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Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist, ZA-1035-4 (MAP)

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

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO), Executive Affairs Division (EAD) with one vacancy in Silver Spring, Maryland.

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 ZA-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14.

* A one year supervisory probationary period may be required.

* Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.

* This position is not in the bargaining unit

NOTES:

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist, ZA-1035-4 positions throughout NOAA. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locations, same grade/band and requires the same qualifications and specialized experience as indicated in this vacancy announcement).

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
07/20/2018 to 07/26/2018
Salary
$96,970 to - $148,967 per year
Pay scale & grade
ZA 4
Location
Silver Spring, MD
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - 10% of domestic travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time / Career or Career-Conditional
Service
Promotion potential
4
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Drug test
No
Announcement number
OMAO-2018-0021
Control number
505515300

This job is open to

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Duties

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As a Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

  • Serve as Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) spokesperson and provides public affairs advice/counsel to OMAO’s Director, Deputy Director and senior leadership, effectively communicating on the possible public and media reactions to proposed policy statements or actions.
  • Plan, initiate, and implement comprehensive public affairs campaigns to enhance the understanding of the agency’s programs among the general public and specialized groups.
  • Develop recommendations for management in improving the agency’s communication with the general public and specialized groups.
  • Supervise public affairs staff, including such functions as assigning work, evaluating work performance, reviewing completed assignments, developing performance standards, and addressing employee grievances.

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).
  • Time-in-grade/band must be met by closing date of announcement.

Applicants must meet ALL application requirements, to include a complete online resume, by 11:59 p.m. EASTERN TIME (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

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.

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-4 or GS-13 level: 

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Providing media and public relations advice to management on the execution of public affairs campaigns in support of natural resources activities (e.g., fisheries or marine mammal research, ocean or climate studies, nautical charting, coastal mapping, etc.);
  • Preparing information materials such as news releases, fact sheets, brochures, booklets, broadcast spots, etc., to increase public understanding of policies and programs; and
  • Developing and evaluating the effectiveness of an organization’s internal information program which communicates policies and programs.

Education

Substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this position.

Additional information

CTAP and 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 CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

  1. A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; 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 eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
  2. A copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action”, noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
  3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
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). However, your resume 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.

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

  • Knowledge of oral and written communication principles and practices and interpersonal relations in order to advise management on public and media reactions to proposed policies or programs.
  • Knowledge of policies or programs related to ships and/or aircraft operations in support of natural resources activities (e.g., fisheries or marine mammal research, ocean or climate studies, nautical charting, coastal mapping, etc.).
  • Ability to prepare information materials (e.g., news releases, fact sheets, brochures, booklets, broadcast spots, etc.) to increase public understanding of an organization’s programs and policies.
  • Knowledge of analytical methods in order to evaluate the effectiveness of an organization’s internal information program.
  • Ability to perform a range of supervisory responsibilities for staff, such as assigning work, evaluating work performance, reviewing completed assignments, developing performance standards, and addressing employee grievances.
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. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.

To preview questions please click here.

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