Benefits Director Congressional and Legislative Affairs

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/29/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-15 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-14. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to some former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade.

You may qualify based on your experience and/as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-14 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Serving as the primary liaison to congressional offices and committee staff by maintaining effective working relationships that supported the advancement of legislative priorities. Managing all aspects of congressional hearings by drafting statements, coordinating pre and post hearing questions, and preparing witnesses on testimony and protocol.

Exercising managerial authority their team's over workforce planning, operational execution, and strategic initiatives by evaluating staff performance, directing work assignments, and ensuring program objectives were met. Establishing operational goals and long range work plans to guide service wide execution and resolve issues involving overlapping responsibilities. Evidence of this specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of like duties performed in positions held on your resume.

You will also need to provide work experience information such as hours per week, full-time/part-time status, and starting/ending dates of employment (month and year format) to establish you have one (1) full year of specialized experience at the required grade level.

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; religions; 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.

Note: Resume must include job title and employer name, number of hours worked per week, start and end dates (including month and year), list of duties and responsibilities for each position held. In addition, if the experience was a federal position, you must list the grade for each position held. Failure to include this information may result in an ineligible rating. A full year of work is considered to be 40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements

The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy.

To be found well qualified, applicants must meet the following qualifications: Led long-range operational and strategic planning for the Benefits Legislative Affairs Service by setting organizational objectives, aligning resources, and resolving cross-functional challenges that affected program execution.

Directed program-level assessments of legislative initiatives by evaluating implementation effectiveness, measuring outcomes for targeted veteran populations, and recommending strategic improvements to ensure mission accomplishment. Exercised full human-capital management authority by directing workforce planning, evaluating staff performance and work products, resolving personnel challenges, and ensuring equitable and compliant employment practices that advanced EEO principles.

Represented senior Department officials, including the Secretary and Deputy Secretary, in high-level engagements with congressional leaders and external stakeholders, serving as a recognized expert on legislative and policy matters. Led comprehensive evaluations of legislative program effectiveness by measuring outcomes, identifying gaps in policy implementation, and recommending strategic adjustments to improve results for the veteran population.

Integrated new approaches to complex legislative and policy issues by generating rapid executive summaries, decision support analyses, and strategic options to navigate stalled or contentious legislative environments. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Local Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from Washington, DC. This includes all locations that fall within a 50-mile driving distance from 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20420.

THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION Major Duties: Leads and manages the Benefits Legislative Affairs Service team within the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs.

Acts as liaison between the senior officials in VA's Administrations, field facilities, and other staff offices and the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs in communicating information on VA programs, policies, and legislation affecting the Department and in developing and maintaining good relations with Congress. Establishes operational guidelines and manages day-to-day activities of the Benefits Legislative Affairs Service Staff.

Monitors and analyzes inquiries and correspondence and requests related to congressional interest from Members of Congress for the Secretary and/or Deputy Secretary and other Veterans Affairs officials.

Monitors and tracks congressional interests that could affect the Department of Veterans Affairs through personal contacts with members and key congressional staff; through congressional inquiries and correspondence; through daily review of legislative calendars, Congressional Record, and other documentary sources of information; through review of information provided by professional staff; and through personal contacts with high-level officials in other federal agencies and the White House.

Represents OCLA and the Assistant Secretary at meetings with the Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries and other entities to review planned and pending legislation, and policy and program issues as they relate to upcoming hearings. Provides guidance to witnesses on testimony and protocol. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm EST. Location: The selectee will be required to report on-site at 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20420.

Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandates are in affect and selectees will be required to report to in person work unless they have an approved exemption. Telework: Available - Ad Hoc telework (situational telework) as determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: PD702690 (Supervisory Management & Program Analyst) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized