About this role
Job SummaryThe Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs (OCLA) is the Department's central point for all matters involving the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. OCLA serves as the chief liaison for engagement with Members of Congress, Committees of jurisdiction, and their offices, ensuring effective communication. The incumbent serves as Director of the Health Legislative Affairs Team.
QualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/08/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-15 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-14. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to some former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-14 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Working within a congressional entity in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of government in a supervisory capacity, that equipped you with expert knowledge in legislation, the interests and concerns of Members of Congress, congressional committees, and how these issues affect the department's programs and policies. Working with committee staff on a committee of jurisdiction, such as House or Senate Veterans Affairs, House or Senate Armed Services Committee, etc. Handling complex and sensitive congressional issues and providing legislative assistance to congressional staff offices and/or committees of jurisdiction. Recommending strategies for communicating VA initiatives, policies, requests for information, and legislation to U.S. Congress. 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; religions; 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. Note: Resume must include job title and employer name, number of hours worked per week, start and end dates (including month and year), list of duties and responsibilities for each position held. In addition, if the experience was a federal position, you must list series and grade for each position held. Failure to include this information may result in an ineligible rating. A full year of work is considered to be 40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. Travel may be required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be found well qualified, applicants must meet the following qualifications: Experience serving in a supervisory capacity within a congressional entity. Extensive experience working on VA or other federal agency's legislation directly with VA or other federal committees of jurisdiction and overall, both chambers of U.S. Congress. Experience serving as a top advisor to an organization's executives on legislative and congressional matters and performing comprehensive analysis and policy recommendations of complex VA legislative initiatives. IF APPLYING AS A CTAP/ICTAP ELIGIBLE: You must submit the following documentation demonstrating eligibility for CTAP/ICTAP: Resume Agency Reduction in Force notice; Most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location Most recent performance appraisal (must be fully successful or above) Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Local Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from Washington, DC. This includes all locations that fall within a 50-mile driving distance from 810 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20420. .
Major DutiesThe Director, Health Legislative Affairs Services, will be involved in leading and managing operations of the professional staff in the following duties: Acts as a liaison between senior officials in VA Administrations, field facilities, and other staff offices and the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs, ensuring effective communication on Veterans Health Administration programs, policies, and legislation affecting the Department. Manages and cultivates relationships with the VA Committees of Jurisdiction, whose actions directly affect Department programs and policies, demonstrating initiative, tact, and effectiveness that reflect the Department's overall character and administrative efficiency. Ensures proactive engagement with Members of Congress and their staff by providing clear, concise analyses and interpretations of new and updated VA-administered programs. Ensures that VA recommendations to Members of Congress and their staff consider matters which are of critical importance because of their great sensitivity and impact on individuals, families, and communities Oversees key supervisory functions, including setting performance standards, evaluating staff, participating in hiring decisions, recommending personnel actions, and approving leave, while also addressing employee concerns by resolving informal complaints, issuing minor disciplinary actions, and recommending further action in more serious cases. Ensures a compliant, efficient, and accountable work environment by upholding OSHA standards, preventing waste, fraud, and abuse of government resources, and developing and implementing internal management controls within assigned areas of responsibility. Leverages expert knowledge and a thorough understanding of the mission and objectives to plan, coordinate, track, report, and communicate VA initiatives to internal and external stakeholders while applying strong communication and negotiation skills to ensure effective alignment and engagement. Collaborates with key Office officials to plan, develop, and implement strategies for engaging Members of Congress on major departmental initiatives, including assessing past approaches, coordinating with VA leadership, attending meetings and planning sessions, and preparing essential documents and issue papers. Supports the Assistant Secretary, Principal Deputy, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for OCLA by serving as a key point of coordination for VA's congressional liaison activities, including managing information requests and interpreting official statements, testimony, press releases, correspondence, and policies for Congress. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Director, Health Legislative Affairs Team/PD702700 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not AuthorizedRequirementsYou must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one year probationary period or two year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period one year probationary period or two year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.