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Public Affairs Specialist, ZA-1035-03 (DE/CR)

Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AKC), Operations Management and Information Division, in Seattle, Washington.

This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. The ZP-03 is equivalent to the GS-11/12.

The full performance for this position is ZP-03.

This position is also announced under vacancy number NMFS-AKC-2017-0011, which is open to status candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

*A one year probationary/trial period may be required.
*Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.
*This position is not in the bargaining unit.

NOTE:
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill other Public Affairs Specialist, ZA-1035-03 positions throughout NOAA. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locations, same grade/band requires the same qualifications as indicated in this vacancy announcement).

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
07/05/2017 to 02/15/2018
Salary
$65,014 to - $101,307 per year
Pay scale & grade
ZA 3
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Seattle, WA
1 vacancy
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time - Career Conditional/Career
Service
Promotion potential
3
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Announcement number
NMFS-AKC-2017-0012
Control number
473754400

This job is open to

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Duties

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The individual selected for this position will:

  • Write, edit and post content on website and social media in a timely manner and evaluate effectiveness of internal and external communications materials including web stories, scripts, news releases, op-eds and other communications materials.
  • Establish and maintain mutual and positive relationships with the media to encourage understanding and support of agency programs, policies, procedures and initiatives.
  • Produce short-format video productions derived from complex scientific information for broad audience via web and social media, including script writing, shoot logistics, filming, editing and distribution.
  • Monitor and regularly report web and social media analytics to evaluate the effectiveness of communications efforts, adjusting strategies as necessary.
  • Represent agency in education and outreach efforts to improve public knowledge of agency programs, activities, mission, policies and objectives, by providing photographic, video filming and social media support.
  • Plan and coordinate the agency’s living marine resource campaigns, outreach efforts and management actions.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National to apply.
  • Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
  • Must be suitable for Federal employment.
  • Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
  • Qualifications requirements must be met by closing date of announcement.

College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.


Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the Federal government.

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.

To qualify at the ZA-03:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to ZA-02 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Writing, editing, and reviewing materials to appear in publications, reports, periodicals, etc.
  • Serving as Web Content/Social Media/Video Production Specialist.
  • Representing agency in education and outreach efforts to improve public knowledge of agency programs.
  • Monitoring and reporting on web and social media analytics to evaluate the effectiveness of communications efforts.
-OR-

3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

Additional information

ICTAP candidates will be eligible 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 ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition

ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

  1. A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
  2. A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action” documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
NOAA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions) and place you in one of the three pre-defined categories. The categories are “gold”, “silver” and “bronze”. However, your resume or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational 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 eligible with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold) depending on the position and grade level of the job. For more information on Category Rating, please go to Category Rating.

The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

  • Skill in written communication, including techniques and methods.
  • Skill in developing and delivering messages on agency programs, policies, procedures, or initiatives to audiences with differing levels of comprehension.
  • Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with groups interested in or affected by agency programs or policies.
  • Ability to respond timely and appropriately to request for information concerning agency programs, services or responsibilities.
  • Ability to convey highly technical material to both technical and non-technical audiences in public and private sectors.
  • Knowledge of audio-visual production and distribution, equipment function, contracting and monitoring procedures.
  • Knowledge of and ability to use interpersonal skills needed to negotiate with others to accept recommendations, to cooperate, or change their.
  • Ability to evaluate and analyze a range of situations and issues to determine their news worthiness and potential public reaction.

To preview questions please click here.

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