Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens. ICTAP/CTAP. Military Spouses. 30% Disabled Veterans.

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Executive Office of the Inspector General, Legislative Affairs Division (LAD). The OIG has statutory oversight responsibility covering the Department of Homeland Security. This oversight responsibility includes conducting and reporting on audits, inspections, investigations, and special inquiries of all overseas and domestic organizational entities of these organizations.As the Congressional Liaison Specialist, the incumbent performs duties and carries out responsibilities specifically included in the mission and to further the objectives of the Office, many of which relate directly to the requirements of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (as amended). Typical assignments include:

• Designing, planning, initiating, and implementing strategies for dealing and communicating with the Congress in a manner which ensures a coherent, coordinated, and effective relationship. The incumbent fosters and maintains a continuing liaison with Members of Congress and their staff and with the members and staff of pertinent congressional committees of both the Senate and House of Representatives.
• Drafting and reviewing pertinent materials and advising on legislative matters affecting the mission and responsibilities of the Department, the OIG, and OIGs of other agencies in the intelligence and foreign affairs communities. The incumbent is responsible for the preparation of testimony for the Inspector General for use in appropriations and authorization hearings, hearings on proposed legislation affecting the Department or the OIG, or hearings relating to other matters on which the Inspector General has been asked to testify.
• Establishing relationships with various professional organizations and individuals to advise and keep them informed on the functions and purposes of the activities of the OIG of the Department of Homeland security. Keeping the Inspector General, OIG executive managers, and OIG staff informed of relevant draft legislation, pending and anticipated congressional committee hearings and meetings, and other Congressional activities, which may affect them.
• Analyzing and developing comments on proposed legislation, policies, and regulations of the Federal government with particular emphasis on proposals of the DHS and the OIG.
• Presenting OIG interests in meetings and discussions with members of Congress or their staff, and maintaining continuing contacts and coordinating with pertinent offices and responsible officials in the Department, the CIGIE, and the Office of Management and Budget on legislative and related matters that affect OIG oversight of agency activities.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must be able to obtain SECRET security clearance.
• Financial disclosure is required.
• Selective Service registration required.
• Completion of one year Probationary Period may be required.
• Submission of Performance Appraisal (for Federal employees) is mandatory.

Qualifications

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.If you are a current federal employee, you must meet all time-in-grade and time-after competitive appointment qualifications by the closing date of this vacancy announcement. To make an accurate determination, you will need to include on your resume your federal position title, pay plan, occupational series, grade level, agency, dates for which you held the grade level (stated as MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY, OR MM/YYYY to PRESENT), and total hours worked per week. 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 qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess one year of specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level performing duties such as:
- Preparing congressional correspondence and reports.
- Preparing materials for Congressional briefings.
- Preparing written responses to inquiries from members of Congress and their staff.
- Monitoring Congressional activity, including proposed legislation, to identify issues of importance.

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.

The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date 07/12/2024of this announcement.

Current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade level or equivalent grade band in the federal service. The time-in-grade requirement must be met by the closing date 07/12/2024of this announcement.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. Your experience, education, and training will be rated using a job questionnaire that is based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job:

• Administration
• Communication
• Writing

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

1. Best-Qualified: 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) and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.
2. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.
3. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs 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. Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12447933.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. (This position Is Not considered scientific/professional.) Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans' preference.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.