Chief, Congressional Affairs

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Major duties

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.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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.