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SENIOR ADVISOR LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

Department of the Air Force
U.S. Northern Command
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide legislative policy advice, guidance, and recommendations on all legislative issues affecting (N&NC) North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM).

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/19/2025 to 01/07/2026
Salary
$127,818 - $166,163 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
FEW vacancies in the following location:
Peterson AFB, CO
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
6X-AFPC-12854736-010140-NMB
Control number
852782600

Duties

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  • Serves as the NORAD and USNORTHCOM legislative affairs expert; captures and analyzes complex Congressional issues to identify potential impact to the Command, as well as our component and subordinate commands. Performs and presents technical analyses of complex legislative and regulatory matters regarding N&NC's missions and equities.
  • Serves as NORAD and USNORTHCOM expert on legislative affairs issues. Advises, recommends courses of action, and implements appropriate courses of action in the development of legislative policy in support of aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning of North America, homeland defense, civil support, and theater security cooperation capabilities and operations.
  • Serves as the NORAD and USNORTHCOM Legislative Affairs lead for the Commander's Hearing Prep Team in support of Commander of NORAD and USNORTHCOM testimony to Congress. Formulates N&NC command positions and staff actions to support development of the Command posture to Congress.
  • Serves as NORAD and USNORTHCOM lead for strategic planning and execution of Congressional engagements. Analyzes engagement requirements both on Capitol Hill and for visits to the Commands by Members of Congress and their staffs for targeted engagements with appropriate briefings, tours, and meetings; makes engagement recommendations for the Commander of N&NC, as well as other Command senior leadership.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov.
  • If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
  • This posn is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • A Top Secret/Special Sensitive security clearance is required for this position
  • The employee is required to possess and maintain a Top Secret/Special Sensitive as a condition of employment. Per AFGM2017-36-04, dated 4 Oct 17, the investigative requirement CANNOT be waived for special sensitive positions.
  • Overtime work is required during the week and weekends during high intensity work periods and to support Congressional visits. Off duty access is required for quick consultation and resolution of time-sensitive Congressional issues
  • Work occasionally requires travel away from the normal duty station
  • This position is designated as a key position IAW AFI 36-507. Duties of this position are essential to the accomplishment of wartime/contingency operations
  • Incumbents of key positions must be removed from their military recall status if alternative for filling of the position during an emergency are not available
  • This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). The employee is subject to random drug testing as a condition of employment
  • Situational telework only

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-13, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes:(1) executing Joint Staff (JS), Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Services, National Guard Bureau (NGB), Reserve Forces, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) (N&NC) policies used to support legislative strategies; (2) working with plans, programs, policies, and operations to participate in the formulation of strategy to defend the same before Congress; (3) working with Capitol Hill, Congressional procedures, and associated committee structure for authorizing and appropriating the Defense Budget; (4) interacting with Congress, beginning with submission of the
President's Budget and carrying through to consideration by the various committees; (5) managing the roles of military Services, National Guard Bureau, Reserve Forces, combatant commanders, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Executive Office of the President in submitting the budget and reacting to Congressional changes thereto through the appeal process; and (6) providing detailed legislative research to support Commander and senior leadership testimony, command positions, Congressional inquiries, and Congressional visits.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-inĀ­-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-13 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-14 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Expert knowledge of the legislative process and associated Congressional practices, procedures, rules, protocol and methodologies.

2. Expert knowledge of U.S., Department of Defense (DOD), JS, the Services, National Guard Bureau and Reserve Forces policies regarding aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning of North America, homeland defense, civil support, and theater security cooperation.

3. Expert knowledge of JS, OSD, the Services, and Combatant Command staff processes. Knowledge of inspectors general, their function and mission.

4. Advanced skill in analyzing legislation and draft legislative proposals on complex issues. Ability to effectively lead and operate in a fluid organization structure.

5. Ability to deal effectively and successfully in confrontational environments. Skill in gaining cooperation and support from others through tact, courtesy, persuasion, and diplomacy. Ability to analyze, evaluate, and extrapolate pertinent data gathered from a variety of sources to develop Command positions.

6. Advanced communication skills to effectively present information, both orally and in writing. Advanced abilities to prepare and present briefings, coordinate efforts, and manage legislative affairs program activities.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected, and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

BASIS OF RATING: Your application will be rated under the Cut Point procedures based on the extent to which the quality, depth, and complexity of your experience and education relate to the qualification requirements. Additional points are not added for Veteran's Preference; however, Veteran's Preference is considered where applicable.

Best Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements.
Fully Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements.
Basically Qualified Group: Candidates in this category meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements.

The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume.

U.S. Northern Command

US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) Mission Statement: Conduct operations to deter, prevent, and defeat threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories, and interests within the assigned area of responsibility; and as directed by the President or Secretary of Defense, provide defense support of civil authorities including consequence management operations. Find out more click here.

Click here to view the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide:

  • AF DCIPS Interchange
  • AF Internal Employee
  • Cyber Interagency Transfer Authority (CITA)
  • DoD Transfer (Excluding Air Force)
  • EO 13473 Appointment of Certain Military Spouses
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
  • Land Management Employee
  • Military Spouse Preference
  • Non-AF DCIPS Interchange
  • PPP DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians
  • PPP DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
  • PPP Mil Res (MR) and Nat Guard (NG) Pref Eligible Technician Receiving Disability Retirement
  • Veterans Employment Opportunities Act

Agency contact information

Total Force Service Center
Phone
1-800-525-0102
Email
DO.NOT.EMAIL@CALL.ONLY
Address
NORTHCOM
250 Vandenberg Street
Suite B016
Peterson SFB, CO 80914
US

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