USA Staffing

Position Title: Government Affairs Specialist, GS-0301-11/12 DE
Agency: National Science Foundation
Announcement Number: OLPA-23-12120142 Opens in new window
Open Period: Monday, September 18, 2023 to Monday, October 2, 2023

For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.

1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?

A. No, I do not claim Veterans' Preference

B. 0-point Sole Survivorship Preference (SSP)

C. 5-point preference based on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (TP)

D. 10-point preference for non-compensable disability or Purple Heart (XP)

E. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of at least 10% but less than 30% (CP)

F. 10 point preference based on widow/widower or parent of a deceased veteran, or spouse or parent of a disabled veteran (XP)

G. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of 30% or more (CPS)

2. Are you a 30% or more disabled veteran? If so, you may be eligible to be considered for a noncompetitive temporary appointment. Under this eligibility, you may be converted to a permanent position, but conversion is not guaranteed. To be eligible, you must:

Be a disabled veteran rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as having a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more; OR, be a disabled veteran who retired from active military service with a disability rating of 30 percent or more.
Submit the appropriate documentation listed in the SF-15: 1) A. Documentation of Service and Separation (e.g., DD-214); AND, 2) C. Documentation of Compensable Service-Connected Disability (10% or more) (e.g., VA Letter). Submission of the SF-15 is not required. This documentation must be submitted with your application package, before the announcement closes.
Select "Yes" to this eligibility question.

Based on the above, are you eligible, and do you wish to be considered for, a noncompetitive temporary appointment as a 30% disabled veteran?

A. Yes

B. No

3.
Have you been laid off or received a letter stating that you will be laid off from the National Science Foundation? If so, you may be entitled to selection priority under the under the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP). You must submit the following documents with your application:

copy of your current (or last) performance rating of record; and,
proof of CTAP eligibility

Note: Your proof of eligibility MUST show the position, grade level and duty location of the position from which you were (or will be) separated and your full performance level or career ladder. To ensure you fulfil this requirement, submit an SF-50 (Notification of a Personnel Action) that contains this information along with your proof of CTAP eligibility. Visit OPM's CTAP page for more information on eligibility and required documentation.

Based on the above and the referenced web page, are you eligible for CTAP? If so, you must select "Yes" and provide the required documents with your application package, before the announcement closes.

A. Yes

B. No

4. Have you been laid off or received a letter stating that you will be laid off from federal employment, or have your disability payments from your previous federal employment stopped? If so, you may be entitled to selection priority under the under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) or Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP). You must submit the following documents with your application:

copy of your current (or last) performance rating of record; and,
proof of ICTAP eligibility or proof of CTAP eligibility

Note: Your proof of eligibility MUST show the position, grade level and duty location of the position from which you were (or will be) separated and your full performance level or career ladder. To ensure you fulfil this requirement, submit an SF-50 (Notification of a Personnel Action) that contains this information along with your proof of ICTAP or CTAP eligibility. Visit OPM's ICTAP or CTAP page for more information on eligibility and required documentation.

Based on the above and the referenced web pages, are you eligible for ICTAP or CTAP? If so, you must select "Yes" and provide the required documents with your application package, before the announcement closes.

A. Yes

B. No

5. Are you now, or have you been in the last 5 years, a political appointee?

A. Yes

B. No

1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.

1. GS-11: Choose the answer that best describes your education and/or experience.

A. I possess have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in federal service supporting communications with members of Congress and/or Congressional staff. Examples of experience include: researching Congressional initiatives and legislation; analyzing legislation; drafting responses to Congressional inquiries/reports; drafting informational materials; identifying and tracking congressional reporting requirements; and establishing and maintaining relationships with Members of Congress, Congressional staffs, and/or external organizational stakeholders

B. I possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree

C. I possess 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related

D. I possess a combination of progressively higher-level graduate education beyond the second year and appropriate experience that together meet the qualification requirements for this position

E. I do not possess the education or experience described above.

2. GS-12: Choose the answer that best describes your experience.

A. I have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in federal service facilitating communication with Members of Congress and Congressional staffs. Examples of experience include: maintaining an awareness of Congressional initiatives and legislation; analyzing legislation to determine potential impacts; drafting responses and recommendations based on Congressional inquiries/reports; developing informational materials on legislative issues; identifying and tracking congressional reporting requirements; and establishing and maintaining relationships with Members of Congress, Congressional staffs, and external organizational stakeholders.

B. I do not possess the experience described above.

Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).

3. Do you have experience with the Federal legislative process, and with managing and tracking congressional reporting and correspondence in the areas of science and technology policy

A. Yes

B. No

4. What experience do you have in preparing for Congressional hearings?

A. I have participated in the planning and development of testimony.

B. I have developed briefing materials for activities associated with Congressional consideration of agency budgets or the authorization of agency programs.

C. I have written testimony or statements for key senior officials or Members of Congress and assisted in the preparation of those officials for Congressional hearings.

D. I have presented information to Congressional staffers.

E. None of the above.

5. Which response describes your experience working effectively on a wide range of issues with Congressional committees and staff?

A. I have not been exposed to the legislative process.

B. I am familiar with the legislative process.

C. I have occasionally worked with Congressional committees or Congressional staff on a wide range of issues.

D. My work has required me to use my knowledge of the legislative process to regularly work on a wide range of issues and with Congressional committees and staff.

6. Which of the following activities have you regularly performed?

A. I have functioned as the point of contact in the legislative clearance process.

B. I have represented my organization's position to members of Congress or their staff.

C. I have prepared speaking notes for senior leaders for speaking engagements, press conferences, and/or other Congressional engagements.

D. I have presented information on legislative issues to senior management of my organization.

E. None of the above.

7. What is your experience communicating with stakeholders as part of the legislative process? Select all that apply.

A. I have developed materials designed to clarify the organization's operations, policies, programs, and activities suitable for presentation to Members of Congress and Congressional staff.

B. I have established and maintained effective working relationships with Members of Congress, Congressional staff members, senior Federal officials, and key members of the external science, engineering, and education community.

C. I have prepared written and/or oral presentations to various internal and external groups to inform them of organizational policies and programs, objectives, and activities.

D. I have gathered, analyzed, and evaluated complex data in order to develop appropriate recommendations for a supervisor's presentation to Members of Congress and Congressional staff.

E. I have disseminated information (both oral and written) on important legislative issues and budget developments to key organization officials.

F. I have prepared and distributed reports of Congressional hearings, mark-ups, legislation, and floor debates pertaining to issues important to science and engineering research and education.

G. I have written position papers, proposals, justifications, and memorandum on a variety of legislative matters.

H. None of the above.

8. Select those that you have experience developing and maintaining relationships with.

A. Internal Senior Agency Officials

B. External Government agency Officials

C. News media

D. Members of Congress

E. Congressional Staffs

F. Members of Scientific Organizations/Associations

G. State and Local Officials

H. None of the above

9. Which of the following outreach products have you produced? Select all that apply.

A. Research Articles

B. Fact Sheets

C. Talking Points

D. Speeches

E. Presentations

F. Educational Materials

G. Briefing Memos/Notes

H. Correspondence to/from Congress

I. None of the above

Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).

10. I have experience tracking requirements and coordinating responses related to congressional reports for my organization or agency.

A. Yes

B. No

11. In relation to your verbal communication skills choose those that you have done:

A. Explained non-technical matters to internal audiences.

B. Provided an oral report during a meeting.

C. Described a program to an individual or group.

D. Verbally defended a stance you took on an issue.

E. Answered questions based on a presentation you gave.

F. Obtained feedback on an issue you presented to leadership.

G. Facilitated a group's discussion.

H. Represented your organization to an external group.

I. Presented a topic at a multi-agency conference.

J. None of the above.

12. Which of the following best describes your ability to communicate orally to coordinate complex topics.

A. I served as a liaison with other internal offices in coordinating complex or sensitive information.

B. I served as a liaison with external organizations in coordinating complex or sensitive information.

C. I have exchanged factual information with stakeholders.

D. I have explained complex or sensitive topic to the general public.

E. I have influenced leadership to accept and implement findings and recommendations related to complex topics.

F. I have presented sensitive or complex information to individuals or small groups.

G. I have not communicated complex or sensitive information.

13. Select the statement that best characterizes your teamwork or collaboration experience?

A. I have no teamwork or collaboration experience.

B. I have experience working across organizational lines in collaboration with a variety of individuals and groups.

C. I have experience leading a team in which I was responsible for coordinating the work of the team, ensuring work was completed on time, negotiating consensus among team members, and communicating progress to managers and stakeholders.

D. I primarily work independently, but I am comfortable seeking advice from supervisors and colleagues when needed.

E. I have experience collaborating with one or two other colleagues on a discrete project or assignment.

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