This position is located with the U.S. Census Bureau's Regional Census Center (RCC) located in Center City Philadelphia, PA. The Visual Information Specialist is responsible for developing partnership materials in support of the Decennial Census Operations for the RCC.
This is a temporary promotion opportunity not-to-exceed (NTE) 2 years. This position may be extended or terminated earlier at management's discretion. At the conclusion of the temporary promotion, the employee will return to their position of record (please refer to the "Note" in Who May Apply regarding return rights).
A trial period may be required.
This is a NON-BARGAINING unit position.
Relocation may be paid.
The work schedule for this position is Mixed Tour. With a Mixed Tour work schedule, an employee may be changed between full-time, part-time and intermittent work schedules to accommodate fluctuating workloads and is subject to a signed agreement.
Summary
This position is located with the U.S. Census Bureau's Regional Census Center (RCC) located in Center City Philadelphia, PA. The Visual Information Specialist is responsible for developing partnership materials in support of the Decennial Census Operations for the RCC.
This is a temporary promotion opportunity not-to-exceed (NTE) 2 years. This position may be extended or terminated earlier at management's discretion. At the conclusion of the temporary promotion, the employee will return to their position of record (please refer to the "Note" in Who May Apply regarding return rights).
A trial period may be required.
This is a NON-BARGAINING unit position.
Relocation may be paid.
The work schedule for this position is Mixed Tour. With a Mixed Tour work schedule, an employee may be changed between full-time, part-time and intermittent work schedules to accommodate fluctuating workloads and is subject to a signed agreement.
Responsible for creating visual materials and products covering a broad range of subject matter for census field operations.
Produces products that may include pictures for exhibits, and informational booth backdrops; creating models, murals, or electronic documents or devises to permit viewers to access desired information electronically or via the Internet.
Applies federal and agency printing regulations and standards when creating web design; maintaining published or digital content
Creates, produces, and provides products to promote partnership support for the Decennial Census with stakeholders at all levels including businesses, and other grassroots entities in the community.
Maintains graphic materials and products for distribution to a variety of agency related events and to the general public or special interest populations as needed to support an outreach plan.
Suitability/Background Investigation for Federal employment.
Registered for Selective Service if applicable. (www.sss.gov)
Must be 18 years or older to be hired.
Time in Grade requirements must be met prior to closing date.
Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Qualifications
Applicants are responsible for insuring that the application submitted clearly indicates that they meet the qualifications listed below. To be eligible for this position, you must have the specialized experience, education, or a combination as indicated below.
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.
Specialized experience or education sought for these positions include:
GG-0301-09
EXPERIENCE: Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that provided experience using desktop publishing computer graphic software and photo editing software such as: Adobe CS Suite, Microsoft Publisher to develop materials to promote awareness and support cultivating productive partnerships, for the purpose of gaining cooperation and support, with state, local, and tribal governments; community-based organizations; faith-based groups; schools; media outlets; and/or businesses.
OR
EDUCATION: Two full years of graduate education or master’s degree directly related to the position.
GG-0301-11
EXPERIENCE: Applicant must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates experience working across internal and external organization lines to coordinate the design and content for materials and products used for decennial partnership programs. Experience using desktop publishing computer graphic software and photo editing software such as: Adobe CS Suite, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Macromedia Fireworks. Experience in maintaining a supply of graphic materials and products for distribution on a local or national level for internal and external customers.
OR
EDUCATION: Three full years of graduate education or the Ph.D., directly related to the position.
GG-0301-12:
EXPERIENCE: Applicant must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates Experience applying federal and agency standards and regulations. Experience in using, applying and reviewing related creative design illustration, layouts, and formats. Experience using desktop publishing computer graphic software and photo editing software such as: Adobe CS Suite, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Macromedia Fireworks. Experience in developing materials to promote awareness and support cultivating productive partnerships, for the purpose of gaining cooperation and support, with state, local, and tribal governments; community-based organizations; faith-based groups; schools; media outlets; and/or businesses. Experience working across internal and external organization lines to coordinate the design and content for materials and products used for decennial partnership programs. Experience in maintaining a supply of graphic materials and products for distribution on a local or national level for internal and external customers.
EDUCATION: No substitution of education for experience is permitted.
Additional information
The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.
The Department of Commerce 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 at 301-763-4060. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
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.
Your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the job opportunity 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). Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.
Due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR § 335.103(b)(3), during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager. The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies at the full performance level of this position; please do not provide a separate written response. The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies at the at the full performance level of this position (FPL 12):
Knowledge of utilizing a variety of visual and creative arts methods, techniques, and materials.
Knowledge of desktop publishing computer graphic software and photo editing software to produce products and materials.
Knowledge of video camera or digital camera usage, in order to take pictures and videos for use in the development of materials and products.
Knowledge of Federal, state, local, and tribal governments' and/or local business and community groups organizational structures and functions.
Ability to plan, design, develop, and disseminate informational materials and products to the general public or to specific target groups.
We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application 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.
A complete application consists of the following: • Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Your resume should list your educational and work experience including the dates (mm/dd/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. For work in the Federal service, please include the grade level for the position(s). Your resume may be used to validate your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. Your resume should also indicate your citizenship and if you are registered with the Selective Service System if you are a male born after 12/31/59.
• Copies of applicable SF-50s "Notification of Personnel Action", to support claimed time in grade which shows grade/band levels to establish eligibility. If you are a former Census Bureau employee and no longer on the roster, you are responsible for submitting a copy of your SF-50. If you do not have a copy of your SF-50, please contact the National Archives and Records Administration at 314-801-9250 Option 2 and/or https://www.archives.gov/ to obtain instructions on how to obtain a copy.
• Documentation supporting eligibility for non-competitive appointment, (Schedule A disability, 30 percent disabled veteran, certain military spouses, etc). Show proof of your disability. Documentation may be from any licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. Territory to practice medicine), a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., State or private), or any Federal or State agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits;
• Your medical documentation should distinguish between disabilities that are temporary, or transient, versus disabilities, which are chronic, permanent, on-going, or unresolved with no end in sight.
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) documentation, if applicable (see other information).
• Education Documentation: If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. This also includes Census Bureau employees.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp for more information.
You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
• Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website http://www.ed.gov/international/usnei/us/workrecogdoc. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application.
• CTAP Eligibles
CTAP 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 eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf
CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
1. A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice); 2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location; 3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and 4. Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit that shows your current promotion potential.
NOTE: You will not be considered if you fail to provide all required documents.
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 http://www.usajobs.gov/. To begin, click the "Apply" button and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents. (After registering in your USAJOBS account and clicking "Submit," you will automatically transition to the Department of Commerce's specific site where you will complete your application. You must click "Submit" at the end of the application process to send your application for consideration.) To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov/ and click on "Applications." Click on the position title, and then select "Update Application"
If you have problems completing your online application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk by email 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.
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
Philadelphia Regional Census Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
United States
Next steps
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://usajobs.gov/ and clicking on "Applications." The status will be visible next to the corresponding positions.
The four points of notification are: 1. Application Received or Application Incomplete; 2. Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Requirement Not Met; 3. Referred or Not Referred; and 4. Selected or Not Selected
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
A complete application consists of the following: • Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Your resume should list your educational and work experience including the dates (mm/dd/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. For work in the Federal service, please include the grade level for the position(s). Your resume may be used to validate your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. Your resume should also indicate your citizenship and if you are registered with the Selective Service System if you are a male born after 12/31/59.
• Copies of applicable SF-50s "Notification of Personnel Action", to support claimed time in grade which shows grade/band levels to establish eligibility. If you are a former Census Bureau employee and no longer on the roster, you are responsible for submitting a copy of your SF-50. If you do not have a copy of your SF-50, please contact the National Archives and Records Administration at 314-801-9250 Option 2 and/or https://www.archives.gov/ to obtain instructions on how to obtain a copy.
• Documentation supporting eligibility for non-competitive appointment, (Schedule A disability, 30 percent disabled veteran, certain military spouses, etc). Show proof of your disability. Documentation may be from any licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. Territory to practice medicine), a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., State or private), or any Federal or State agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits;
• Your medical documentation should distinguish between disabilities that are temporary, or transient, versus disabilities, which are chronic, permanent, on-going, or unresolved with no end in sight.
• Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) documentation, if applicable (see other information).
• Education Documentation: If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. This also includes Census Bureau employees.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp for more information.
You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
• Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website http://www.ed.gov/international/usnei/us/workrecogdoc. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application.
• CTAP Eligibles
CTAP 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 eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf
CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:
1. A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice); 2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location; 3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and 4. Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit that shows your current promotion potential.
NOTE: You will not be considered if you fail to provide all required documents.
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 http://www.usajobs.gov/. To begin, click the "Apply" button and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents. (After registering in your USAJOBS account and clicking "Submit," you will automatically transition to the Department of Commerce's specific site where you will complete your application. You must click "Submit" at the end of the application process to send your application for consideration.) To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov/ and click on "Applications." Click on the position title, and then select "Update Application"
If you have problems completing your online application, including problems submitting your supporting documents, please contact the Help Desk by email 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.
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
Philadelphia Regional Census Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
United States
Next steps
You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://usajobs.gov/ and clicking on "Applications." The status will be visible next to the corresponding positions.
The four points of notification are: 1. Application Received or Application Incomplete; 2. Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Requirement Not Met; 3. Referred or Not Referred; and 4. Selected or Not Selected
By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.).
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
