Native American Affairs Advisor

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Native American Affairs Advisor. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, Billings, Montana, Lakewood, Colorado, Phoenix, Arizona, and Salt Lake City, Utah

This position is located in Reclamation's Native American and International Affairs Office (NAIAO), Commissioner's Office, Washington, DC. NAIAO serves as the focal point for development and dissemination of policy, guidance, and technical assistance used to implement Reclamation's Native American Affairs Program consistent with applicable laws and policies.

• Plans, develops, implements and measures compliance with a system of internal controls for Reclamation's Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (P.L. 93-638) program.

• Analyzes, interprets and applies standards developed by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Office of Management and Budget, Reclamation and Department of the Interior (DOI/Departmental) internal controls and other requirements.

• Develops Reclamation policies, internal controls, best practices, guidance, and tools through collaboration and negotiation with regional P.L. 93-638 practitioners, Awarding Officials, and senior Reclamation managers.

• Reviews, assesses risks, and makes recommendations for proposed regional P.L. 93-638 awards (including amendments thereof) and programs; works with Regional 638 contracting personnel to minimize and mitigate risk in regional 638 contracts and annual funding agreements.

• Provides technical expertise to and collaborates with legal staff in DOI's Office of the Solicitor -Indian Affairs and outlying offices. Provides thorough advice and guidance on P.L. 93-638 statutory and regulatory interpretations and best practices of complex P.L. 93-638 Title I construction contracts and Tribal Self-Governance Title IV annual funding agreement terms and conditions.

• Supports and provides comprehensive policy guidance and advice and prepares issue papers (briefing papers and information documents) to Departmental leaders, other bureaus and agencies, Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners and other senior Reclamation Leadership.

• Acts as a Liaison between the Commissioner's office and regional staff on a wide range of complex and sensitive topics relating to Reclamation's Native American Affairs Program.

• Conducts in-depth review and analysis of legislative packages and policies pertaining to Indian issues that have Reclamation-wide and Departmental-wide implications.

• Formulates, assembles and transmits written comments and oral summaries to the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners, and other senior Reclamation managers.

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume.

To qualify at the GS-13 grade level, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-12 grade level in federal service having demonstrated experience which includes: 1) Developing and administering P.L. 93-638 tribal self-determination contracts and/or self-governance agreements, and; 2) Conducting peer reviews and providing recommendations on P.L. 93-638 tribal self-determination contracts or self-governance agreements, or financial assistance agreements, or acquisition/FAR contracts, and 3) Developing guidance for internal agency policies and/or regional procedures related to P.L. 93-638 tribal self-determination contracts or self-governance agreements, or financial assistance agreements, or acquisition/FAR contracts.

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.

Time-In-Grade: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower-grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).

You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors if applicable, by 05/02/2024.