Congressional Liaison Specialist

Citizenship and Immigration Services•Tampa, FL

18h•Onsite

About The Position

The Congressional Liaison Specialist conducts congressional liaison activities on behalf of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and serves as the District’s primary legislative affairs lead in support of the District Director. The position provides expert technical advice, guidance, and interpretation of immigration laws and regulations, policies and procedures, and judicial and administrative precedent decisions relating to USCIS. The specialist directs and coordinates congressional liaison activity within the USCIS District in accordance with the USCIS Office of Legislative Affairs Strategic Plan. The role monitors politically sensitive matters, urgent or special congressional interests, and emerging trends, and advises management on strategies for responding to congressional concerns. It also plans outreach for local congressional staff and provides technical assistance on immigration issues, USCIS programs, initiatives, and complex legislative, policy, or individual casework matters. This position is located in Tampa, Florida, and works closely with District leadership on sensitive, complex, and mission-critical issues affecting district and regional operations. The position is at the GS-13 level. Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level, including experience preparing reports or publications concerning congressional activities and the agency, monitoring immigration-processing trends and problems affecting congressional relations, and advising on congressional issues relevant to immigration policy. There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status.
Successfully pass a background investigation, including financial disclosure.
Pass a drug screening; the position may be subject to random testing.
For males born after December 31, 1959, registration with the Selective Service is required.
Applicants not currently employed by USCIS must meet the residency requirement: for three of the five years immediately before applying, have resided in the United States, worked overseas for the U.S. Government in a Federal or Military capacity, or been a dependent of a U.S. Federal or Military employee serving overseas.
Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the lower grade or equivalent grade band in Federal service by the stated deadline.
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level, including preparing reports or publications concerning congressional activities and the agency; monitoring immigration-processing trends and problems affecting congressional relations; and advising on congressional issues relevant to immigration policy.
Submit a resume of no more than two pages under the Resume category, with sufficient work-history details to establish qualifications.
A one-year probationary period may be required.

Responsibilities

Serve as the District’s primary legislative affairs lead, supporting the District Director.
Direct and coordinate congressional liaison activity within the USCIS District in accordance with the USCIS Office of Legislative Affairs Strategic Plan.
Monitor politically sensitive problems, areas of special or urgent congressional interest, and trends, and advise management on response strategies.
Plan and conduct outreach tailored to local congressional staff to exchange information and promote USCIS programs and initiatives.
Provide Members of Congress and their staff with technical advice and assistance analyzing, interpreting, and clarifying immigration issues and new or revised USCIS programs and initiatives.
Provide technical guidance on interpreting laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to sensitive and complex legislative, policy, or individual casework matters.
Prepare reports or publications concerning congressional activities and the agency.
Monitor trends and problems in immigration processing that affect congressional relations.
Provide advice and recommendations on congressional issues relevant to immigration policy.