Summary The position is located in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Office of the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Congressional Correspondence Unit (H/PDAS/CCU). The Bureau coordinates the legislative activity of the Department and advises the Secretary of State and the DoS team on legislative strategy. The primary mission is to ensure that the President’s and the Secretary’s foreign policy priorities are reflected throughout the legislative process. Responsibilities Directs the work of staff involved in the processing of Questions for the Record (QFRs) and Take Backs resulting from Department witness testimony, including overseeing the tasking of questions to Bureaus. Provides expert and comprehensive advice on political and institutional processes, activities related to congressional correspondence, telephone and written inquiries, Questions for the Records, and Take Backs. Directs the performance of the Unit in the receipt and review of correspondence from Congress for foreign policy equities, ensuring that responses prepared by drafting Bureaus conform to the Department’s standards for Congressional correspondence. Ensures responses to Congressional telephone and written inquiries provide the substantive information requested by the Members of Congress or their staffs. Develops, tests, and communicates new approaches to CCU staff and Bureau Front Office staff in processing and handling correspondence through various electronic media and conventional movement of documents. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience analyzing congressional correspondence, tasking to the appropriate office, and ensuring items are responded to timely. Experience reviewing correspondence to ensure proper assembly of the congressional response (i.e., format, backup materials, clearances). Experience interpreting and advising on Department policies, processes, and standards related to congressional correspondence. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position. Education Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement. Additional Information For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (202) 663-3474 or OAA@state.gov. If eligible, telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. . Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.
