Legislative Affairs Specialist

To qualify for the SV-G Pay Band (equivalent to GS-11), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-F or GS-9 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Specialized experience must include: Conducting research to verify facts and organize data into concise responses to address congressional related inquiries; and Coordinating administrative and logistical requirements for congressional events (e.g., scheduling briefings, tracking legislative inquiries) to support agency or organizational legislative initiatives. OR Achievement of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a field of study which is in or directly related to this position.

OR three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree.

OR Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education, beyond the second year, and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for this position and may be computed by first determining your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the band level; then determining your education as a percentage of the education required for the band level; and then adding the two percentages.

The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent. Graduate Education: Education at the graduate level in an accredited college or university in the amounts indicated above meets the requirements for this position. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study.

If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the one year of full-time study requirement. To qualify for the SV-H band (equivalent to GS-12), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-G band or GS-11 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector.

Specialized experience must include: Preparing leadership on Congressional activities and legislative strategies for interactions before Congress for meetings/briefings. Analyzing information (i.e., background research, compiling questions, talking points) for congressional hearings or briefings for senior officials. Reviewing and coordinating congressional correspondence, reports, or responses across office components.

To qualify for the SV-I band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-H band or GS-12 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience must include: Advising and preparing leadership on Congressional activities and legislative strategies for interactions before Congress for meetings/briefings. Analyzing federal legislation and applying policy to align internal processes and maintain organizational compliance.

Reviewing and drafting high level correspondence, briefs or formal requests on matters involving legislative concerns. Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

This Legislative Affairs Specialist position is located in the Legislative Affairs Office, Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include but are not limited to: Advises the TSA Administrator and senior leadership on legislative strategy, congressional hearings, and high-level briefings. Coordinates with TSA offices and DHS to deliver unified congressional presentations consistent with House and Senate rules and ethical standards.

• Leads a team of Legislative Affairs Specialists to deliver timely congressional briefings, technical drafting assistance, and official responses.
• Establishes internal procedures to ensure accurate compliance with DHS, TSA, and congressional requirements; independently manages workflows, resolves operational issues, and interprets policy.
• Conducts legislative research and policy analysis to prepare senior-level summaries and strategic reports on significant congressional activity.

Reviews briefing materials and formal correspondence for executive submission, monitors emerging issues, and keeps leadership informed of progress and potential concerns. Serves as the primary expert for sensitive, complex congressional information requests and strategic briefings. Maintains relationships with Members of Congress and staff, and coordinates official congressional visits, facility tours, and classified briefings.

Please note: The major duties described above reflect the full performance level of this position. Typically, the lower pay band (G band) performs the same duties but will receive more guidance and training, and the project or work assignments may be less complex.