Social Insurance Specialist (Congressional Program and Administrative Policy Analyst)

Summary

The Congressional Program and Administrative Policy Analyst in Law & Policy (LP) Legislative Affairs supports the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Social Security, the Chief of Law & Policy, and other agency executives and staff in a wide variety of complex, and highly sensitive duties.

Duties

Provides advice to Senior Analyst, Director, and agency executives on a wide variety of SSA legal and policy areas, including Retirement, Survivors and Disability benefit programs, program administration, (Cont'd) needs-based programs (e.g., SSI), Medicare, and/or budget, finance or administrative issues such as human resources, data exchange, and service delivery. Assists Senior Analyst, Director, and agency executives with preparing agency witnesses to testify before Congress, including developing strategies for handling sensitive issues, (Cont'd) drafting agency testimony, key messages and talking points, preparing briefing materials, including electronic and hard copy briefing books, key messages, crib sheets and Questions and Answers. Analyzes sensitive, confidential and pre-decisional legislative proposals under consideration by SSA executives, the OMB, and Congress; evaluates the need for changes and the feasibility of the proposal, drafts work products that analyze proposals, (Cont'd) identify and address technical problems and possible unintended consequences, and evaluates conformity with SSA program goals. Prepares recommendations on such proposals for internal and external (i.e., Congress, OMB) stakeholders. As needed, work may be subject to review by the Senior Analyst and Director. Collaborates with staff across components on a variety of projects and assignments. Attends meetings as a LP, Legislative Affairs representative and, when directed, provides guidance and advice to staff, managers, and executives on issues that could generate Congressional or media attention.

Qualifications and evaluation

The evaluation you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire, which is designed to capture the desired competencies for this position. These competencies include: Applicants will be rated based on the following knowledge, skills, and abilities: Knowledge of federal legislative and regulatory process. Skill in written and oral communication. Skill in data analysis and making well-reasoned recommendations. Skill establishing and maintaining effective working relationships. Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. The questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. To preview the questions, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13001164 Your application will be evaluated under the Category Rating method, based on your responses to the Assessment Questions. If you meet the basic requirements for the position, your application will be evaluated and placed into one of three categories: 1 - Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements. 2 - Well Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a satisfactory level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. 3 - Best Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a high level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position. Candidates eligible for veterans' preference will be placed ahead of other candidates in the appropriate category for which they have been rated. Additionally, preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements will automatically be placed in the Best Qualified Category.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience at this grade level.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Your Resume The Occupational Questionnaire Additional Required Documents, if applicable (see Required Documents section) The complete Application Package must be submitted before midnight (EST) on 08/28/2026. To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. If you use assistive software or an adaptive device, or you are experiencing some other type of technical difficulty and/or otherwise require assistance with the application process, please contact Careers at SSA at Careers@ssa.gov and include the vacancy announcement number in the subject line of your email. Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities may use the listed email or 7-1-1 for TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services to call the listed phone number. Additional Telecommunications Relay Services options are available in each state: https://www.fcc.gov/general/trs-state-and-territories Due to our security procedures, our office will not accept any applications submitted via email or standard mail. The email address is listed only for inquiries about the position or the How to Apply process. To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log in to your USAJOBS account.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. Other documents supporting qualifications and/or preference, if applicable. You must submit ALL supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will not be considered. To be considered, your resume must: Be no longer than two pages Clearly demonstrate your qualifications for the position Include your contact information We recommend using a clear, easy-to-read format and focusing on information most relevant to the job announcement. RESUME: Include the following: 1) personal information including full name, and contact details; 2) work experience (paid and unpaid), including job title, series and grade level if Federal, detailed duties, employer's name, and start and end dates (mm/dd/yy) for each position, for part-time employment you must include the number of hours worked per week. Please note that providing the mm/dd/yy for all work experience is critical for evaluating your application. If actual dates are not known, provide your best-estimated timeframes. Please refer to How to Build a Resume for instructions. INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified category as described in the vacancy announcement. Candidates must also provide: proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action, (SF-50); and proof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent. For more information visit http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp. VETERANS' PREFERENCE: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD-214 member 4 copy preferred) or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty. To be acceptable, the document must contain dates and show Character of Service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15) and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Applicants claiming derived preference must submit the SF-15 and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received. Note: If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and are claiming preference under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days of the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, the character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by or under the direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders, or higher headquarters. For more information visit the Vet Guide.

Additional information

Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement. This is a non-bargaining unit position. The applicant must relocate to the selected city or be willing to commute. Relocation expenses will not be paid. Occasional travel may be required. This position is eligible for telework in accordance with agency policy. LOCALITY PAY: Salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions. Candidates currently receiving a higher locality pay than the office applied for are advised that should they be selected, they will lose entitlement to the higher locality pay. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: - your performance and conduct; - the needs and interests of the agency; - whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and - whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.