Job Summary

This vacancy is for a Congressional Affairs Specialist in the Legislative Affairs Division (LIAD), Office of External Affairs and Communications (OEAC) Economic Development Administration within the Department of Commerce. The incumbent will perform a variety of duties for LIAD, performing with increasing independence to ensure expeditious action on legislative and open communication between EDA, the U.S Congress, and state and local governments.

Job Description

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Occupational-Series Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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. To qualify at the GS-13 level, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience: Applying advanced knowledge of the federal legislative process, committee operations, and legislative procedures to independently manage congressional relationships, interpret complex legislative actions, or prepare hearing materials or responses to Congressional inquiries; AND Building trusted relationships with government stakeholders such as members of Congress and senior staff, coalitions, associations, advocacy groups and state and local officials; AND Conducting strategic legislative analysis to advise senior leadership, identify emerging issues, or align legislative priorities with agency objectives; AND Developing executive level communications, including briefings, legislative summaries, talking points, and responses to complex or politically sensitive questions, ensuring accuracy and strategic alignment.