Chief Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. ST-26-12918245-MR Department Internal Revenue Service
Salary $151,661.00 to $228,000.00 Grade 00 to 00
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 3/23/2026 Close Date 4/6/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has a distinguished history dating back to the founding of our nation. As the steward of U.S. economic and financial systems, Treasury is a major and influential leader in today's global economy. We have over 100,000 employees across the country and around the world. Come Join the Department of the Treasury and Invest in Tomorrow.

This job is open to

Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Federal employees - Excepted service

Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Senior executives

Individuals looking for an executive-level job and who meet the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs).

Clarification from the agency

All current Civil Service, Current and former members of the Senior Executive Service, and SES certified Candidate Development Program candidates.

Duties

We strongly encourage applicants to read the entire announcement before submitting their applications.

As the Chief, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, you will serve as a direct report to the IRS Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and be the principal executive with enterprise-wide authority over the IRS's legislative, regulatory, and related correspondence functions that impact the IRS mission, funding, compliance posture and strategic priorities.

The Chief Legislative and Regulatory Affairs performs the following duties and responsibilities:

  • The incumbent maintains line authority over legislative, regulatory and correspondence matters, establishing policies, procedures, and quality standards governing the preparation of responses to Congress. The incumbent leads cross-functional councils or executive steering committees; provides oversight of coordination with the Office of Chief Counsel and the Treasury Office of Tax Policy; reviews and edits high-level written communications for tone, accuracy, clarity, and policy consistency; and advises the CEO and other senior leaders on complex and sensitive matters.
  • The position plans and guides IRS programs as they relate to legislative and regulatory changes; analyzes the impact of proposed and enacted legislation on tax administration; conducts and directs research on significant policy issues; and develops authoritative reports and position papers. The incumbent performs the duties of executive secretary for the IRS and ensures timely, accurate, and coordinated responses aligned with evolving priorities and supports long- and short-range program objectives in furtherance of the IRS mission.
  • Stays abreast of a broad range of current developments, policy considerations, and legislative proposals affecting the IRS; anticipate policy shifts and prepare proactive engagement strategies; conducts extensive research and analysis on significant, substantive issues relating to tax administration and operations within the IRS, which affect the legislative agenda. Advises and consults with IRS leadership concerning such developments providing decision memos and strategic recommendations.
  • Reviews IRS information for Congressional purposes, including responses to Congressional inquiries, legislative proposals, special studies for Congressional committees, and cases of Congressional-level interest; advises the CEO on such technical matters as regulations, closing agreements, offers in compromise, etc.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OTHER IRS CAREERS? If you want to find out more about IRS careers, visit us on the web at www.jobs.irs.gov

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Be geographically mobile to accomplish the Service's mission.
  • Complete a one-year SES probationary period, if not previously completed.
  • Certify you have registered with the Selective Service System if you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, or certify you are exempt from having to do so.
  • Complete a OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment, to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  • Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
  • Provide information to successfully complete a background investigation. Applicants must have a successfully adjudicated FBI criminal history record check (fingerprint check) and a NACI or equivalent.
  • Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification as listed on Form I-9 (http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-9_IFR_02-02-09.pdf); of which one must be a valid state or federal government-issued picture identification. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
  • Complete verification of identity and employment eligibility as required by Federal law for all persons hired to work in the United States. The IRS participates in e-Verify (Employment Verification) and may provide information from your Form I-9 to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and/or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to secure a work authorization. You will receive written instructions and contact information for SSA and DHS if this information cannot be confirmed.
  • File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (sf278) within 30 days of appointment and annually.
  • Disclose Political Appointments.
  • Veterans' preference is not applicable to the Senior Executive Service.
  • Meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position of Chief Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, you must meet the following requirements:

RESUME: To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) related to this position within your resume- NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect the demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. Your resume must demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential to fulfill executive responsibilities typically required in SES positions, including:

  • Directing the work of an organizational unit;
  • Accountability for the success of one or more specific programs or projects;
  • Monitoring progress toward organizational goals and periodically evaluates and makes appropriate adjustments to such goals;
  • Supervising the work of other managers; or
  • Exercising important policy-making, policy-determining, or other executive functions.


Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligiblity, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.


EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): By statute, OPM prescribes Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) for the appointment of career Senior Executive Service (SES) members. The ECQs were designed to evaluate executive experience and not technical expertise. The following ECQs provide the focus for certification of executive core qualifications for initial appointment to the SES. Your two-page resume should show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications.

1. Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding: Demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, the commitment to uphold Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people. Leadership Competencies: Knowledge of the American System of Government; Commitment to the Rule of Law; Civic-Mindedness.

2. Driving Efficiency: Demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades. Leadership Competencies: Fiscal Responsibility; Managing Resources; Leveraging Technology.

3. Merit and Competence: Demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. Leadership Competencies: Technical Skill; Problem Solving; Agility and Resilience.

4. Leading People: Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable. Leadership Competencies: Accountability; Developing Others; Executive Judgement.

5. Achieving Results: Demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors. Leadership Competencies: Operational Mindset; Innovation; Strategic Thinking.

FUNDAMENTAL COMPETENCIES: The following competencies are the foundation for success in each of the Executive Core Qualifications: Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Continual Learning, Written Communication, Integrity/Honesty, and Public Service Motivation.

Additional information about the SES and ECQs can be found on the OPM SES Website: OPM Guide to SES Qualifications.


MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): In addition to the ECQs, candidates must address Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs). MTQs are designed to assess an applicant's experience relevant to the specific position requirements. All applicants must clearly demonstrate in their two-page resume, experience and accomplishments related to the MTQs below:

  1. Tax Administration: Broad knowledge of Federal tax law administration and regulations.
  2. Organizational Knowledge: Broad knowledge of the organization, function, and operations of the Internal Revenue Service, the Treasury Department, and the Executive and Legislative branches of the Federal government.
  3. Program Analysis: Experience with Congressional inquiries, legislative proposals, regulations, and leading correspondence management.
There is NO requirement to prepare a separate narrative statement specifically addressing the ECQs or MTQs. Only the required 2-page resume will be considered.

To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

Education

There is no education requirement for this position.

Additional information

  • Veterans' preference is not applicable to the Senior Executive Service.
  • Applications MUST be submitted through USAJobs.
  • Submit resume and all other required documents online by 11:59 PM EST of the closing date.
  • If you are selected for a position, you are responsible for reporting to your designated POD (location) on the negotiated start date or as directed by management.
  • Salary for Senior Executive Service jobs vary depending on qualifications.
  • Undergo a review of prior performance/conduct and an income tax verification. Refer to "Get Your Tax Record" at http://www.irs.gov/ to check the status of your account, balance owed, payment history, make a payment, or review answers to tax questions. If you are not in compliance, you will be determined unsuitable for employment with IRS.
  • The employment of any candidate selected for this position, including a current employee or a new hire, selected for this position may be conditional upon classification and/or audit of federal tax returns.
  • This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury. For more information regarding your rights refer to Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights - FBI, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement - FBI, and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov).

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your resume will be reviewed to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the basic qualification requirements, your application will be referred to and evaluated by an executive panel. Highly Qualified applicants may undergo one or more interviews and/or be asked to provide a list of references or additional documents to confirm eligibility.

The Executive Resources Board (ERB) will review results of the evaluation and make a written recommendation on the final selection(s) to the appointing authority. Unless you have already been certified by the OPM Qualifications Review Board (QRB) in the past or received certification by an OPM approved Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program, your qualifications must be certified by an OPM QRB before appointment may occur.

If the selected candidate does not have Qualifications Review Board (QRB) certification by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the individual will be required to undergo an ECQ based structured interview with OPM to determine that you meet the leadership competencies required to serve as a member of the SES.

Certification by the Office of Personnel Management's Qualifications Review Board is required to be appointed to this position.

Required Documents

***********************ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE UPLOADED IN PDF FORMAT*************************
A complete application includes 1. A resume 2. Vacancy Questionnaire Responses and 3. Submission of any required documents.

Please note
that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

1. RESUME: The new SES hiring process requires applicants to submit a two (2)-page resume which includes information regarding your professional experience and accomplishments that demonstrate you meet the ECQs and required MTQs.
If you submit more than two pages, the remainder of the pages will not be reviewed nor considered. Note: Applications must be presented in a font size and font style that is legible, preferably Times New Roman font, no less than 11-point size with no less than half an inch margin all around. Reviewers of your application must be able to read your resume or your application will be disqualified.

Your resume MUST contain specific information that can be used to make a qualification determination, including employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is Full-time or Part-time, or average number of hours worked per week, and position titles. If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level. The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience.

2. VACANCY QUESTION/ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES: Responses are automatically submitted through USA Jobs when you apply to this vacancy.

3. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable:

  • CURRENT OR FORMER SES MEMBERS: Must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and a SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility.
  • SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SESCDP) GRADUATES: Verification of successful completion of an OPM approved SESCDP and OPM SES QRB certification.
  • CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE: Must provide a copy of a SF-50 reflecting you are a current or former Federal Civil Service employee.
You may be asked to provide additional documentation to support your eligibility and the information provided in your application package. For example, we may request transcripts, SF-50s, SES Candidate Development Program certificate, etc. Therefore, we encourage you to have these documents prepared and ready when requested by the agency. If you fail to provide the required documents within the stated time period, we may withdraw a job offer and/or remove you from further consideration.

Applicants who fail to submit ALL required documents WILL NOT receive consideration for this position. Application will result in an "Incomplete/Ineligible" rating.

REMINDER: Before uploading your required PDF documents, please ensure the resume DOES NOT EXCEED the noted page limits.

You must submit all documentation by 11:59 pm EST on the closing date of this announcement to be eligible. All applicants are required to submit a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing. (Cover letters are optional)

We suggest you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your resume to ensure it supports your responses to the questions and TQs. Please view Resume Tips.

How to Apply

Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the entire announcement before submitting their application.

The following instructions outline our application process. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 04/06/2026. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon ET on 04/06/2026.

To preview the Application Questionnaire, please click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12918245

  • To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USA Jobs account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
  • Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package and submit the application. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
  • It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
  • Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account. There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: USAJOBS Help Center - How to see your application and job status

Agency contact information

Michelle Riordan
Email
Michelle.E.Riordan@irs.gov
Address
HQ - Office of the Commissioner
1111 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20224
US

Next steps

Once your application package and online questionnaire are received you will receive an acknowledgement email. You are responsible for checking status updates and notifications in USAJOBS. Hard copy notifications will not be sent to you. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My Account" tab and clicking on "Application Status." For a more detailed update of your application status, you may click on "more information." Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. If your email mailbox is full or blocked (SPAM) you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

The IRS is committed to affording reasonable accommodation in accordance with law and regulation. Some examples of reasonable accommodation include providing sign-language interpreters for persons who are Deaf or adaptive technology like screen-reader software for individuals who are blind or low vision. If you're a person with a disability and will require a reasonable accommodation, it is imperative you inform the IRS immediately of the need for accommodation to afford as much time as possible to make necessary arrangements. Requesting a reasonable accommodation will not affect this job offer, however, failure to inform the IRS of such a need may impact your ability to effectively participate in new-employee orientation and/or to begin performing your job duties. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact the Human Resource Specialist listed at the bottom of job offer letter immediately. In addition, please review Reasonable Accommodations, complete Form 13661 Reasonable Accommodation Request, and return it to the Reasonable Accommodation's email box at RA.Form.13661@irs.gov or send it by fax to 855-679-8653.

Our comprehensive benefits are very generous. Our benefits package includes:

  • Competitive salaries, bonuses and incentive awards.
  • 11 paid holidays, 13 days of sick leave, and 26 days of vacation leave each year.
  • Access to insurance programs that may be continued after you retire.
  • A wide choice of health insurance plans, coverage for pre-existing conditions, and no waiting periods. We pay a substantial amount (up to 75%) of health insurance premiums.
  • A retirement program which includes employer-matching contributions.
  • Learn more about Federal benefits programs at : Pay and Benefits.