Legislative Analyst

This position is located in the Indian Health Service, Office of External Affairs, Legislative Affairs Staff, under the Deputy Director for Intergovernmental and External Affairs. Reports to IHS Headquarters. The official duty station is Rockville, MD or any Area Office. However, an alternate duty station may be negotiated if it is closer to another IHS Area Office, subject to agency approval. A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

Major duties
Advises the Director, Legislative Affairs Staff, and other appropriate IHS officials on questions, issues, and developments pertaining to legislative and congressional matters. Provides professional and administrative guidance to IHS staff in carrying out legislative assignments and coordinates work products needed for Legislative Affairs activities. Maintains awareness of significant legislation and congressional activity affecting IHS and keeps Legislative Affairs leadership informed of status, deadlines, emerging issues, and required Agency actions. Coordinates with IHS Headquarters offices, Area Offices, program officials, subject matter experts, HHS components, and other appropriate partners to obtain information and resolve issues necessary for legislative products and responses. Develops schedules, work plans, tracking mechanisms, and coordination processes to support timely completion of legislative and congressional assignments. Identifies matters requiring elevated review, clearance, or policy decision and recommends appropriate action to Legislative Affairs leadership. Reviews, analyzes, and interprets legislative and Executive Branch documents. Evaluates proposed legislative for foreseeable effects on Agency programs, policies, procedures, regulations, statutory authorities, funding, and operations based on program input and knowledge of IHS programs and related law. Researches and analyzes proposed and pending authorization and appropriations legislation and develops written analyses, recommendations, briefing materials, and draft Agency comments. Assist in developing legislative initiatives, bill reports, technical comments, testimony, and related materials and coordinates required Agency and Departmental review and clearance. Assist with preparation and coordination of legislative implementation plans. Provides technical assistance, when authorized, to congressional committees and staff regarding IHS authorities, programs, proposed legislation, and hearing preparation. Maintains legislative records, tracking information, analytical files, and other materials necessary to support continuity of Legislative Affairs operations. Serves as an Agency liaison on assigned congressional and legislative matters and coordinates activities with congressional offices and committees. Confers with senior officials and staff of HHS components, other Federal agencies, and Tribal, state, and local governments on complex legislative matters affecting Indian health programs. Coordinates preparation for congressional hearings, briefings, meetings, and other engagements involving the IHS Director or other IHS officials. Tracks congressional inquiries and legislative requests and coordinates timely, accurate responses with appropriate program and subject matter experts. Participates in conferences, interagency meetings, workgroups, and task forces involving changes in legislation or related policy and represents Legislative Affairs within the scope of delegated authority. Identifies emerging congressional issues and recommends coordination strategies, response options, or additional analysis to Legislative Affairs leadership.

Qualifications
To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. 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; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: GS-12 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Examples include: Experience performing legislative or policy analysis for government programs. Experience researching, reviewing, and analyzing proposed or pending legislation and legislative or Executive Branch documents to identify potential impacts on agency programs, policies, procedures, or operations; assisting in preparing legislative materials such as bill reports, testimony, legislative proposals, implementation plans, or written comments; and tracking legislative actions, including appropriations-related matters. Experience providing advice or technical assistance on legislative matters and coordinating with program officials, congressional staff, federal agencies, tribal organizations, or other governmental stakeholders on legislative or policy issues. GS-13 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, Examples include: Experience performing legislative and policy analysis involving complex federal programs. Experience reviewing, analyzing, and interpreting proposed or pending legislation and Executive Branch documents to assess their impact on agency programs, policies, operations, or regulations; preparing legislative materials such as bill reports, testimony, legislative proposals, implementation plans, or formal recommendations; and providing technical advice on legislative matters to senior officials or program staff. Experience coordinating and maintaining working relationships with congressional staff, federal agencies, tribal or governmental officials, or other stakeholders to address complex legislative issues and support congressional or legislative activities. Time In Grade Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP). You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

How to apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. For additional questions please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) found here: https://www.ihs.gov/jobs/faq/.