Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on his/her expertise as a Public Affairs Specialist. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.
As a Public Affairs Specialist you will represent the agency as a liaison with Federal and non-Federal agencies, stakeholders groups and other non-Governmental agencies. Responsibilities include management of Relcamation public affairs program, including supporting the formulation and articulation of policy and the execution of media relations, audiovisual, and publications programs.
LOCATION: Public Affairs Group; Office of External and Intergovernmental Affairs in Washington, DC.
DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
Summary
Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on his/her expertise as a Public Affairs Specialist. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.
As a Public Affairs Specialist you will represent the agency as a liaison with Federal and non-Federal agencies, stakeholders groups and other non-Governmental agencies. Responsibilities include management of Relcamation public affairs program, including supporting the formulation and articulation of policy and the execution of media relations, audiovisual, and publications programs.
LOCATION: Public Affairs Group; Office of External and Intergovernmental Affairs in Washington, DC.
DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
This announcement has been extended to July 9, 2018.
Current Bureau of Reclamation Federal employees serving under competitive service career or career-conditional appointments.
For this position, the incumbent is responsible for the following job duties to include but not limited to:
Responsible for producing informational materials that inform Congress, stakeholders, Federal, state and local agencies, and the general public about Reclamation's mission. Writes, edits and reviews news releases, issue papers, letters, brochures and other materials. Responds to inquiries from news media and coordinates media interviews.
Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation;
You must meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions, by the closing date of this announcement.
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).
Qualifications
A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as:
GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal Government. Specialized experience includes planning, executing or evaluating communications campaigns to convey information to an organization’s internal or external audiences; establishing effective working relationships with media, senior managers and subject matter experts to ensure an agency’s mission, goals and activities are clearly communicated; writing news releases, talking points, speeches, blog and/or social media posts or other content for media or the public; planning and executing special events; using digital communications tools; assisting with providing senior leadership and staff media training. Professional public affairs work experience includes verbally communicating, writing clearly and concisely, translating written public affairs content and interpreting oral communication.
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.
You must meet all the qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement. You may review the qualification requirements here. (Administrative and Management Positions)
Education
This vacancy announcement does not allow substituting education for experience.
Additional information
More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.
The Bureau of Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
All males born after December 31, 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page,Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
If selected for this position, your appointment is contingent upon completion of OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment, during the pre-employment process.
If selected, you will be required to complete a questionnaire and are subject to a criminal background check to determine suitability for Federal employment before appointment.
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.
Human Resources (HR) will review resumes and supporting documentation, to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided in the assessment questionnaire. The assessment questionnaire will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Applicants determined best qualified will be referred to the selecting official.
Applicants will be further evaluated on the following “Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)” through your resume and responses to the online questionaire.
1. Skill in developing and writing a variety of materials including articles, news releases, speeches, communication plans and strategies, and memoranda with limited information.
2. Knowledge and skill for speaking to groups in explaining Reclamation's programs and mission.
3. Skill in conducting news media visits, press conferences, and public and news media tours to develop intercommunication between Reclamation and the public.
Applicants must make a fair and accurate assessment of their qualifications. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is apparent in your description of experience, competencies, skills, and/or education/training OR that your resume/application is incomplete, you may be rated ineligible or your score may be lowered. To preview questions please click here.
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.
To be considered for this position, applicants are required to submit a resume (with dates of employment, i.e. years and months, schedule, i.e. hours worked, and grade if federal employment (demonstrating specialized experience and supporting responses to the online questionnaire)), completion of the online assessment, and the following supporting documents, as appropriate:
--SF-50, NOTIFICATION OF PERSONNEL ACTION: Status applicants (transfer, reassignment, reinstatement, promotion, etc.) MUST submit a copy of their SF-50s), verifying all of the following: highest rate of pay held, the full performance grade level obtained or competed for, and documentation of your current career or career-conditional status in the competitive service (Tenure 1 or 2) for which you are claiming eligibility. This could result in more than one SF-50 to be submitted. FAILURE TO SUBMIT AN SF-50 VERIFYING STATUS WILL RESULT IN THE APPLICANT NOT BEING CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. DO NOT SUBMIT AWARD SF-50s.
--DD-214, CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE FROM ACTIVE DUTY: If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214, and you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency.
--For candidates eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) you must submit the appropriate DD-214 (Member 4 Copy) documenting your eligibility.
--CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified, i.e. meet the minimum qualification requirements, including selective factors, education and experience requirements and score at least 90 on the assessment questionnaire as established, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP/ICTAP, visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
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.
Applications (resume and assessment questionnaire) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. When you're ready to apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the side of the page.
This vacancy is being announced through Bureau of Reclamation's Hiring System--HireMe. For more information about the HireMe system and the registration process, visit: http://www.usbr.gov/hr/hireme.html
As part of the on-line application process, applicants may be required to submit supporting documents. Failure to submit the requested supporting documents may result in your not being considered for this position.
Options for submitting supporting documentation include Auto Requested Fax or uploading from your USAJOBS profile - instructions provided during the online application process. In addition, you may E-mail your supporting documentation to CODO@usbr.gov, fax directly to the HR Office at 303-445-6349, mail to PO Box 25007, Denver, CO 80225-0007 -or- Hand-deliver to Denver Federal Center, Building 67, Room 348, Denver, Colorado. Include your name and the vacancy number on the supporting document(s).
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at the phone number shown at the bottom of this page. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
P.O. Box 25007
DFC, Bldg. 67
Attn: 84-52200
Denver, Colorado 80225-0007
United States
Next steps
After all application packages have been received, resumes and supporting documentation will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Each applicant who meets the basic qualifications will be further evaluated on the information provided in the Assessment Questionnaire. Best-qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official. After making a tentative job offer, a suitability and/or security background investigation will be conducted. A final job offer is typically made within 40 days after the deadline for applications. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation, by regularly checking their public status notifications in their USAJOBS profile.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To be considered for this position, applicants are required to submit a resume (with dates of employment, i.e. years and months, schedule, i.e. hours worked, and grade if federal employment (demonstrating specialized experience and supporting responses to the online questionnaire)), completion of the online assessment, and the following supporting documents, as appropriate:
--SF-50, NOTIFICATION OF PERSONNEL ACTION: Status applicants (transfer, reassignment, reinstatement, promotion, etc.) MUST submit a copy of their SF-50s), verifying all of the following: highest rate of pay held, the full performance grade level obtained or competed for, and documentation of your current career or career-conditional status in the competitive service (Tenure 1 or 2) for which you are claiming eligibility. This could result in more than one SF-50 to be submitted. FAILURE TO SUBMIT AN SF-50 VERIFYING STATUS WILL RESULT IN THE APPLICANT NOT BEING CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. DO NOT SUBMIT AWARD SF-50s.
--DD-214, CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE FROM ACTIVE DUTY: If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you must provide a copy of your DD-214, and you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency.
--For candidates eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) you must submit the appropriate DD-214 (Member 4 Copy) documenting your eligibility.
--CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, applicants must be well-qualified, i.e. meet the minimum qualification requirements, including selective factors, education and experience requirements and score at least 90 on the assessment questionnaire as established, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP/ICTAP, visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
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.
Applications (resume and assessment questionnaire) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington D.C. time) on the closing date of this announcement. When you're ready to apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the side of the page.
This vacancy is being announced through Bureau of Reclamation's Hiring System--HireMe. For more information about the HireMe system and the registration process, visit: http://www.usbr.gov/hr/hireme.html
As part of the on-line application process, applicants may be required to submit supporting documents. Failure to submit the requested supporting documents may result in your not being considered for this position.
Options for submitting supporting documentation include Auto Requested Fax or uploading from your USAJOBS profile - instructions provided during the online application process. In addition, you may E-mail your supporting documentation to CODO@usbr.gov, fax directly to the HR Office at 303-445-6349, mail to PO Box 25007, Denver, CO 80225-0007 -or- Hand-deliver to Denver Federal Center, Building 67, Room 348, Denver, Colorado. Include your name and the vacancy number on the supporting document(s).
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at the phone number shown at the bottom of this page. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
P.O. Box 25007
DFC, Bldg. 67
Attn: 84-52200
Denver, Colorado 80225-0007
United States
Next steps
After all application packages have been received, resumes and supporting documentation will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Each applicant who meets the basic qualifications will be further evaluated on the information provided in the Assessment Questionnaire. Best-qualified applicants will be referred to the selecting official. After making a tentative job offer, a suitability and/or security background investigation will be conducted. A final job offer is typically made within 40 days after the deadline for applications. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation, by regularly checking their public status notifications in their USAJOBS profile.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
