Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all U.S. citizens.

This position is located in the Office of Public and Governmental Affairs (PGA), Legislative Affairs Division (LAD), Washington, DC.

The incumbent serves as Deputy to the LAD Chief to ensure effective relations with members of Congress, their staffs and Committees, and the Department of Justice, which oversee the work and resources of the Bureau. The Deputy is actively involved with Congressional hearings, decisions, briefings, activities and legislation which affect the Bureau. 

As the Deputy Division Chief, participates fully with the Chief LAD in exercising overall managerial direction and control over the Bureau's legislative affairs programs, initiative, and staff.

• Serves as a principal advisor to the Public and Governmental Affairs (PGA) Assistant Director (AD), Deputy Assistant Director (DAD), and other members of ATF’s Executive Staff regarding legislative issues.
• Manages a diverse team of multiple subject matter experts by establishing annual priorities and metrics, assigning work, evaluating performance, and overseeing all other related administrative requirements.
• Formulates legislative strategies that accurately, truthfully, and comprehensively provide information regarding ATF's mission, policies and activities to the Department of Justice, Members of Congress, congressional committees and staff. 
• Reviews all congressional inquiries to ascertain the type of response needed (i.e., formal response, informal response, etc.), determine the appropriate directorate(s) the inquiry should be assigned to, and whether there is sufficient information in the inquiry to be acted on.                                                                                    
  

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• May be required to serve a one year probationary period.
• Pass drug screening and subject to random drug test
• Must successfully complete a background security investigation
• Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service. See www.sss.gov

The qualification requirements listed below must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Additional Conditions of Employment:

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee’s duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021, or before appointment or onboarding with the agency, if after November 22. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.

Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within 45 days. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency’s telework policy.

MOBILITY PLAN:  New employees hired pursuant to this vacancy announcement must sign a mobility agreement.  The purpose of ATF’s mobility policy is to enhance career development and progression, and achieve mission and business effectiveness.  To accomplish these objectives, the mobility plan will facilitate the movement of employees through special short-term assignments or permanent reassignments throughout the Bureau. Applicants who decline to sign a mobility agreement, as required, will be removed from the hiring process.

Qualifications

To qualify for GS-15 candidates must also have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-14.

Specialized experience is demonstrated experience, which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. Experience must be in the normal line of progression or must be related to the work of the position advertised and must be reflected in resume.  Examples of specialized experience include Overseeing Congressional appropriations, procedures, processes and regulations and the budget process;  preforming the use of analytical, evaluative methods and techniques to assess a complexed legislation. Demonstrating exceptional oral/written communication experience to deal with Members of Congress (and their staff), and various internal/external individuals, and providing the principles and practices of supervision and management.

Please do not cut and paste  the position description, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

The GS-15 salary range starts at $148,484.   If you are a new federal (civil service) employee, your starting salary will be set at the Step 1 for this position and the grade level for which you are selected.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP). The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the silver or better category using established category rating criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at:https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the silver or better category using established category rating criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/.

Veteran Preference:  If you are entitled to veteran preference, you should indicate the type of veteran preference you are claiming on your résumé.

In order to verify your veteran preference entitlement, please submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty; or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions.

In addition, if you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, or widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the natural mother of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit the October 2013 Revised Standard Form (SF) 15, “Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference,” and the other required documentation identified on the reverse side of the SF-15 to support your preference claim.

Although veteran preference points are not assigned under the category rating procedures described under “How You Will Be Evaluated,” veteran preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-veterans within each category for which they are qualified. 

How you will be evaluated

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

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

We will review your resume https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/ and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, we will use your responses to the assessment questionnaire to place you in one of three categories based on your experience, education, and/or training. The assessment questionnaire is designed to measure your ability in the following competencies:

• Knowledge of Congressional appropriations committee processes, floor actions, procedures and regulations in order to plan testimony and liaison activities in defense of Bureau’s funding requests to support program operations before Congress.
• Knowledge of legislative and budgetary goals and strategies for the various special interest groups which seek to impact on the funding of enforcement and regulatory activities.
• Knowledge of Congressional appropriations procedures, budgetary policy, law, executive orders and regulations, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidelines, requirements and directives, and the budget process.
• Ability to provide clear and concise analyses to members of Congress and their staffs, both orally and in writing, regarding how proposed or enacted appropriations measures would affect the complex criminal and regulatory enforcement programs and functions administered by the Bureau.

 If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

1. Gold: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF), as determined by the job analysis.
2. Silver: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPF’s as determined by the job analysis.
3. Bronze: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs as determined by the job analysis.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. Candidates within the Gold category who are eligible for veterans’ preference will receive selection priority over candidates without veterans’ preference.

When the JOA closes, you will receive an assessment narrative via email that will further allow us to evaluate your written and leadership competencies.