Clarification from the agency

Who May Apply: Civil Service individuals consisting of all appointive positions in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of the Government of the United States, except positions in the uniformed services. SES reinstatement eligibles outside the civil service and SESCDP graduates with noncompetitive eligibility may apply for noncompetitive consideration.

As the Director, Congressional Affairs, you will:

• Serve as a member of NARA's Senior Staff and as an advisor to the Archivist of the United States in the formulation of agency-wide policy and the execution of agency programs.
  
• Establish policies and provide leadership and management for NARA's congressional and legislative affairs program to advance agency objectives, address legislative challenges, and ensure clear and persuasive communication of agency positions.
  
• Maintain continuous liaison with Members of Congress, committees, and congressional staff to ensure that the National Archives programs and policies, and the Archivist's views and interests, are clearly understood.
  
• Represent the Archivist in interactions with Members of Congress, their staff, and key officials at federal and state levels, while maintaining a deep knowledge of the Archivist's policies and perspectives to communicate them effectively.
  
• Participate with management in the formulation of internal and external policy and the establishment of funding priorities; advise on potential public reaction to policy proposals; plan, organize, evaluate, and execute strategies and programs as they relate to the functions of Congressional Affairs.

Conditions of employment

The experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your resume.

• Must complete a 1-year SES probationary period, unless previously completed.
• Must complete a Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions, SF-86, for a pre-appointment full-field background investigation. In addition, periodic re-investigation is required no later than five years after selection and at least every succeeding five years.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form i-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
• Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
• Must complete an Executive Personnel Financial Disclosure Report annually.
• Designated and/or Random Drug Testing may be required.

Key Requirements:

1. Please refer to "Conditions of Employment."
2. Click "Print Preview" to review the entire announcement before applying.
3. Must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals.

All Technical Qualifications (TQs) and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) noted in the "Qualifications" section.

In addressing these mandatory qualifications, elaborate on your accomplishments, experience, training, education, and awards, highlighting the problems solved and work objectives met, i.e., the results of your effort and evidence of your success. Do not repeat entries from your narrative work history. More information concerning the executive core qualifications may be obtained on the Internet at:https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf

Qualifications

Mandatory Qualifications Requirements: To meet minimum qualifications, applicants must possess the following technical and executive qualifications. These would typically be gained through experience, education, and training that reflects progressive development and achievement in managing a Federal legal program for a nationwide organization. An individual's total experience and education must demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position. Experience must be at a level of difficulty and responsibility comparable to the GS-15 level in Federal Service.

A. TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs)

All applicants must address how their knowledge and experience relates to the following TQs. PLEASE LIMIT YOUR RESPONSE TO ONE (1) SINGLE SPACED PAGE PER TQ WITH THE FONT SIZE NO SMALLER THAN POINT 12.

• TQ 1: Demonstrated executive-level experience in managing and coordinating high-level interactions with Members of Congress and congressional committees. Additionally, describe your first-hand experience with the federal legislative process, including oversight, legislation, and appropriations.
• TQ 2: Describe your ability to effectively communicate and build trusted relationships with congressional stakeholders and senior executives. Additionally, describe your ability to collaborate across organizational boundaries to advance agency objectives, address legislative challenges, and ensure clear and persuasive communication of agency positions.

B. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs)

Applicants must address how their knowledge and experience relates to the following ECQs. PLEASE LIMIT YOUR RESPONSE TO TWO (2) SINGLE SPACED PAGES PER ECQ WITH ONE INCH MARGINS AND THE FONT SIZE NO SMALLER THAN POINT 12.

Note: Current career Senior Executives, QRB-certified graduates of SES candidate development programs, and individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility are not required to address the executive core qualifications.

1. LEADING CHANGE - Ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

• Creativity and Innovation - Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas and innovations; designs and implements new or cutting edge programs/processes.
• External Awareness - Understands and keeps up-to-date on local, national, and international policies and trends that affect the organization and shape stakeholders' views; is aware of the organization's impact on the external environment.
• Flexibility - Is open to change and new information; rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.
• Resilience - Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.
• Strategic Thinking - Formulates objectives and priorities, and implements plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization in a global environment. Capitalizes on opportunities and manages risks.
• Vision - Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others; acts as a catalyst for organizational change. Influences others to translate vision into action.

2. LEADING PEOPLE - Ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

• Conflict Management - Encourages creative tension and differences of opinions. Anticipates and takes steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner.
• Leveraging Diversity - Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.
• Developing Others - Develops the experience of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.
• Team Building - Inspires and fosters team commitment, spirit, pride, and trust. Facilitates cooperation and motivates team members to accomplish group goals.

3. RESULTS DRIVEN - Ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

• Accountability - Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.
• Customer Service - Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.
• Decisiveness - Makes well-informed, effective, and timely decisions, even when data are limited or solutions produce unpleasant consequences; perceives the impact and implications of decisions.
• Entrepreneurship - Positions the organization for future success by identifying new opportunities; builds the organization by developing or improving products or services. Takes calculated risks to accomplish organizational objectives.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations.
• Technical Credibility - Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized experience.

4. BUSINESS ACUMEN - Ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

• Financial Management - Understands the organization's financial processes. Prepares, justifies, and administers the program budget. Oversees procurement and contracting to achieve desired results. Monitors expenditures and uses cost-benefit thinking to set priorities.
• Human Capital Management - Builds and manages workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations, and staffing needs. Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised, and rewarded; takes action to address performance problems. Manages a multi-sector workforce and a variety of work situations.
• Technology Management - Keeps up-to-date on technological developments. Makes effective use of technology to achieve results. Ensures access to and security of technology systems.

5. BUILDING COALITIONS - Ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

• Partnering - Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.
• Political Savvy - Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Perceives organizational and political reality and acts accordingly.
• Influencing/Negotiating - Persuades others; builds consensus through give and take; gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.

How you will be evaluated

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

All applicants will be evaluated by a panel of senior executives on the following documents to determine the degree to which they possess the qualifications:

Your application includes your:
1. Resume
2. Responses to the TQs and ECQ's (if applicable)
3. Required supporting documents.

We use a multi-step process to evaluate and refer applicants:
1. Minimum Requirements: Your application must show that you meet all requirements, including the education and/or experience required for this position. You may be found "not qualified" if you do not possess the minimum competencies required for the position. If your application is incomplete, we may rate you as ineligible.
2. Rating: Applicants will be evaluated by an Executive Resources Board (ERB) based on the executive core qualification (ECQ) and technical qualification (TQ) requirements stated in this announcement.
3. Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application will be referred to a selecting official for consideration and possible interview.