Summary About the Position: This position is located at Falls Church, VA. This position is in the Defense Health Agency (DHA) in the Communications Directorate. Its primary purpose is to provide the DHA with senior level management and technical expertise for congressional and public affairs issues impacting the worldwide DHA enterprise. Responsibilities Plan, direct, and supervise the DHA’s congressional, legislative, and public affairs program, ensuring alignment with the Director’s goals and enterprise mission. Serve as the Director’s congressional support officer: arrange and conduct meetings with OASD(LA), Members of Congress, and staff. Oversee and personally handle high-level inquiries; review and approve all responses to ensure policy accuracy and professionalism. Prepare senior leaders and witnesses for hearings: draft testimony, issue books, “Questions for the Record,” and conduct prep sessions. Orchestrate public affairs campaigns: write, coordinate, and release information to national media, DoD channels, and veterans’ organizations. Cultivate and maintain relationships with Members of Congress, interest groups, trade associations, Military Coalition, and veteran service organizations. Monitor legislative developments at DHA, service, and OSD levels; advise senior leadership daily on congressional or media interest. Ensure all communications products go through required reviews (e.g., Security Review), are formatted correctly, and meet timeliness and quality standards. Advise on and initiate policy changes based on inquiry findings or stakeholder feedback. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. Current Civilian Employees of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Current Permanent Department of Defense (DoD) Civilian Employee Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Interchange Agreement Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce Executive Order (E.O.) 12721 Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473 Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI) Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Interchange Agreement Eligible People with Disabilities, Schedule A Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible Reinstatement Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes managing congressional and/or public affairs programs; providing executive support; and communicating with the media on a national level. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-14). Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Communication Developing Others Leadership Research Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-14). Education Additional Information Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. Recruitment or relocation incentives MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.