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Congressional Affairs Specialist

National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities

Summary

NEH is a federal agency that supports the humanities in every state and U.S. jurisdiction. Since 1965, NEH has awarded over $6 billion to support museums, historic sites, universities, teachers, libraries, documentary filmmakers, public TV and radio stations, research institutions, scholars, and local humanities programming.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/18/2026 to 06/01/2026
Salary
$102,415 - $158,322 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
26-12950899-MP-KB
Control number
869695700

Duties

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  • Serve as liaison to Members of Congress and staff.
  • Conduct briefings on programs and funding.
  • Develop stakeholder relationships.
  • Prepare briefing materials for leadership.
  • Respond to Congressional inquiries.
  • Manage Congressional notification process.
  • Conduct legislative research.
  • Develop outreach strategies.
  • Support strategic planning.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizen
  • Relevant experience and/or education
  • Favorable background investigation
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

At the GS-12 level Qualified candidates must possess:1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level or equivalent experience.

Specialized experience is experience which is directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, for example: supporting legislative or congressional affairs activities in a federal agency, nonprofit, or cultural institution. Deep understanding of federal legislative processes and congressional operations. Experience supporting appropriations-related activities, including the preparation of briefing materials and talking points, and in drafting and coordinating responses to congressional inquiries. Excellent written and verbal communications skills and ability to communicate program information to non-expert audiences. Use of legislative tools for outreach and tracking and analyzing legislation related to the humanities or federal grant programs.

At the GS-13 level Qualified candidates must possess:1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level or equivalent experience.

Specialized experience is experience which is directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, for example: working independently to plan and manage congressional or legislative affairs or congressional affairs activities in a federal agency, nonprofit, or cultural institution involving high-visibility, complex, or sensitive issues. Deep understanding of federal legislative processes and congressional operations. Experience with federal appropriations processes, including development of budget justifications and coordination with appropriations subcommittees, serving as the primary liaison to congressional committees or staff, and managing responses to congressional inquiries and oversight requests. Excellent written and verbal communications and experience managing strategic outreach to congressional offices. Experience in analyzing and briefing senior officials on legislation affecting humanities funding and federal grant-making, advising senior leadership on congressional engagement, and leading preparation for congressional hearings.

As part of the online application process you will need to respond to a series of questions designed to assess your possession of the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or competencies:

Education

There is no education requirement for this position or occupational series.

Additional information

1. 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 85 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.

2. If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must attach an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form.

3. If you are the spouse of a member of the armed forces on active duty, the spouse of a 100 percent disabled member of the armed forces, or the spouse of a deceased member of the armed forces, you may apply for consideration through the Military Spouse Noncompetitive Appointing Authority. You must meet certain criteria for each of these eligibility categories. Learn more about hiring options available to military spouses. Your eligibility does not entitle you to a job within the federal government. You must still apply and meet qualification standards and additional requirements.

4. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review in our office, in other Federal agency personnel offices, and on OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

5. This position may qualify for membership in the NEH American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3403.

6. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics)

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

National Endowment for the Humanities

Created on September 29, 1965, by an act of Congress that states "Democracy demands wisdom and vision in its citizens," the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) celebrates over 60 years of advancing history, literature, philosophy, languages, and other humanities fields.

Agency contact information

NEH Human Resources
Phone
2026068415
Email
humanresources@neh.gov
Address
National Endowment for the Humanities
400 7th Street SW
Washington, DC 20506
US

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