistance in applying on-line, please refer to the How to Apply section above and explore the Federal Application Process information on the USAJobs website
Inter-American Foundation
1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 1200 North
Washington, DC 20004
US
Next steps
For status updates on your application, please follow the directions listed above in the How to Apply section. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. If you are selected for an interview for this position, you will be contacted directly. A final job offer for this position is typically made within several weeks after the closing date of the vacancy announcement. After confirming a job offer, all other applicants will be notified of their non-selection.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
