Chief, Congressional Affairs

Headquarters Space Force Mission Sustainment/Logistics Directorate (HQSF/S4O) at The Pentagon is searching for a Chief, Congressional Affairs (NH-0301-04, GS-14/15 Equivalent).

Description:

The Space Force Deputy for Installations and Logistics is seeking an accomplished leader with deep expertise in congressional affairs, legislative strategy, and defense policy to serve as the Congressional Chief and Senior Legislative Advisor. Operating in a high-tempo, high-visibility environment, this individual serves as the principal legislative authority for a diverse portfolio spanning installations, logistics, infrastructure, sustainment, military construction (MILCON), environmental programs, energy, and force protection. The successful candidate will strategically lead a multidisciplinary team of military, civilian, and contractor personnel to shape senior-level legislative positions while driving precise tactical execution on short-notice, high-sensitivity congressional actions. This leader oversees the full life cycle of inquiries, testimony preparation, hearing support, and formal responses, ensuring all communications are aligned and technically accurate.

The ideal candidate will possess a robust background in congressional affairs, defense policy analysis, and headquarters-level staff operations within the Department of War (DoW), preferably with direct experience supporting Space Force, Air Force, or broader military portfolios in installations, logistics, or infrastructure. Educationally, this individual should hold a bachelor's degree in public policy, public administration, engineering, logistics, or a related field (advanced degree preferred). Professionally, this leader will bring progressive senior-level experience advising on legislative affairs, backed by hands-on experience on Capitol Hill and a track record of translating complex technical issues into clear products for senior leaders. A deep working knowledge of legislative formulation, statutory analysis, and the PPBE process is essential, along with a proven history of leading teams and developing high-impact executive correspondence.

1. Expert Knowledge of Space Force/DoW Installations, Engineering, and Logistics: Comprehensive, 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.
2. Knowledge of Legislative Formulation and Policy Analysis: Executive knowledge to formulate and coordinate organizational positions on pending legislation, analyze complex congressional bills, and evaluate the programmatic impact of statutory language.
3. Expert Knowledge of Space Staff, Air Staff, and Secretariat Organizations: Deep, in-depth understanding of the missions, roles, functions, and interrelationships among the Space Staff (SF/S), Air Staff, Secretariat (SAF/IE, SAF/LL, SAF/FMBL), Joint Staff, and OSD.
4. Mastery of the Congressional Budget Process and PPBE: Thorough, working knowledge of the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process, its direct linkages to the congressional budget cycle, and major defense authorizing and appropriating committees.
5. Advanced Written Communication and Synthesis Skills: Demonstrated, high-level skill in researching, analyzing, and synthesizing complex technical and programmatic data into clear, executive-level products including skull slides, witness testimonies, QFRs, OSD Heartburn Appeals, and formal reports.
6. Exceptional Oral Communication, Diplomacy, and Negotiation Skills: Mastery of verbal communication and presentation techniques to effectively brief senior executives, negotiate sensitive and controversial issues with legislative staffers, and build consensus among diverse agencies.
7. Executive Management and Leadership Skills: Proven leadership and administrative ability to direct, plan, organize, mentor, and task a team of action officers and cross-functional working groups to execute high-stakes congressional requirements under tight, unpredictable deadlines.
8. Ability to Independently Evaluate Program Effectiveness and Make Critical Decisions: Ability to analyze legislative changes to make sound independent judgments, assess long-term program impacts on resources, and defend complex, high-visibility decisions to senior Space Force leadership.

Conditions of employment

• 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 fully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.
• A non-disclosure agreement must be signed.
• This is a drug testing designated position. The incumbent is subject to pre-employment drug testing as a condition of employment, and participation in random drug testing.
• Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
• May be required to travel by military or commercial aircraft in the performance of TDY assignments.
• May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis.
• Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed “Unscheduled Telework”.
• Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
• Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/.
• Incentive is not authorized.
• Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): Approximately 25 days per year.
• Please limit your resume to a maximum of two pages.

Qualifications

The 0301 series does not have an individual occupational requirement that must be met. You can view the experience level requirements here. Please scroll down to the 3rd section titled Administrative and Management Positions.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies as related to the series and grade of the position being filled. Final qualifications determinations will be assessed based on OPM's General Schedule Qualifications Standards found here:

Interviews: You will be contacted by e-mail and/or telephone if your application is identified as qualifying for a position being filled. An interview may be conducted. If interviewed, you will be asked to address the same knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies used to initially qualify your application for the position.

Resume:You must submit a resume that may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume exceeds two pages or is illegible/unreadable. Do NOT include photographs, inappropriate material, inappropriate content, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume. If the resume you submit contains such information you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your resume must provide:

1. Personal information - your full name, email and mailing addresses, phone number
2. Education information - the name of the school and the dates you attended
3. Work experience - paid and unpaid work with the following information:
   • Job title
   • Detailed duties and accomplishments
   • Employer's name and address
   • Supervisor's name and phone number
   • Starting and ending dates (If actual dates are not known, provide your best-estimated timeframes.)
   • Hours per week
   • Salary, if applicable
4. Other qualifications - skills, certifications/licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and job-related training courses

College Transcripts (if applicable): Please see the Education section of this announcement for detailed information about transcripts.

Next steps