Deputy Legislative Affairs Officer

US Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Deputy Legislative Affairs Officer position is with the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO), Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA).

OLA provides legislative counsel to the AO and the Judicial Conference; supports Judicial Conference committees; develops and promotes legislative initiatives; and promotes communication with and prepares and coordinates responses to inquiries from Congress, the executive branch, and other entities.

Qualifications

• Active bar membership in state, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a federal court of general jurisdiction.
• Minimum qualifications include a J.D. and bar membership details on the resume.
• At least 4 years of post J.D. experience.
• At least one year (preferably 5 or more years) of specialized experience related to Congress and legislative processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice and communications with executive-level officers.
• Compose, review, and revise legal memoranda, legislative documents, testimony, executive-quality correspondence, speeches, and reports.
• Assess executive-level, complex and sensitive information, identify key issues, and implement solutions.

Education

J.D. degree

Job description

The Deputy Legislative Affairs Officer position is in the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO), Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA). OLA provides legislative counsel to the AO and the Judicial Conference; supports Judicial Conference committees; develops and promotes legislative initiatives; and promotes communication with and prepares and coordinates responses to inquiries from Congress, the executive branch, and other entities. Applicants must have demonstrated experience which shows competence in the qualifications as listed below. This requirement is according to the AO Classification, Compensation, and Recruitment Systems which includes interpretive guidance and reference to the OPM Operating Manual for Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions.

Bar Membership

Applicants must currently be an active member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a federal court of general jurisdiction. Applicants are responsible for citing minimum qualifications such as J.D. and bar membership information (institution name, state(s) for bar, and dates) on their respective resumes. Failure to supply details will constitute an incomplete application. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Post J.D. Experience

Applicants must also possess at least 4 years of post J.D. experience.

Specialized Experience

Applicants must have at least one full year (52 weeks) (preferably 5 or more years) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-15/JSP-15/CL 31 level which is in or directly related to the line of work of this position. Specialized experience for this position is defined as follows:

• Expertise and demonstrated experience in the political, administrative, and legislative processes of Congress.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic advice and communications with executive-level officers.
• Demonstrated ability to solve executive-level complex and sensitive problems.
• Demonstrated expertise in composing, reviewing, and revising legal memoranda, legislative documents, explanatory materials, congressional testimony, executive-quality correspondence, speeches, and reports.
• Demonstrated ability to assess executive-level, complex, and sensitive information, identify key issues, and implement appropriate solutions.

Highly Desired

• Experience in the federal legislative branch.
• Knowledge of the legislative process.
• Staffing a judicial or legislative committee or working with judges, legislators, or executive-level officials.

Additional Assessment

Applicants who meet the specialized experience requirements also will be assessed on the following Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).

Mandatory Technical Qualification

The MTQ listed below should be evident in your resume.

1. Expert experience dealing with members of Congress and congressional staff, executive branch agencies, and the media. Demonstrated experience staffing congressional hearings or preparing individuals for written and oral testimony before congressional committees.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs)

Applicants currently serving in an AOES and Court Unit Executive positions or under a career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointment, eligible for reinstatement into SES, or have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) approved by OPM are not required to submit a narrative response for the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ).

1. Leading Change: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. Leadership Competencies: Creativity & Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision.
2. Leading People: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Leadership Competencies: Conflict Management, Developing Others, Team Building.
3. Results Driven: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. Leadership Competencies: Accountability, Customer Service, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility.
4. Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. Leadership Competencies: Financial Management, Human Capital Management, Technology Management.
5. Building Coalitions / Communication: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals. Leadership Competencies: Partnering, Political Savvy, Influencing/Negotiating.