The Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs (CI) promotes the Secretary's, Department's, and Administration's policies, legislative initiatives and budget requests with the Congress, state, territorial, Tribal and local government officials, and other Federal agencies. This office is also responsible for managing and overseeing the Department's liaison with Members of Congress and other levels of government, and for internal and external communications activities.
Summary
The Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs (CI) promotes the Secretary's, Department's, and Administration's policies, legislative initiatives and budget requests with the Congress, state, territorial, Tribal and local government officials, and other Federal agencies. This office is also responsible for managing and overseeing the Department's liaison with Members of Congress and other levels of government, and for internal and external communications activities.
All U.S. Citizens and Nationals who have earned a Bachelor's or Graduate degree, from an institution of higher education, within 2 years of submitting an application. See the Requirements and Qualification sections of this announcement for more information.
The Office of Legislative & Intergovernmental Operations is responsible for developing and recommending legislative strategies in connection with the Department's policy and program initiatives and works closely with program officials to ensure that the Department's principals are aware of Members' interests and concerns. The office is also responsible for the hearings and coordination to ensure efficient and timely coordination and clearance of all testimony, transcripts, Questions for the Record, and inserts for the record (excluding appropriations related matters). In addition, the office provides responsive and timely research and analysis to Departmental officials on legislative and other general energy issues which could involve the public, Congress, state, local and Tribal officials.
We are truly honored that DOE has been named America's #1 Best Employer for Veterans in 2023 by Forbes-not only among Government agencies, but among employers across the U.S. We are so proud of this ranking which reflects our commitment to the employment of veterans. As so many veterans at DOE renew their service to our Nation, we are deeply committed to their success and advancement. Veterans shape the future of energy
The following are the duties of this position at the GS-11. Since you are being selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties and will receive training to help you grow in this position.
As a Legislative Affairs Specialist, you will:
Manage the full lifecycle of sensitive inquiries from congressional offices and external stakeholders.
Aid in preparing briefings on issues scheduled for hearings including analysis of positions taken by specific members and relevant non-congressional organizations.
Prepare clear, concise, and timely hearing reports that provides detailed information for review by senior officials.
Support in ascertaining the nature of expected hearings, probable lines of inquiry, applicable legislative considerations, and other factors that will assist program officials in providing responsive material and testimony.
Provide detailed legislative analysis by gathering, tracking, and analyzing comprehensive legislative information, including amendments, hearing schedules, and floor actions, which informs agency strategy and minimizes risks related to legislative changes.
Build and sustain effective working relationships with Congressional staff, ensuring open communication channels and facilitating the Department's ability to influence legislative outcomes.
This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
The first year of service is a probationary period 5 CFR § 315.801(a).
Applicant must provide proof that they have obtained a Bachelor’s or Graduate degree, from an institution of higher education, within 2 years of submitting an application for employment.
Qualifications
You must meet the eligibility and qualifications by the closing date of this announcement.
College Graduate Eligibility - An individual who has received a baccalaureate or graduate degree (including advanced, professional, or doctoral degree) within 2 years of submitting an application for employment under this authority. For these purposes, a baccalaureate or graduate degree must be obtained from an institution of higher education in accordance with section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as codified at 20 U.S.C. § 1001(a). The 2-year eligibility period begins on the date the degree is received/dated, not the date of the graduation ceremony.
Intervening Uniformed Service - College graduates who complete a qualifying degree while completing an intervening period of obligated service of at least 4 years in the uniformed services begin the 2-year eligibility period on the date of the individual's discharge or release from the uniformed service. Additionally, individuals in the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), who have a 4-year service obligation after graduation, are eligible to apply for a position under the authority within 2 years of completing the 4-year ROTC service obligation. The intervening period of uniformed service must prevent the individual from applying within the standard 2-year period for applying after completing their degree.
For the GS-07: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience for this position at the GS-7 includes:
Managing and preparing documents, information, and legislative packages to ensure accuracy and completeness.; AND
Coordinating and communicating with various groups (e.g., teams, organization, officials) to facilitate information flow and achieve common objectives on legislative matters.
OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-7 BASED ON EDUCATION: 1 full year of graduate level education in Political Science, Government and Politics, Public Policy, Public Administration, Communications, Journalism, Law or Legal Studies, or similarly related major that provided the knowledge, skills, or abilities to perform the work of this position.
OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-7 BASED ON SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement is defined as:(1) Class standing -- You must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision based on completed courses, (2) Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- You must have 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum, or(3) Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- You are a member of one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achshonor.org/). The Bachelor degree must still show the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform in this position.
OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-7 BASED ON A COMBINATION OF EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: You may qualify on a combination of education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the educational requirement must equal at least 100 percent.
For the GS-09: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience for this position at the GS-9 includes:
Managing administrative processes or tracking systems for legislative correspondence and documents.; AND
Collaborating with others to gather information, coordinate tasks, or develop understanding for legislative matters.
OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-9 BASED ON EDUCATION: Masters or equivalent graduate degree in Political Science, Government and Politics, Public Policy, Public Administration, Communications, Journalism, Law or Legal Studies, or similarly related major that provided the knowledge, skills, or abilities to perform the work of this position OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B. or J.D.; if related.
OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-9 BASED ON COMBINATION: You may qualify on a combination of education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the educational requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.
Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Education
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to OPM Instructions.
Additional information
We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
A one year probationary period will be required.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.opm.gov/telework/
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this vacancy announcement.
Relocation expenses/incentives will not be available.
Recruitment incentives will not be available.
Student Loan Repayment will not be available.
Advance in Hire (Superior Qualifications) will not be available.
Creditable Service will not be available.
This position is Non-Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Salary will be determined based on the duty location after selection.
Telework availability will be based upon the mission requirements and supervisory determination.
Management has the prerogative to select at any grade level.
The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged noncompliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and submitting it to the Administrative Investigations Program at AdministrativeInvestigations@hq.doe.gov.
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.
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 the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications.
Your application will be assessed based on your responses to an online assessment (USA Hire) that measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered.
Reasonable Accommodation Requests: Applicants with a disability (physical or mental) covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended), who anticipate difficulty with the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, should request a reasonable accommodation during their online application. All requests for accommodation, including necessary supporting documentation, must be received before you start the assessments. Each accommodation request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will receive an email invitation to take the assessments once your request has been reviewed. If this invitation arrives after the announcement closes, you have 48 hours from receipt of the link to complete all assessments. For detailed information on the accommodation process, please review the 'Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments' document here.
If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible' or 'not qualified'.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
Attention to Detail
Customer Service
Decision Making
Flexibility
Integrity/Honesty
Interpersonal Skills
Learning
Reading Comprehension
Reasoning
Self-Management
Stress Tolerance
Teamwork
Application of Veterans' Preference: Veterans' preference does not apply and appointments are made without regard to 5 U.S.C. § 3309- 3319.
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.
To apply for this position, you MUSTprovide a complete application package which includes:
Your two (2) page RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position. ** For additional information on Resumes see: What to include in your resume or Resume Writing **
Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume.
Education Documentation:
Transcripts are required at the time of application submission. Unofficial transcripts or a report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour), final grade, and overall GPA is acceptable. A degree audit is unacceptable and Word format will not be accepted.
Official transcripts WILL BE required if you are selected. Official transcripts will need to be emailed to Human Resources directly from the Registrar's office.
Veterans' Preference documentation,ifapplicable, DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active-duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation. If you are claiming preference eligibility as a disabled veteran, you must submit proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally a valid letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. If you are a current service member, in lieu of a DD-214, you may submit a statement from your military personnel center certifying the nature and dates of your service and expected date of separation. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information.
Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
If you exaggerate or falsify your experience, education and/or your responses to questions, your ratings are subject to change or you may be removed from employment consideration.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.
The application process is as follows:
Read all instructions before you begin.
Click "Apply Online."
Complete the application and attach all required documents.
Submit by 11:59 PM ET on the 05/26/2026.
Resume Tips:
Max 2 pages and 5MB file size.
PDF is recommended to preserve formatting; we also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, ODT, or Word (DOC/DOCX). No PDF portfolios.
Use clear fonts like Lato, Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open Sans, Source Sans Pro, Roboto, or Noto Sans.
Set 0.5-inch margins.
Use 14-point font for titles, 10-point for main text.
Managing Your Application:
Update: Edit your application in USAJOBS before the closing date.
Application Issues: If you have difficulty applying online, contact the Agency Contact listed in this announcement during business hours. Take screenshots of any system errors.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Asst Secretary Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs
Department of Energy
Human Capital Shared Service Center
1000 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20585
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The status of your application will be updated in USAJOBS as it is evaluated.
Please note that the Department of Energy may share lists of applicants among its internal Departmental Elements and organizations. You may be referred for consideration to other DOE Hiring Managers throughout the Department for more than one position based on this application. By applying to this announcement, you understand your application materials may be shared with multiple Hiring Mangers throughout DOE. If additional positions are filled from this announcement conditions of employment may differ. You will be notified if you are referred for additional positions.
You can check the status by logging into USAJOBS. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application changes by logging into your USAJobs Account and editing the Notification Settings.
You will be contacted directly if an interview is required.
If you are interested in being added to our Schedule A or 30% or more Disabled Veterans repository, please submit your information by using the below links.
To apply for this position, you MUSTprovide a complete application package which includes:
Your two (2) page RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position. ** For additional information on Resumes see: What to include in your resume or Resume Writing **
Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume.
Education Documentation:
Transcripts are required at the time of application submission. Unofficial transcripts or a report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour), final grade, and overall GPA is acceptable. A degree audit is unacceptable and Word format will not be accepted.
Official transcripts WILL BE required if you are selected. Official transcripts will need to be emailed to Human Resources directly from the Registrar's office.
Veterans' Preference documentation,ifapplicable, DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active-duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation. If you are claiming preference eligibility as a disabled veteran, you must submit proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally a valid letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. If you are a current service member, in lieu of a DD-214, you may submit a statement from your military personnel center certifying the nature and dates of your service and expected date of separation. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information.
Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
If you exaggerate or falsify your experience, education and/or your responses to questions, your ratings are subject to change or you may be removed from employment consideration.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.
The application process is as follows:
Read all instructions before you begin.
Click "Apply Online."
Complete the application and attach all required documents.
Submit by 11:59 PM ET on the 05/26/2026.
Resume Tips:
Max 2 pages and 5MB file size.
PDF is recommended to preserve formatting; we also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, ODT, or Word (DOC/DOCX). No PDF portfolios.
Use clear fonts like Lato, Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open Sans, Source Sans Pro, Roboto, or Noto Sans.
Set 0.5-inch margins.
Use 14-point font for titles, 10-point for main text.
Managing Your Application:
Update: Edit your application in USAJOBS before the closing date.
Application Issues: If you have difficulty applying online, contact the Agency Contact listed in this announcement during business hours. Take screenshots of any system errors.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Asst Secretary Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs
Department of Energy
Human Capital Shared Service Center
1000 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20585
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The status of your application will be updated in USAJOBS as it is evaluated.
Please note that the Department of Energy may share lists of applicants among its internal Departmental Elements and organizations. You may be referred for consideration to other DOE Hiring Managers throughout the Department for more than one position based on this application. By applying to this announcement, you understand your application materials may be shared with multiple Hiring Mangers throughout DOE. If additional positions are filled from this announcement conditions of employment may differ. You will be notified if you are referred for additional positions.
You can check the status by logging into USAJOBS. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application changes by logging into your USAJobs Account and editing the Notification Settings.
You will be contacted directly if an interview is required.
If you are interested in being added to our Schedule A or 30% or more Disabled Veterans repository, please submit your information by using the below links.
