Summary This vacancy is for a Tribal Relations Specialist position with the Department of Commerce, U. S. Census Bureau, assigned to multiple Census Regional Offices. The duty station will be the selectee's home address.
This position is designated as mobile work and will require the incumbent to travel overnight throughout their assigned geographic area, and outside the assigned geographic area when needed, to carry out the duties and responsibilities associated with this position. Duties Develops and maintains partnerships with tribal governments, tribal community-based organizations, faith-based groups, schools, media outlets, businesses, and other grassroots entities in tribal communities within the assigned geographic area. | Conducts research and analysis of the geographic area using tribal data. | Assists in the development of an American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) outreach plan. | Conducts workshops, presentations, and seminars that include tribal data to support the building of tribal partnerships for field operations.
Qualifications
To qualify for the position of Tribal Relations Specialist, at GS-0301-7/9/11/12, you must meet the basic qualification requirements listed below.
Specialized Experience:
For the GS-07, you must have one year at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service.
Experience for this position includes assisting senior staff or community leaders in establishing public relations, community outreach, or organizational partnerships; assisting with preliminary geographic or demographic research; preparing informational or promotional materials for distinct community groups; and supporting the coordination of field operations, public workshops, and standard promotional presentations.
OR
One full year of graduate-level education; or superior academic achievement; master's or equivalent graduate degree.
For the GS-09, you must have one year at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service.
Experience for this position includes assisting with the development and coordination of collaborative partnerships and community outreach activities with Tribal Nations; conducting basic research or preliminary geographic area analysis to support operational planning; participating in public outreach by helping conduct workshops, standard presentations, or informational booths; and maintaining routine partnership agreements by tracking commitments and addressing straightforward stakeholder inquiries.
OR
Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D., if related; Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
For the GS-11, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service.
Experience for this position includes assisting with the planning and carrying out the day-to-day implementation of tribal outreach program goals and objectives; utilizing demographic or tribal data collection processes to conduct preliminary analyses of specific geographic areas; providing direct support to monitor standard partnership agreements and address routine questions or stakeholder concerns; and organizing, tailoring, and delivering standard speeches, presentations, or workshops aimed at gaining cooperation, building community support, and upholding the government-to-government relationship with Tribal Nations.
OR
Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.M., if related.
For the GS-12, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service.
Experience for this position includes planning, implementing, and evaluating the goals and objectives of a tribal outreach program; using tribal data collection processes for specific geographic areas; providing support to answer questions and or concerns regarding the partnership agreements; developing, organizing and delivering speeches, presentations, and workshops for the purpose of gaining cooperation, support and upholding the government-to-government relationship with Tribal Nations.
Education cannot be substituted for experience at this grade level.
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.
After you submit this application, you will receive an e-mail informing you that a USA Hire assessment is required. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement, 11/06/2026, to complete the assessment as this assessment is part of your application. How you will be evaluated Category Rating Procedures: If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the job opportunity announcement and scoring requirements for all applicable assessments, you will be placed in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are "gold," "silver," and "bronze." Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the "gold" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.
How you will be evaluated for preference eligibility: Within each category, those entitled to veterans' preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed. Preference eligibles with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold).
For more information on category rating, please go to: OPM: Competitive Hiring - Category Rating
Online Assessment: Applicants must complete the online USA Hire Competency Based Assessments measuring critical general competencies required to perform the job. Examples used in the assessment may include general situations not directly related to this position.
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
CTAP and ICTAP candidates: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website, The Employee's Guide to Career Transition.
You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
- Attention to Detail
- Customer Service
- Decision Making
- Flexibility
- Integrity/Honesty
- Interpersonal Skills
- Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Reasoning
- Self-Management
- Stress Tolerance
- Teamwork
Do NOT include the following types of information in your application, if included on your resume you will not be considered for this position:
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Date of Birth (DOB)
- Photos of yourself
- Personal information: such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process.
To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13100421. How to apply Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/06/2026to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
- Click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
- Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
- If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
- Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
- Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
- Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
- Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USA JOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit USAJOBS Help Center - How to see your application and job status.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online; however, if you are unable to apply online, please email the agency contact. Other information Applicants who apply under this Job Opportunity Announcement may opt-in (at their request) to allow the sharing of their resume, and other associated documents with other Federal Agencies who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade and pay band (or its equivalent), and full performance level in the same duty location or commuting area of the duty location listed on the Job Opportunity Announcement.
Individuals who have received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment, otherwise known as a buyout, must repay that incentive if they are reemployed by the Federal Government within five years of separation.
Additionally, the following links provide information on various hiring authorities that do not fall under competitive examining procedures; however, they may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.
- VRA (GS-11 or below)
- VEOA (permanent positions)
- 30% or more disabled veteran
- Military Spouse
- Persons with disabilities
- CTAP
- ICTAP
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
The Department of Commerce also provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources Office. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users can contact the Human Resources Office via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.