External Affairs Specialist

Duties

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office for State and Local Law Enforcement (OSLLE). OSLLE leads the coordination of DHS-wide policies, programs, and initiatives related to state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement's role in the homeland security enterprise and serves as the primary liaison between DHS and non-Federal law enforcement agencies. The primary purpose of this position is to support the Director of Partner Engagement by building and maintaining partnerships with state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement for the purpose of supporting Department senior leadership engagements; sharing pertinent and timely information and resources with stakeholders; identifying the issues, concerns, and recommendations of non-federal law enforcement; and informing the Department's policies, programs, and initiatives with the perspective of state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement.

Support partnership and engagement portfolios with identified state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement organizations and agencies, including national associations, affinity groups, and state-based associations.

Support Department and/or OSLLE leadership with engagement and outreach efforts to state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement agencies and organizations. This includes identifying and developing engagement strategies and opportunities for DHS senior officials, coordinating logistics both prior to and during the engagement, and preparing briefing materials for DHS officials in advancement of the engagement.

Assist in the development, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of proactive strategies to promote a unified and consistent message of Department's priorities, initiatives, programs, and resources to state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement through various mediums.

Help to identify the issues, concerns, and recommendations of state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement that might impede their role in the homeland security enterprise or their response to DHS policies, programs, and initiatives.

Support the development, modification, or successful implementation of the Department's policies, programs, and initiatives based on external affairs insights. Clearly articulate and share law enforcement requirements and concerns in a timely manner, along with fully documented recommendations.

Develop and maintain relationships with other intra-agency and inter-agency offices in order to support external affairs activities.

Represent the Department and/or OSLLE in meetings and conferences involving audiences from other federal agencies, the White House, and state, local, tribal, territorial, or campus law enforcement executives.

Represent OSLLE in intra-agency working groups and other DHS meetings.

Critically review proposed legislation impacting agency-wide support of state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement's role in preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.

Research to provide specific supporting information or documentation for use in speeches, hearings, conferences, meetings, program review, written responses to inquiries from other components, agencies, and private sector.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a current permanent Federal employee
• Must have supervisory approval to apply to the Joint Duty Assignment. DHS 250-2 Application Form under "required documents" section.
• Must NOT have any pending/outstanding disciplinary actions
• Must have achieved a minimum of "meet expectations/proficiency" on latest performance appraisal/evaluation
• Must be currently at the grade level of the detail. *No Temporary Promotion Opportunity*
• The program does not apply to members of the Military service or contractors.

Qualifications

Qualifications required:

Ability to form working relationships with diverse audiences, including geographically and culturally diverse state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement elected and appointed officials and their staffs, associations that represent their interests, and criminal justice organizations.

Skill in educating and communicating orally and in writing with clarity, tact, and diplomacy to promote effective presentation of policies, priorities, programs, and activities to external stakeholders in various settings.

Ability to obtain cooperation and support to resolve issues among stakeholders within and outside an organization, including other federal organizations, external groups, and key government and private sector individuals that might impede state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement response to DHS policies, programs, and initiatives.

Expert written communication skills to prepare comprehensive reports, briefings materials, issue papers, and other documents in order to present specialized/technical material to non-specialists and DHS executives.

Knowledge of national trends, changing practices, analyses, and congressional actions affecting state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement sufficient to provide leadership with strategic guidance and advice on course of action and outreach to stakeholders.

Self-starter with the ability to multi-task and take on an assignment and/or portfolio and see it through to completion with minimal guidance.

Please read the following important information to ensure we have everything we need to consider your application:
It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit appropriate documentation prior to the closing date. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant experience as it relates to this Joint Duty assignment opportunity announcement.

Be clear and specific when describing your work history since human resources cannot make assumptions regarding your experience. Your application will be rated based on your resume.

Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information:

Job Title (Include series and grade of Federal Job)

Duties (Be specific in describing your duties)

Name of Federal agency

Supervisor name, email, and phone number

Start and end dates including month and year (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)

Education

EDUCATIONAL SUBSTITUTION: There is no educational substitution for this position.

Additional information

**DHS does not offer any additional benefits beyond that which the Federal employee is already receiving.

If the position requires a security clearance, employees must have a SECRET or TOP SECRET clearance to placement AND must maintain that level of clearance while performing in the position.

Selected applicants for a JDA are requested to fulfill the items below during the JDA:

Complete the DHS Training Course 15 days prior to the arrival to the JDA.

Complete the DHS Joint Duty Assignment Progress Plan to include:

• Phase 1: Establish assignment objectives within the first 30 days of the JDA.
• Phase 2: Complete a self-assessment of the duties performed at the mid-point of the JDA.
• Phase 3: Complete a final review within the last 30 days of the JDA.