For those of you who have been waiting patiently for NCD to fill its vacancy for a LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS SPECIALIST your patience has been rewarded. The following job announcement has been posted on the USAjobs.gov website, and can be accessed directly by going to the link at the bottom of this message.  Please forward to any qualified individuals who might be interested in working for NCD in a challenging yet rewarding position, and please advise everyone to follow the directions in the job announcement when applying for this vacancy.  There is a relatively short window of opportunity for submitting application packets, so if you are interested I hope you will begin working on it this weekend.

Agency:

National Council on Disability

Job Announcement Number:

NCD-PROG-0801

Legislative Affairs Specialist

Who May Be Considered:

Applications will be accepted from current and former competitive service Federal employees, and people eligible under special hiring authorities, especially Schedule A due to disability.

Job Summary:

The National Council on Disability (NCD) is a 15-member body appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.  Established by the Vocational Rehabilitation Act as amended in 1978, the NCD became an independent Federal agency with additional responsibilities on enactment of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1984, PL 98-221, on February 22, 1984.

The incumbent serves as the Legislative Affairs Specialist for the National Council on Disability (NCD) at the direction of the Council through the executive director, and directs and coordinates legislative liaison activities in conjunction with the executive director.  He/she recommends and participates in strategic planning; implements NCD legislative affairs programs such as drafting issue briefs; legislative research and analysis; drafts and/or tracks legislation; participates in or monitors congressional hearings; attends congressional staff briefings; and presents periodic reports on legislation and other NCD legislative initiatives to the Council.

Key Requirements:

Background and/or Security Investigation required.

Major Duties:

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Review laws, programs and policies concerning individuals with disabilities.

Advise and assist in the development, administration, coordination and execution of the plans, policies and procedures.

Participate in rulemaking and other activities in partnership with other agencies.

Possesses a broad knowledge of, and serves as a key communicator of, NCD policies and programs and is a link between NCD, Congress and other federal agencies.

Qualifications:

You must have one year of specialized experience at a level close to the work of this job that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform.  Typically, we would find this experience in work within this field or a field that is closely related.

You must be a U.S. citizen to qualify for this position.

Applicants with who seek consideration under Schedule A must provide documentation stating that the applicant may apply for non-competitive appointment through the Schedule A (5 C.F.R. 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. (https://www.opm.gov/disability/PeopleWithDisabilities.asp)

You will need to successfully complete a background security investigation before you can be appointed into this position.

You will be required to do some travel.

How Will You Be Evaluated:

You will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required; and on the extent to which your application shows that you possess the knowledge, skills and abilities associated with this position as defined below.  When describing your knowledge, skills, and abilities, please be sure to give examples and explain how often you used these skills, the complexity of the knowledge you possess, the level of the people you interacted with, the sensitivity of the issues you handled, etc.

Expert knowledge of disability laws including, but not limited to, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act, Workforce Investment Act (Rehabilitation Act), Fair Housing Act, Development Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, Air Carrier Access Act, Social Security Act, and other relevant disability laws or regulations; extensive knowledge of the broad variety of agencies, organizations and programs that serve people with all types of disabilities.

Ability to plan, direct, coordinate and guide legislative-related projects in collaboration with Council members and other NCD staff, and to implement liaison programs.

Extensive knowledge of the legislative process; employment as legislative staff or liaison at the state or federal levels is preferred.  Demonstrated experience in using a variety of tools and methods needed for the position

Ability to effectively represent the Council’s policies, programs and positions on issues to congressional committees, staff members and federal agency officials and staff.

Comprehensive knowledge of NCD’s history, organization, function, legislative and administrative procedures, as well as regulations, laws or pending legislation impacting people with disabilities.

Ability to respond to routine and complex constituent correspondence referred by the White House and Members of Congress; editing written materials; dissemination of information utilizing multiple media; conducting briefings; arranging meetings with elected officials and staff; researching and tracking legislation; and drafting legislation.

Benefits:

You may participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, with costs shared with your employer.  More info:http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#FEHB.

Life insurance coverage is provided.  More info:http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#life

New employees are automatically covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).  If you are transferring from another agency and covered by CSRS, you may continue in this program.  More info:http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#retr

You will earn annual vacation leave.  More info:http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#VACA

You will earn sick leave.  More info:http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#SKLV

You will be paid for federal holidays that fall within your regularly scheduled tour of duty.  More info:http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#HOLI

Other Information:

You must submit all required information by the closing date.  If materials are not received, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible.

The materials you send with your application will not be returned.

How to Apply:

You must submit your application so that it will be received by 3:00 PM EST the closing date of the announcement.

Although we do not require a specific resume format, certain information is required to determine if you are qualified.

If you are eligible for consideration under a special hiring authority (as identified under Who May Apply), please indicate this consideration in the cover letter sent with your resume.

Submit a narrative statement responding to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) identified in the announcement.  This information will be used to determine your eligibility and/or rating and is required.

Contact Information:

Lisa Grubb
Phone: 202-272-2004
Fax: 202-272-2022
TDD: 202-272-2074
Internet: ncd@ncd.gov

Or Write:
National Council on Disability
1331 F Street NW
Suite 850
Washington DC 20004
ATTN: Michael Collins, Executive Director

What to Expect Next:

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking.  The most highly qualified candidates will receive further consideration and possible interview.  We expect to make a selection within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate.  Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly.  Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Veterans Information:

Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and were separated under honorable conditions may be eligible for veterans’ preference.  For service beginning after October 15, 1976, the veteran must have served the required length of time and have a Campaign Badge, Expeditionary Medal, a service-connected disability, or have served in the Gulf War between August 2, 1990, and January 2, 1992.

The Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) gives veterans access to job vacancies that might otherwise be closed to them.  The law allows eligible veterans to compete for vacancies advertised under agency’s promotion procedures when the agency is seeking applications from outside of its own workforce.

To claim veterans’ preference, veterans should be ready to provide a copy of their DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other proof.  Veterans with service connected disability and others claiming 10 point preference will need to submit Form SF-15, Application for 10-point Veterans’ Preference.

For more specifics on all veterans employment issues such as Veterans preference or special appointing authorities see the VetGuide.

Legal and Regulatory Guidance:

Social Security Number - Your Social Security Number is requested under the authority of Executive Order 9397 to uniquely identify your records from those of other applicants who may have the same name.  As allowed by law or Presidential directive, your Social Security Number is used to seek information about you from employers, schools, banks, and others who may know you.  Failure to provide your Social Security Number on your application materials, will result in your application not being processed.

Privacy Act - Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

Signature - Before you are hired, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application.

False Statements - If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.

Selective Service - If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.

http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/ftva.asp?seeker=1&JobID=74451143