This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary,Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations, Arlington, VA.
The Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program) implements the land consolidation component of the Cobell Settlement, which provided $1.9 billion to purchase fractional interests in trust or restricted land from willing sellers at fair market value. Consolidated interests are immediately restored to tribal trust ownership for uses benefiting the reservation community and tribal members.
If selected for this position, you will serve as the Public Affairs Specialist for the Buy-Back Program. At the full performance level (GS-13), the Public Affairs Specialist will develop, execute, and evaluate a comprehensive communications program. The successful candidate will oversee day-to-day communications activities of the Buy-Back Program and will work in close collaboration with the Program Director, Deputy Program Director, and/or their supervisor on the development and implementation of strategic internal and external communications strategies and messaging.
This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.
Salary Information GS-11 - $66,510 – 86,460 per annum. GS-12 - $79,720 - $103,639 per annum. GS-13 - $94,796 - $123,234 per annum. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level.
This vacancy is also announced as OS-1000-17-LC-141(MP) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Merit Promotion procedures.
OS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
This is a Term full-time appointment not to exceed 4 years.
Summary
This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary,Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations, Arlington, VA.
The Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program) implements the land consolidation component of the Cobell Settlement, which provided $1.9 billion to purchase fractional interests in trust or restricted land from willing sellers at fair market value. Consolidated interests are immediately restored to tribal trust ownership for uses benefiting the reservation community and tribal members.
If selected for this position, you will serve as the Public Affairs Specialist for the Buy-Back Program. At the full performance level (GS-13), the Public Affairs Specialist will develop, execute, and evaluate a comprehensive communications program. The successful candidate will oversee day-to-day communications activities of the Buy-Back Program and will work in close collaboration with the Program Director, Deputy Program Director, and/or their supervisor on the development and implementation of strategic internal and external communications strategies and messaging.
This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.
Salary Information GS-11 - $66,510 – 86,460 per annum. GS-12 - $79,720 - $103,639 per annum. GS-13 - $94,796 - $123,234 per annum. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level.
This vacancy is also announced as OS-1000-17-LC-141(MP) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Merit Promotion procedures.
OS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
This is a Term full-time appointment not to exceed 4 years.
At the full performance level (GS-13) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Plan, coordinate, oversee, and direct externally facing communications, media relations, stakeholder education partnerships, public outreach, web communications and internal communications. 2. Serve as an information manager responsible for developing and managing complex public information and outreach activities, including the development of communication policies, goals and objectives; and determining appropriate outreach methodologies and techniques to drive broader awareness of the program. 3. Develop communications plans, news releases, talking points, fact sheets, briefing documents, and other materials. 4. Identify needs for, design, socialize, and distribute materials to facilitate and support outreach efforts (e.g., brochures, flyers, posters, videos, etc.). Maintain the Program’s collection of outreach materials to ensure updates as necessary. Ensure the timely ordering, tracking, and distribution of outreach materials. 5. Research, coordinate, and write responses to inquiries made to the program (e.g., inquiries received via the program email account or other correspondence).
You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination
You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit
You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire
You must be a U.S. Citizen
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 http://www.sss.gov/.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualification Requirements:
To qualify for this position you must meet the Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.
Specialized Experience GS-11
To qualify for the GS-11, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Planning, coordinating, and implementing comprehensive communication and outreach plans to convey information regarding an organizational program on a national level; 2) Developing written and other materials (e.g., brochures, fact sheets, talking points, press releases, website content, advertisements, videos) to convey information concerning a program to stakeholders with diverse levels of understanding of the program; and 3) Utilizing the press to promote and support organizational activities and objectives. Experience must include responding to press inquiries. -OR- Education: Completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M., if related. -OR- Combination: Have a combination of specialized experience and education that equals 100% of the requirement for the GS-11 level.
Specialized Experience GS-12
To qualify for the GS-12, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Planning, coordinating, and implementing comprehensive communication and outreach plans to convey information regarding an organizational program on a national level; 2) Developing written and other materials (e.g., brochures, fact sheets, talking points, press releases, website content, advertisements, videos) to convey information concerning a program to stakeholders with diverse levels of understanding of the program; 3) Utilizing the press to promote and support organizational activities and objectives. Experience must include responding to press inquiries independently and coordinating response activities with management, staff and/or stakeholders; and 4) Developing program communication goals, objectives and policies.
Specialized Experience GS-13
To qualify for the GS-13, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: 1) Planning, coordinating, and implementing comprehensive communication and outreach plans to convey information regarding an organizational program on a national level; 2) Developing written and other materials (e.g., brochures, fact sheets, talking points, press releases, website content, advertisements, videos) to convey information concerning a program to stakeholders with diverse levels of understanding of the program; 3) Utilizing the press to promote and support organizational activities and objectives. Experience must include responding to press inquiries independently and coordinating response activities with management, staff and/or stakeholders; 4) Developing program communication goals, objectives and policies; and 5) Developing internal communications strategies and processes.
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements.
Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4
Additional information
Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.
Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.
The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
Important Note: All Department of the Interior (DOI) employees are subject to the conflict of interest restrictions imposed upon all employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and may be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report. In addition, DOI employees, GS-15 and above, who work in the Office of the Secretary; along with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) employees (at ALL grade levels), are further restricted concerning their interests in Federal lands and resources administered or controlled by the Department of the Interior. This includes holding stock in energy corporations which lease Federal lands (e.g.: oil, gas, coal, alternative energy resources, etc.). If you have any such investments you should contact the DOI, BOEM or BSEE Ethics Office before accepting employment. DOI employees are held to the highest level of integrity. Employees must be objective and impartial in the performance of their work. All potential issues (e.g.: work-related interactions with friends, family members, or previous employers) must be disclosed at the time of application or during the interview process.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. You are being evaluated under the Category Rating method, which means, if you are determined to be qualified you will be placed in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are “Platinum”, “Gold”, and “Silver”. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the “Platinum” category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview. Veterans' preference rules for category rating will be applied.
Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:
1. Public Information and Outreach - Skill in interacting with members of the press and skill in developing and maintaining communications through websites. 2. Plan and Organize Work – Ability to plan, coordinate, and implement communication and outreach plans to convey information regarding complex programs of national scope and significance. 3. Pressure and Deadlines – Ability to be responsive to a demanding customer base consisting of internal and external stakeholders, and independently resolve conflicting time restraints. 4. Written Communication – Skill in developing written materials to convey information concerning the most complex programs and functions to stakeholders with diverse levels of understanding of programs and activities. 5. Multimedia Communication – Ability to plan, coordinate, oversee, and direct externally facing communications, media relations, stakeholder partnerships, public outreach, web communications, and internal communications.
If you are a status applicant (current career or career-conditional Federal employee or former permanent Federal employee with reinstatement eligibility in the competitive service), or are eligible under a special appointing authority and you are selected under this vacancy, you may be subject to serving a new one-year probationary period.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Your resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement and OPM qualification standards for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. It is strongly recommended that you use the USAJobs Resume Builder as it was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. The Resume Builder is available at https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/How_to_create_your_resume
Your application package must include: (1) Resume showing relevant experience as written in your own words; (2) Completed online Assessment Questionnaire; (3) Certificates, license, etc. (if applicable); (4) Form DD-214 OR VA letter and Standard Form 15 (if applicable); (5) Transcripts (if applicable).
You will find additional information on the following topics: (1) e-Verify; (2) Selective Service; (3) CTAP/ICTAP; (4) Education – accreditation; (5) Foreign education; (6) Veterans preference; (7) Special appointing authority documentation; and more can be found on our web site: http://www.bsee.gov/About-BSEE/Jobs/USAJobs-Assistance OR http://www.boem.gov/USAJobs-Assistance/ .
If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, you must submit proof by the closing date of the announcement that you meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP or you will not receive priority consideration. The proof includes a copy of the agency notice, your most recent Performance Rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty station. To be considered well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, you must earn a minimum score of 85 or above (prior to the assignment of veteran's preference) on the rating criteria for this position.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.
To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.
If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Monster Help Desk by e-mail at mgshelp@monster.com or by phone at 866-656-6831. The help desk is available Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.
Office of the Secretary of the Interior
1849 C Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20240
United States
Next steps
You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJobs account. You will receive an acknowledgment from USAJobs that your submission was successful, once we have received your on-line assessment questionnaire, resume and any supporting documentation. You will be notified of the status of your application via your USAJobs account after we conduct a qualification review of your complete application package. You will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Your resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement and OPM qualification standards for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. It is strongly recommended that you use the USAJobs Resume Builder as it was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. The Resume Builder is available at https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/How_to_create_your_resume
Your application package must include: (1) Resume showing relevant experience as written in your own words; (2) Completed online Assessment Questionnaire; (3) Certificates, license, etc. (if applicable); (4) Form DD-214 OR VA letter and Standard Form 15 (if applicable); (5) Transcripts (if applicable).
You will find additional information on the following topics: (1) e-Verify; (2) Selective Service; (3) CTAP/ICTAP; (4) Education – accreditation; (5) Foreign education; (6) Veterans preference; (7) Special appointing authority documentation; and more can be found on our web site: http://www.bsee.gov/About-BSEE/Jobs/USAJobs-Assistance OR http://www.boem.gov/USAJobs-Assistance/ .
If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, you must submit proof by the closing date of the announcement that you meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP or you will not receive priority consideration. The proof includes a copy of the agency notice, your most recent Performance Rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty station. To be considered well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, you must earn a minimum score of 85 or above (prior to the assignment of veteran's preference) on the rating criteria for this position.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents.
To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.
If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Monster Help Desk by e-mail at mgshelp@monster.com or by phone at 866-656-6831. The help desk is available Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.
Office of the Secretary of the Interior
1849 C Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20240
United States
Next steps
You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJobs account. You will receive an acknowledgment from USAJobs that your submission was successful, once we have received your on-line assessment questionnaire, resume and any supporting documentation. You will be notified of the status of your application via your USAJobs account after we conduct a qualification review of your complete application package. You will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
