This position is located in the Voice of America (VOA) within the U.S. Agency for Global Media USAGM and reports to the VOA Director. The incumbent participates in planning and executing VOA's overall Congressional strategy, taking on a variety of tasks of different levels of complexity. In addition to many VOA duties, the incumbent also serves as the chief Congressional Liaison for VOA. The incumbent supports the VOA Director and leads many processes.
Summary
This position is located in the Voice of America (VOA) within the U.S. Agency for Global Media USAGM and reports to the VOA Director. The incumbent participates in planning and executing VOA's overall Congressional strategy, taking on a variety of tasks of different levels of complexity. In addition to many VOA duties, the incumbent also serves as the chief Congressional Liaison for VOA. The incumbent supports the VOA Director and leads many processes.
As Director of Congressional Affairs, you will be responsible for duties to include, but not limited to:
1. The incumbent supports the VOA Director and leads many processes independently, including maintaining strong relationships with the staffers of the Appropriations and Authorizing committees, including House Foreign Affairs, Senate Foreign Relations, and other relevant committees in both chambers.
Serves as the lead Congressional staffer for VOA, and independently conducts meetings with the Director of VOA and other top VOA management, on Congressional strategy and needs.
Participates in strategy meetings at VOA relating to Congressional affairs and overall agency policy and strategy, and leads those meetings in issue areas of expertise.
Creates new and maintains existing relationships with Congressional staff, including at the highest levels, with the Directors of Committees, with Committee staff, and with the Majority and Minority Leaders' offices.
Forms direct relationships with Members of Congress, when appropriate, and travels to support Congressional delegations to represent VOA.
Communicates and coordinates with USAGM Office of Congressional Affairs.
2. The incumbent is responsible for all hearing preparation and oversight by appropriations and authorizing Committees of Congress and by quasi-Committees, stand-alone Committees, and other legislative bodies.
Oversees and edits responses to inquiries from Members of Congress and staff, including Questions for the Record (QFRs), questions from briefings, and requests for information.
Prepares and coordinates materials for reports to Congress and prepares for briefings to Congress, Congressional hearings, and other Congressional events.
Authors briefing materials for the VOA Director, the USAGM Congressional Affairs Office, and other VOA leadership and principals, as needed. The incumbent also prepares Congressional Notifications, guides them through the agency's clearance process, and briefs Congressional meetings on their contents upon request.
Conceives legislative initiatives, letters, events and other initiatives to support VOA's Congressional agenda.
Works closely with the VOA Managing Director and Office of the General Counsel on legislation, reports, and other documents.
3. The incumbent analyzes all bills and reports for possible impact upon VOA. Upon request, the incumbent may also analyze other Congressional legislation for potential impact on VOA. Incumbent must maintain a comprehensive knowledge of VOA language services and the other entities including Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), Office of Cuba Broadcasting {OCB), and the Open Technology Fund (OTF) programs and activities, and related U.S. foreign policy agencies and programs. Reviews documents and attends meetings at which classified information up to the top-secret level may be discussed.
4. The incumbent will work closely with the VOA Director on the overall direction and execution of the VOA's Congressional relations strategy.
5. The incumbent prepares training materials and leads training sessions for VOA managers on Congressional affairs, including general information, best practices when interacting with Congress, and briefings on specific topics of interest.
Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by closing date of the announcement to be considered.
Applicants must complete online questionnaire.
This is a critical-sensitive position. If selected, this position requires the completion of the SF-86.
Suitability Determination: If selected, you will be subject to a background investigation to establish your suitability for federal employment. The background investigation may include, among other aspects, a review of your credit and legal history.
This position is not covered by a union agreement.
This grade level has promotion potential to the GS-15.
This position may require working nights, weekends, and holidays.
Qualifications
Applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility comparable to the GS-13 or comparable pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.
This experience includes:
Experience working directly for Congress, its Members, staffers, and/or institutions, such as that gained from working in the office of a U.S. Senator or Representative; in the leadership office of a U.S. Senate or House leadership member; on a Congressional Committee or Subcommittee; on a U.S. government Commission whose membership includes Members of Congress; a Congressional caucus pertaining to media, journalism and/or international affairs;
Expert knowledge of the function of Congress and the legislative process, with particular attention to the authorizing process and the appropriations process, including the organization of the Legislative Branch and its interactions with the Executive Branch, along with a thorough knowledge of the legislative and committee process;
Expert knowledge of Congressional operations, processes, and traditions and experience working directly with Representatives, Senators, and senior Congressional officials;
Experience in fostering and maintaining cordial and professional relationships with Members of Congress and their Congressional staff; strong writing skills in order to prepare and review materials conveying complex information about Congress to and from Hill staffers. Strong analytic and quantitative skills in order to review proposed legislation; and
Strong oral communication skills in order to present comprehensive technical reports, memoranda, and other documents in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner.
Education
Education is not required for this grade level. It cannot be used for qualification purposes.
1. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency. For Military Selective Service Act requirement information, please visit https://www.sss.gov. Selective Service
2. Your application to this vacancy announcement will only allow consideration for this announcement. We cannot electronically or manually move your application to corresponding announcements if applicable.
3. Additional vacancies not reflected in the announcement that occur after the opening date of the vacancy announcement for position(s) identical (same grade, series and title) to the original vacancy may be filled from the selection certificate during the validity of the certificate.
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 your application package has been received, a review of your qualifications will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements and competencies required for this position.
Competencies:
Interpersonal Skills
Oral Communication
Political Savvy
Strategic Thinking
Written Communication
Possession of competencies must be addressed in a resume and/or cover letter. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The numeric rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your qualifications. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. You will be placed in one of three rating categories:
Qualified Category-Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position, a numeric rating below 79.
Well Qualified Category-Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, a numeric rating of 80-89.
Best Qualified Category-Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, a numeric rating of 90 and above.
Application of Veterans' Preference: Category Rating does not add veterans' preference points, but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more will be placed at the top of the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher). Preference eligibles who do not have a service-connected disability of 10 percent or more will be assigned to the appropriate quality category based upon the job-related assessment and will be listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within the appropriate quality category.
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.
All applicants are required to submit the following supporting document type(s):
Resume
Applicants may also submit the following supporting document type(s), which may not be required for all applicants:
Cover Letter
DD-214/ Statement of Service
Disability Letter (VA)
Resume
Separation Notice (RIF)
SF-15
Although the required documents listed in this announcement only indicates that a resume is required, other documents may be required in specific circumstances.
ICTAP: If you are an eligible Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant, you may apply for special selection over other candidates for this position. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 80 or above on the rating criteria for this position. ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.
Veteran's Preference: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach the member copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility stating discharge type. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must submit a VA letter and an Application of 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF-15). Applicants seeking widow or other special veterans preference must submit a SF-15 form and all documents indicated for their specific form of preference. If you are still on active duty, you may submit a statement of service from your Personnel Command which states the date you entered active duty, the date you are separating, and the campaign medals you have received.
Education: If education is a requirement or there is an option to use education for qualification purposes, you must submit your unofficial transcripts with your application package at the time of applying or before the closing date of this vacancy announcement. If selected for the position, you will be required to submit official transcripts before your Enter on Duty date.
You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you cannot complete the Application Package online, please contact the Human Resource Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents and any appropriate Accepted Documents.
To begin, click Apply in the announcement; then, choose to create a new USAJOBS account or Sign-in into your existing account.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package.
You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before submitting it. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After completing the questionnaire and uploading appropriate documents, click the Submit Application to submit your application package.
It is applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered in the profile is accurate and all required documents are uploaded and submitted before 11:59 PM (EST) on 04/07/2023 of the announcement to receive consideration.
Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. If a document is not in legible format, applicant will not be able to view it in Application Manager which means applicant must again upload the documentation to the system by the closing date of this announcement.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account. The page will display the positions for which you've applied as well as the status of each application.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click on the plus sign (+) next to the job title to expand information about the job. Next click on Update Application to complete the application process.
Note: Submission of a resume alone IS NOT a complete application. This position requires the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described previously. Please carefully review the complete job announcement, including the Required Documents, Other Information, and How to Apply sections of the announcement.
Application packages will NOT be accepted via mail or e-mail. All resumes/applications received at the addresses listed in the Contact Information or Agency Information will be destroyed and will not be considered for this vacancy announcement.
Once the online questionnaire and application package is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
All applicants are required to submit the following supporting document type(s):
Resume
Applicants may also submit the following supporting document type(s), which may not be required for all applicants:
Cover Letter
DD-214/ Statement of Service
Disability Letter (VA)
Resume
Separation Notice (RIF)
SF-15
Although the required documents listed in this announcement only indicates that a resume is required, other documents may be required in specific circumstances.
ICTAP: If you are an eligible Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant, you may apply for special selection over other candidates for this position. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 80 or above on the rating criteria for this position. ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.
Veteran's Preference: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach the member copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility stating discharge type. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must submit a VA letter and an Application of 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF-15). Applicants seeking widow or other special veterans preference must submit a SF-15 form and all documents indicated for their specific form of preference. If you are still on active duty, you may submit a statement of service from your Personnel Command which states the date you entered active duty, the date you are separating, and the campaign medals you have received.
Education: If education is a requirement or there is an option to use education for qualification purposes, you must submit your unofficial transcripts with your application package at the time of applying or before the closing date of this vacancy announcement. If selected for the position, you will be required to submit official transcripts before your Enter on Duty date.
You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you cannot complete the Application Package online, please contact the Human Resource Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents and any appropriate Accepted Documents.
To begin, click Apply in the announcement; then, choose to create a new USAJOBS account or Sign-in into your existing account.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package.
You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before submitting it. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After completing the questionnaire and uploading appropriate documents, click the Submit Application to submit your application package.
It is applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered in the profile is accurate and all required documents are uploaded and submitted before 11:59 PM (EST) on 04/07/2023 of the announcement to receive consideration.
Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. If a document is not in legible format, applicant will not be able to view it in Application Manager which means applicant must again upload the documentation to the system by the closing date of this announcement.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account. The page will display the positions for which you've applied as well as the status of each application.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click on the plus sign (+) next to the job title to expand information about the job. Next click on Update Application to complete the application process.
Note: Submission of a resume alone IS NOT a complete application. This position requires the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described previously. Please carefully review the complete job announcement, including the Required Documents, Other Information, and How to Apply sections of the announcement.
Application packages will NOT be accepted via mail or e-mail. All resumes/applications received at the addresses listed in the Contact Information or Agency Information will be destroyed and will not be considered for this vacancy announcement.
Once the online questionnaire and application package is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made, you will be notified of your rating and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
