Legislative Affairs Officer Job in Gaithersburg, MD

Vacancy No. DO-100-26-12940962 Department National Institute of Standards and Technology
Salary $169,279.00 to $197,200.00 Grade 5 to 5
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 4/21/2026 Close Date 4/27/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Gaithersburg, MD


Summary

This role serves as the critical bridge between NIST's scientific mission and the federal legislative process, ensuring the agency has the authorities and funding necessary to drive American innovation.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Congressional & Legislative Affairs Office is seeking a Program Analyst to lead the agency's engagement with Congress and oversee the development of its annual legislative agenda.

This job is open to

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarification from the agency

CTAP/ICTAP eligibles only

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Leading the creation of the annual NIST legislative package, navigating the complex multi-stage clearance process through NIST, DOC, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
  • Serving as the "face" of NIST on Capitol Hill, building and maintaining relationships with Members of Congress and key committee staff.
  • Actively garnering Congressional support for NIST initiatives, budget requests, and shifts in science/technology policy.
  • Providing high-level counsel to NIST and Department of Commerce (DOC) leadership regarding Congressional actions that could impact the agency's mission or jurisdiction.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. citizenship
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Suitable for Federal employment
  • Completion of Confidential Financial Disclosure, Form OGE-450
  • Designated and/or random drug testing required
  • Bargaining Unit Position: No
  • Obtain and Maintain Top Secret/SCI clearance

Qualifications

This position requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 (ZA-IV at NIST) level. Specialized experience is defined as:
Experience leading legislative, intergovernmental, and external affairs for organizations responsible for scientific research, engineering, standards, laboratory programs, industrial competitiveness, cybersecurity, or emerging technologies; advising senior leadership on congressional strategy; and assessing legislative or budget proposals with enterprise-wide impact.


Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook.

If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site:
Applicant Reconsideration

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

This position is covered under NIST's Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS), a pay-for-performance system with excellent HR flexibilities to help NIST recruit and retain top talent. Learn more about the APMS here!

A probationary period may be required.

This position requires the passing of a drug test

This position requires the filing of an OGE-450 Confidential Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of onboarding and annually thereafter

We may share your application package with other selecting officials at NIST with opportunities like this one. Additional selections may be made through this vacancy.

NIST strives to build a flexible and encouraging work environment to bring out the best in our employees. To help our employees balance responsibilities at home and at work, NIST offers a variety of work-life flexibilities. For more information, please visit our Careers website.

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.

How you will be evaluated: We will review your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documents to assess your qualifications for this position. Please be sure that your resume and supporting documents include detailed information to support your qualifications for this position. Failure to provide sufficient and/or legible evidence in your resume or supporting documents may result in a "not qualified" determination.

CTAP or ICTAP eligibility: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP), you must be determined eligible and rated as well-qualified to receive special selection priority. "Well Qualified" means that in addition to meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective placement factor(s), if applicable, you must receive a score of 85 or higher. Please review the following site regarding required documents to support CTAP or ICTAP eligibility and additional information regarding this authority - CTAP/ICTAP Eligibility

Required Documents

The documents required may vary based on how you're applying (i.e., as a veteran or disabled veteran, current or former Federal employee, etc.). Please review the Required Documents for this position to find out if there are any documents required with your application. Failure to submit required documents, based upon how you apply, may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.

A complete application includes: 1) A resume (not to exceed two pages), 2) vacancy question responses regarding technical qualifications, and 3) submission of any required documents. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, or if the documents submitted are illegible you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).

Resume: All applicants must submit a resume by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their choosing. Please prepare a resume no longer than 2 pages; only the first 2 pages will be considered during the review process. Ensure your font is 11 points or larger and upload your resume as a .pdf document. This helps ensure your formatting looks exactly the way you intended. Cover letters are optional. To receive any credit for relevant experience, please list the month/year and the number of hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We suggest you review the qualification requirements for this position as you may need to customize your resume to ensure that it supports the position qualifications. Please refer to the Resume Guidance on how to build an effective resume.

How to Apply

Click 'Apply' and we'll walk you through a multi-step process to attach a resume and any required documents. While working an application, you may review, edit, delete and update information. We'll automatically save progress made as you go, so any changes won't be lost.

Application Tips

Need help applying?

  • If you are experiencing any difficulties with the online application process (anything after you have clicked the 'Apply Online' button), please contact the Agency Contact listed on this announcement between regular business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET). If you receive any kind of error message, please be ready to provide a screenshot or, at a minimum, the error message text and number.We will provide you with a technical support number for further assistance if necessary.
  • If you are having trouble with USAJOBS (searching for jobs, account password/profile issues, or Resume Builder), please visit the USAJOBS Resource Center. We regret that we are unable to support any issues with USAJOBS, as this service is not maintained by the NIST.
  • If you are experiencing a significant hardship that hinders your ability to apply online, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this announcement prior to the vacancy closing date and during regular business hours to discuss your situation.

Agency contact information

Kristine Noza
Email
kristinejane.noza@nist.gov
Address
NIST Office of the Director
100 Bureau Drive
Building 101/Room A1137
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
US

Next steps

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

We will update applicant statuses when:

  • A qualification determination is made. If found not qualified/eligible, no additional updates will be provided.
  • Applications are referred to the selecting official.
  • A selection decision has been made.
Please notify us if your contact information changes after announcement's closing date. Also, note that if you provide an inaccurate email address or if your mailbox is full or blocked (e.g., spam-blocker), you may not receive important communication, which could affect your consideration for this position.

National Institute of Standards and Technology

NIST works with industry and science to advance innovation and improve quality of life.

Agency contact information

Kristine Noza
Email
kristinejane.noza@nist.gov
Address
NIST Office of the Director
100 Bureau Drive
Building 101/Room A1137
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at National Institute of Standards and Technology, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.nist.gov/careers