Chief, Congressional Affairs

Office of Chief of Space Operations • Arlington, VA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

Headquarters Space Force Mission Sustainment/Logistics Directorate (HQSF/S4O) at The Pentagon is seeking a Chief, Congressional Affairs (NH-0301-04, GS-14/15 equivalent) to serve as Congressional Chief and Senior Legislative Advisor to the Space Force Deputy for Installations and Logistics. The role is the principal legislative authority for a portfolio covering installations, logistics, infrastructure, sustainment, military construction (MILCON), environmental programs, energy, and force protection. It operates in a high-tempo, high-visibility environment, providing strategic leadership on senior-level legislative positions and managing short-notice, sensitive congressional actions.

The position leads a multidisciplinary team of military, civilian, and contractor personnel and oversees the full life cycle of congressional inquiries, testimony preparation, hearing support, and formal responses. Communications must be coordinated and technically accurate. The role calls for expertise in congressional affairs, legislative strategy, defense policy, and headquarters-level staff operations within the Department of War, with relevant installations, logistics, or infrastructure portfolio experience preferred. The position is based at The Pentagon and offers situational telework only, including emergency and OPM-prescribed unscheduled telework. It may require travel and unscheduled or emergency overtime.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility, other intelligence-related Special Sensitive information, or involvement in Top Secret SAP to perform the duties and responsibilities.
• Must sign a nondisclosure agreement.
• Subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.
• Must handle and safeguard sensitive and classified information in accordance with regulations.
• May be required to travel by military or commercial aircraft for temporary duty assignments.
• May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, depending on the position type; continued employment after the period requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Expert-level understanding of civil engineering, strategic basing, MILCON, real property management, environmental cleanup, utility operations, base realignment (BRAC), space weapon systems sustainment, and force protection/security forces policies and requirements.
• Executive knowledge of legislative formulation and policy analysis, including coordinating organizational positions, analyzing complex congressional bills, and evaluating statutory language impacts.
• In-depth understanding of the missions, roles, functions, and interrelationships of the Space Staff, Air Staff, Secretariat, Joint Staff, and OSD.
• Thorough working knowledge of the PPBE process, its links to the congressional budget cycle, and major defense authorizing and appropriating committees.
• Demonstrated high-level ability to research, analyze, and synthesize technical and programmatic data into clear executive-level products.
• Mastery of oral communication and presentation, diplomacy, and negotiation to brief senior executives, engage legislative staffers, and build consensus.
• Proven leadership and administrative ability to manage teams and cross-functional working groups under tight, unpredictable deadlines.
• Ability to independently assess legislative changes, program effectiveness, resource impacts, and high-visibility decisions.
• Resume must be no more than two pages.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, engineering, logistics, or a related field; an advanced degree is preferred.
• Progressive senior-level experience advising on legislative affairs.
• Hands-on experience on Capitol Hill.
• Experience with headquarters-level staff operations within the Department of War.
• Direct experience supporting Space Force, Air Force, or broader military portfolios in installations, logistics, or infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal legislative authority and Senior Legislative Advisor for the Space Force Deputy for Installations and Logistics.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team of military, civilian, and contractor personnel.
• Shape senior-level legislative positions and execute short-notice, high-sensitivity congressional actions.
• Oversee congressional inquiries, testimony preparation, hearing support, and formal responses throughout their full life cycle.
• Coordinate communications to ensure they are aligned and technically accurate.
• Formulate and coordinate organizational positions on pending legislation, analyze congressional bills, and evaluate the programmatic impacts of statutory language.
• Research, analyze, and synthesize complex technical and programmatic information into executive-level products, including skull slides, witness testimonies, QFRs, OSD Heartburn Appeals, and formal reports.
• Brief senior executives, negotiate sensitive and controversial issues with legislative staffers, and build consensus among agencies.
• Direct, plan, organize, mentor, and task action officers and cross-functional working groups to meet congressional requirements and deadlines.
• Independently assess legislative changes and long-term program impacts on resources, make critical decisions, and defend high-visibility decisions to senior Space Force leadership.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package for employees and their families.
• PCS may be paid in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulations and Air Force regulations; an authorized PCS may require a CONUS agreement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior