Summary This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) with one vacancy in Silver Spring, MD. This position is also announced under vacancy number OAR-24-12556355-ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both. Responsibilities As a Congressional Affairs Specialist, you will perform the following duties: As Senior Congressional Affairs Specialist, work closely with Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) senior leadership, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs (OLIA) to advance OAR and NOAA's legislative and budgetary priorities through outreach efforts to congressional offices, including state and district-based offices and Congressional caseworkers. Perform expert analyses of legislation from scientific and policy perspectives. Gather information, identify and analyze issues, and develop recommendations to resolve complex organizational problems or develop and implement organizational policies and procedures across the organization. As an expert advisor, translate technical and scientific information and develop materials for hearings, meetings, briefings, and other external events involving Members of Congress and staff and their constituents, to increase the understanding about OAR's work and mission. Advise leadership on issues of policy and budget to support program operations and effectiveness. These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZA-4; The ZA-3 is developmental leading to such performance. Requirements Conditions of Employment This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. The ZA-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12, The ZA-4 is equivalent to the GS-12/13 The ZA-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12 and requires a Low Risk Security Clearance. The ZA-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14 and requires a Moderate Risk Security Clearance. NOTE: *A one year probationary period may be required. *Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized. *This position is not in the bargaining unit. Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov) A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system. Qualifications 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 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: 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 ZA-3 or GS-11 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: - Analyzing legislation to develop recommendations for resolving organizational problems; - Working with leadership to plan briefings, hearings, or meetings involving congressional staff to increase their understanding of an organization's mission; and - Drafting and disseminating briefing or issue papers, memoranda, reports, newsletters, or congressional correspondence. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of education and experience equivalent to that described above. Note: Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-11. To qualify at the ZA-4 or GS-13 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: - Coordinating legislative outreach efforts to ensure effective representation of an organization's policies, programs, or interests; - Translating technical and scientific information for a Congressional audience, including developing materials for hearings, meetings, or briefings; and - Advising leadership on policy and budget issues to ensure effective program operations. Education There is no positive education requirement for this position. Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken. Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty. Additional Information CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice). A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location; A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement; A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc; A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. NOAA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. The Department of the Commerce (DOC) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.