Parliamentary Clerk

United States Senate Sergeant at Arms; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Secretary of the Senate is seeking a Parliamentary Clerk within the Parliamentarian's office. This professional, nonpartisan role supports daily proceedings, responds to inquiries, and prepares materials for the Senate’s calendar and floor actions.

It is a term appointment not to exceed two years, with potential advancement to Assistant Parliamentarian based on performance and needs. The position requires a JD from an ABA-accredited law school, knowledge of Senate procedure, and the ability to

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree from ABA-accredited law school.
• Understanding of Senate procedure and the legislative process.
• Ability to conduct legislative and legal research.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently.
• Ability to edit and manage confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Support the Parliamentarian with general admin tasks and record-keeping.
• Respond to inquiries and prepare materials for daily proceedings.
• Refer communications to Senate committees and review jurisdiction.
• Research precedents and U.S. Code to determine appropriate actions.
• Organize and publish current Senate precedents; assist with floor material.
• Deliver parliamentary material to the Senate Chamber and maintain EAP/COOP plans.
• Provide high level customer service to all users.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Legal research

Analytical thinking

Interpersonal collaboration

Confidential information handling

Education

Juris Doctorate (ABA-accredited)

Job description

Parliamentary Clerk

Organization: Secretary of the Senate

Department

Parliamentarian

SALARY RANGE

$85,358 - $90,000

OFFICE HOURS

Office hours are dictated by Senate floor activity; may require long, irregular hours.

FEDERAL RELAY SERVICE

Speech/Hearing impaired persons may text the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8338 TTY.

TELEWORK

This position is not eligible for telework.

FLSA STATUS

Belo 58

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

10/28/2026 at 5:00pm EST

JOB DESCRIPTION

NATURE OF WORK

This is professional, nonpartisan legislative work with responsibility for ensuring the consistent and orderly proceedings of the Senate. Work is supervised by the Parliamentarian and his or her staff, and includes assisting the Parliamentarian and staff on and off the Senate floor in responding to legislative and parliamentary inquiries; preparing materials for the Senate’s daily proceedings and the Senate Calendar of Business; referring executive communications to Senate committees; basic procedural and legislative research; assisting with the preparation of the office’s precedential materials for publication; and general administrative tasks as assigned.

This clerkship is a term appointment, not to exceed two years. Employment beyond the term is contingent on being considered and selected for an Assistant Parliamentarian position, based on demonstrated performance, readiness for the role, and the needs of the office. Employment with the office, including term employment, is at will.

Source materials for this position include the Standing Rules of the Senate (Senate Rules) and Senate precedents, legislative history, statutes, and the United States Code. Work is bound by Secretary of the Senate policies and procedures; the U.S. Senate Handbook, and the Senate Ethics Manual, but requires independent judgment in setting priorities and handling assignments.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Support the Office of the Parliamentarian with general administrative functions; maintain legislative records; interact frequently with Senators, staff, and the public; and answer phones and manage access to the Parliamentarians.

Respond to legislative/parliamentary questions generated by congressional staff and the public; and refer sensitive issues to the Parliamentarian.

Prepare language for resolutions and unanimous consent requests relative to the opening and closing of daily sessions or routine floor procedures for leadership offices.

Assist Parliamentarians with referring communications to Senate committees for consideration; review contents of each document to determine appropriate jurisdiction; and research Senate precedents and the U.S. Code to determine appropriate jurisdiction.

Assist Parliamentarians in organizing, researchin,g, editing, compiling, writing, and publishing current precedents of the Senate.

Assist Parliamentarians with delivery of legislative parliamentary material to the Senate Chamber.

Maintain current knowledge of the Office of the Parliamentarian’s Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and Continuity of Operations (COOP) plan; participate in periodic exercises and drills; and assist with maintaining EAP and COOP plans.

Provide all customers with the highest level of customer service.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in an office environment with exposure to everyday risks and discomforts, and requires the use of normal safety precautions. Work is primarily sedentary but requires occasional walking, standing, bending, and carrying items up to 25 pounds, as well as regular use of typical office equipment, software programs, and methods of communication such as a computer, email, telephone, and photocopier. Regular, predictable, and punctual attendance is required for the performance of duties. Work also requires physical presence in the office, except as otherwise required by the Office of the Secretary. This position is tied to the Senate floor schedule and requires working extended and erratic hours as dictated by the Senate.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Work requires a juris doctorate degree from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school, accredited by the ABA throughout the applicant’s course of study, and education and experience that provide the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Basic knowledge of the Senate as an institution, Senate procedure and organization, and the legislative process preferred, with a desire and willingness to learn more about the history and operation of the Senate.

Ability to understand and analyze Senate proceedings.

Ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams or groups.

Ability to work independently on projects as directed by the Parliamentarian.

Ability to use a computer and relevant computer software programs.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to perform legislative and legal research.

Ability to appropriately handle confidential matters and information.

Knowledge of English grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, spelling, and vocabulary; and ability to edit and proofread with proficiency.

Ability to quickly and accurately recognize Senators by sight and voice.

Ability to interact with high-level Senate officials using tact and diplomacy.

Ability to work extended and erratic hours as dictated by the Senate schedule.

Ability to travel and work inside or outside of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, in the event of an emergency that requires relocation of the Senate.

Must adhere to Senate Chamber rules on decorum and dress code – appropriate attire required in the office.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

License to practice law preferred, but not required. If licensed to practice law in a state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia, an applicant must be a member in good standing.

Accommodations

Applicants needing a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process should contact Human Resources at [e-mail].

Veteran's Preference

Hiring for this position will be governed by the Veterans EmploymentOpportunity Act of 1998 (“VEOA”), as made applicable by the CongressionalAccountability Act of 1995. Pursuant to the VEOA, qualified applicants who arenot current employees of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate and who aredisabled or who have served on active duty in the Armed Forces during certainspecified time periods or in certain military designated campaigns (“veterans”)may be eligible to receive a preference over non-veterans in hiring decisions. Family members of veterans may also be eligible to receive a veterans’preference if the veteran cannot claim his or her veterans’ preference.

To be eligible for a veterans’ preference, applicants must meet all of therequirements set forth in the VEOA and applicable regulations. Thoseeligibility requirements are summarized in the Application for Veterans’Preference, which may be obtained by visiting: https://www.senate.gov/employment/resources/pdf/SOS_VeteransPreference.pdf

If claiming a veterans’ preference, an applicant must indicate that he/she ispreference eligible on the application or resume and must submit a completedcopy of the Application for Veterans’ Preference along with the supportingdocumentation specified on that form. If the Office of the Secretary of the Senate does not receive the Application for Veterans’ Preference and supportingdocumentation by the closing date, the applicant’s claim for a veterans’preference may be denied.

Applicants may obtain a copy of the Office’s Veterans’ Preference inAppointments policy by submitting a written request to [e-mail].

Individuals who are entitled to a veterans’ preference are invited toself-identify voluntarily. This information is intended solely for use inconnection with the Office of the Secretary of the Senate’s obligations andefforts to provide veterans’ preference to preference-eligible applicants inaccordance with the VEOA. An applicant’s status as a disabled veteran and anyinformation regarding an applicant’s disability, including the applicant’smedical condition and history, will be kept confidential and will be collected,maintained and used in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of1990, as made applicable by section 102(a)(3) of the CAA, 2 U.S.C. §1302(a)(3).An applicant who declines to self-identify as a disabled veteran and/or toprovide information and documentation regarding his/her disabled veteran’sstatus will not be subjected to an adverse employment action, but theindividual may be ruled ineligible for a veterans’ preference.