Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Senior Communications Specialist

Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Health And Human Services, Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Office of Security and Strategic Information, headquartered in Washington, District of Columbia.

Additional selections may be made across the Department of Health and Human Services in multiple locations through this vacancy announcement. .

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/22/2018 to 08/27/2018
Salary
$114,590 to - $148,967 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
District of Columbia, DC
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position Domestic 5%
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
HHS-OSSI-DE-18-10281183
Control number
508613300

Duties

Help

  • Plans, develops, and implements multi-tiered or phased relations strategy for external and internal purposes; serves as a principal advisor to the organization's leadership on communication, policies, and protocol.
  • Determines the most expeditious and appropriate avenues for disseminating information to the targeted audiences, and arranges for mass dissemination of information.
  • Maintains an understanding of trends affecting the health and security space as well as OSSI's customers, and develops a communication strategy surrounding those trends.
  • Conducts research to determine the target audience for communications, and prepares/reviews speeches, talking points, presentations, briefing materials, reports, testimony, memoranda, letters, articles, email updates, alerts, and other official communications as required by OSSI management.
  • Conducts briefings and public meetings on controversial subjects and on normal, programmatic matters. Leads collaborative efforts, including creatively and effectively integrating education and outreach in consultation with OSSI leadership, management and key staff to develop and implement an integrated communications plan.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service - http://www.sss.gov
  • Suitable for federal employment
  • Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. All information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation.
  • Documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System.
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date.
  • One-year probationary period may be required.

Qualifications

Have at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector conceptualizing, developing, implementing and managing organizational communications strategies and initiatives; utilizing social media and a wide range of electronic platforms to brand and facilitate dissemination of organizational information; and acting in an advisory role to senior executives on communication policies, plans, goals, and initiatives.

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; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to gain employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited.

Additional information

Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses may be paid: No

Bargaining Unit Position: No

Drug Screening Required: Yes

Recruitment incentives may be authorized: No

Student loan repayment incentive may be authorized: No

Annual leave for non-federal service may be authorized: No

Veterans' Preference - https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/

Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

If you are unable to apply online, please go to https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information for more information on our alternate application method.

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, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. Category rating procedures will be used to rate and rank candidates. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Qualified candidates will be ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - Applicants who have experience that is almost identical to those required by the position.
  • Well Qualified - Applicants who have experience that is very similar to those required by the position.
  • Qualified - Applicants who meet minimum qualification requirements, but do not identify any additional qualifying experience or skill.

Candidates in the highest category will be referred to the hiring agency.

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher). Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
    • Information Distribution
    • Oral Communication
    • Organizational Awareness
    • Planning and Evaluating
    • Writing
To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10281183

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.