Congressional Affairs Specialist

USPTO; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in Alexandria, Virginia, seeks a Congressional Affairs Specialist to perform legislative analysis, congressional correspondence, and liaison activities.

The role includes drafting legislative proposals, briefing papers, testimony, and responses to inquiries, with opportunities to interact with Congressional staff and Commerce colleagues. It requires on-site work in Virginia and adherence to OPM standards.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience and/or educational requirements per OPM standards.
• Experience developing congressional testimony and briefing materials is desirable.
• Experience reviewing pending legislation and evaluating impacts on agency programs.

Responsibilities

• Research proposed legislation, hearings, reports, and appropriations actions; prepare summaries for senior specialists.
• Assist in drafting legislative proposals, testimony, briefing papers, talking points, and position papers.
• Prepare responses to Congressional inquiries by gathering background information and coordinating with program offices.
• Attend meetings with Congressional staff and agency officials to obtain information supporting initiatives.

Skills

Legislative analysis

Congressional liaison

Drafting correspondence

Briefing materials

Job description

This position is located in the Office of Governmental Affairs (OGA), Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Department of Commerce. The incumbent serves as a Congressional Affairs Specialist performing developmental assignments involving legislative analysis, congressional correspondence, appropriations monitoring, executive briefing support, and congressional liaison activities.

Telework

The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it includes on site functions that must be performed in person. Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per leave year.

Duties

This rewarding career role is ideal for you if:

• You're able to research proposed legislation, Congressional hearings, committee reports, and appropriations actions affecting USPTO programs and prepares summaries and analyses for review by higher-graded specialists.
• You're ready to assist in drafting legislative proposals, Congressional testimony, briefing papers, talking points, and position papers supporting agency legislative initiatives.
• You are committed to assist with preparing responses to Congressional inquiries by collecting background information, coordinating with program offices, and preparing draft correspondence.
• You are eager to participate in meetings with Congressional staff, Department of Commerce officials, Office of Management and Budget personnel, and other Federal agencies to obtain information supporting legislative initiatives.

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at Administrative and Management Positions.

Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in Federal service. For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-11.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Experience developing congressional testimony and briefing materials; AND
• Experience preparing responses to congressional inquiries by collecting background information, coordinating with program offices, and preparing draft correspondence; AND
• Experience reviewing pending legislation and evaluating potential impacts on agency programs, operations, and strategic initiatives.

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.

Education

Education may not be substituted for specialized experience at this grade level.

Conditions of Employment

Applications will only be accepted from United States Citizens and Nationals and your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related competencies. If selected, you will be required to pass a background investigation.

The full list of conditions and qualifications can be found on the USAJOBS posting.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, retaliation for engaging in protected activity, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.