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Congressional Affairs Specialist (P)

Department of Transportation
Federal Transit Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Office of the Associate Administrator for Communications and Congressional Affairs (TCA) in the Federal Transit Administration.  TCA is responsible for the leadership and management of all aspects of external and internal communication, correspondence control and management, as well as the agency’s legislative affairs activities. 

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
07/10/2019 to 07/23/2019
Salary
$83,398 to - $128,920 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
FTA.TCA-2019-0003
Control number
539000800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. Citizens

Duties

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The Congressional Affairs Specialist:

  • Coordinates, with members of Congress and the Associate Administrator/Deputy Associate Administrator of Communications and Congressional Affairs, the development and release of public information such as press releases, fact sheets, newsletters, or other briefing materials. 
  • Coordinates final review of materials with the appropriate legal, technical, and management staff to ensure the accuracy and suitability of release.
  • Acts as a primary liaison with critical persons and groups both inside and outside of the agency, speaking for the principal on complex program issues. 
  • Provides information to these contacts regarding requirements and collects information needed to address issues raised in correspondence/telephone requests.
  • Analyzes complex problems or interrelated issues in developing and maintaining relationships with various stakeholders in the government, private industry, and universities. 
  • Formulates policies and procedures governing the organization’s liaison activities.
  • Monitors congressional requests for information. 
  • Receives and evaluates complicated requests requiring the analysis of several factors prior to assignment. 
  • Assigns work to the appropriate divisions or offices or advises that the request would be more appropriately handled by another federal agency.
  • Receives inquiries, analyzes same, obtains input from appropriate entities, and develops proposed responses.
  • Reviews, analyzes and edits responses for accuracy, adequacy of supporting narrative remarks and justification, and confirmation with agency policies and procedures.
  • Coordinates with appropriate staff to gain concurrence, presents to TCA leadership including the Director of Congressional Affairs and Deputy Associate Administrator for release and delivers responses to requesting offices.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must meet specialized experience to qualify.
  • Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
  • Review Required Documents Section as documents are required by closing date
  • Announcement also advertised Status & VEOA Applicants: FTA.TCA-2019-0002.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
  • DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the Grade 12, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 it must include:

  • Experience researching and analyzing policy and programs to develop informational materials for dissemination.
  • Experience writing and editing briefings, policy documents, technical assistance, congressional testimony and other executive-level communications for internal and external audiences.



To qualify for the Grade 13, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include:

  • Experience researching and analyzing policy and programs to develop informational materials for dissemination.
  • Experience writing and editing briefings, policy documents, technical assistance, congressional testimony and other executive-level communications for internal and external audiences.
  • Experience in disseminating public, congressional office, and policy-related material.


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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link:  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date.

Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.

EEO STATEMENT: The Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains a model federal work environment that is free of discrimination. DOT ensures equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants for employment, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, or protected activity.

This vacancy may be used by any DOT agency to fill similar positions within 90 days.

How you will be evaluated

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

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/ application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level. 

If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of four categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze, which is based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference that have provided supporting documents will receive selection priority over non-veterans. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position.

Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. The answers you select in the on-line process must be substantiated in your application package.  If upon review, it is determined that your described work history, competencies, and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be updated on your behalf or you may not be referred to the selecting official. Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers.  The Automated Staffing Office is ultimately responsible for determining your final rating.


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