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Public Affairs Specialist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Southern Region, Region 8; Regional Office in Atlanta, GA.

The incumbent performs a wide variety of activities in planning and implementing a comprehensive public affairs program for the Region.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Mr. Jon Mcmillan at (404) 347-2777 or by email at jon.mcmillan@usda.gov.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/19/2019 to 05/02/2019
Salary
$78,446 to - $101,983 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
Atlanta, GA
2 vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel for meetings and trainings may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. Additional relocation benefits are not available.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
19-R8-GVMAR-1035-FS2556-GRV
Control number
531081900

Duties

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  • Participate in the development of public affairs communication plans.
  • Provide input into the long-range planning of the overall Public Affairs program.
  • Analyze public reaction and recommends changes to improve understanding
  • Conduct effective employee and public meetings, workshops, field trips, or other forums designed to foster employee and public participation.
  • Represent the agency in meetings and discussions involving individuals, groups and organizations working in support of, or opposing the policies, programs or work of the agency.
  • Make public statements as necessary within the framework of established policy guidelines.
  • Use written communication methods and techniques in devising the appropriate communication method for each public affairs campaign.
  • Provide training of the most current and effective communication techniques
  • Use a variety of communication methods and techniques in devising the appropriate communication methods for each public affairs campaign.
  • Establish two way communication with the public, including news media and elected officials.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be suitable for Federal employment as determined by a background investigation.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • This is a bargaining unit position represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GS-12: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as of the following: establishing and maintaining effective working relationships at multiple levels within an organization in order to develop and disseminate coordinated messages that accurately address organizational programs; preparing written or multimedia materials to promote the organization's position on a variety of sensitive, controversial and/or complex issues; designing and tailoring meetings and public involvement strategies to audiences that involved a degree of controversy.

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.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

TELEWORK: This position is eligible for telework.

CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANT PLAN (CTAP) or REEMPLOYMENT PRIORITY LIST (RPL): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

DAY CARE AVAILABILITY: Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

GOVERNMENT HOUSING: Government housing is not available.

OTHER SPECIAL HIRING AUTHORITIES INFORMATION: Information on special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, and individuals with disabilities may be found on the USAJOBS website.

FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE: This agency offers alternative and flexible work schedules.

LAND MANAGEMENT WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITY ACT - Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status (such as LWOP) is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.

TAX OBLIGATIONS FOR RELOCATION EXPENSES: Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email asc_tos@fs.fed.us.

MULTIPLE HIRING SOURCES: We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the competencies listed below:

  • Communications and Media
  • Oral Communication
  • Technical Competence
  • Writing
Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed above. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10311674

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