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Public Affairs Specialist

Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Economic Development Administration, Office of Public Affairs. The incumbent performs work in support of public affairs program planning and development and dissemination of informational materials to the general public, the business community, and specialized audiences.

This position is a bargaining unit position.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/03/2019 to 05/09/2019
Salary
$69,581 to - $90,461 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term
Work schedule
Full-time - Career or Career Conditional
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
EDA-HQ-2019-0021
Control number
532574200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This is a term position in the competitive service for a specified period exceeding 1 year and lasting not more than 4 years.

Duties

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This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Public Affairs Specialist GS-1035-11positions within Economic Development Administrationin the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Duties Include:

  • Develops, plans and executes programs of information and specific public relations campaigns considering the audience, the complexity the subject and the methodology.
  • Works with organizational groups, business communities, press and other media outlets, editors of trade magazines, to insure coverage and support of EDA objectives.
  • Works with program offices, regions, local private enterprises to elicit public affairs program impact, areas of concern, receptiveness patterns, and develops follow-up information projects to clarify misunderstandings or to reach additional audiences.
  • Develops alterative and new approaches based on assessments and recommends varying program approaches, to facilitate understanding and compatibility to existing public information campaigns.
  • Writes or monitors the writing of brochures, news releases, booklets, et al, for dissemination as part of overall comprehensive information campaigns.
  • Advises regional offices and grantees on ways and means of providing publicity and public understanding of the programs as local efforts, in day-to-day operations.
  • Works with all levels of state and local governments and with other agencies to solicit support; to insure that conflicting postures or programs are considered; to insure that comprehensive informational programs are made practical where there are common interests.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a suitable for Federal employment.
  • You must be a U.S. citizen.
  • You must be registered for Selective Service if applicable (www.sss.gov).

  • A one year probationary may be required.
  • Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.

Qualifications

To qualify for the GS-11:

Specialized experience: Applicants must possess one full year of specialized experience. You must possess 52 weeks of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09. Experience for this position includes: Experience with implementation of external and internal communications strategies accomplishing public relations tasks for an organization. Experience writing promotional materials; developing communications through press releases, newsletters, websites, and other communication platforms; proofreading and editing material for clarity, accuracy and standard journalistic style compliance, monitoring news media and assisting with researching information, including news articles, studies and reports; creating weekly reports and briefing memos, and; knowledge/experience with outreach strategies targeting local constituency groups media techniques and processes. Experience with developing strategic communication to promote agency brand awareness.

-OR

EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree that provided you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the work of a program analyst

-OR

A combination of education and experience. (Equivalent combinations of successfully completed education and experience may be used to meet the experience requirements.)

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.

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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.

Education

 There is no positive education requirement for 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 ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: 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.

Use if applicable: The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that do not fall under competitive examining procedures; however, they may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.

  1. Veterans Recruitment Act (VRA)
  2. Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA)
  3. 30% or more disabled veterans
  4. Persons with disabilities
  5. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
  6. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)

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) and place you in one of the three pre-defined categories.  The categories are “gold”, “silver” and “bronze”.  However, your resume or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered.  Candidates placed in the “gold” category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

How you will be evaluated for preference eligibility:  Within each category, those entitled to veterans’ preference will be listed at the top of the pre-defined category for which they are placed.  Preference eligible with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category (gold) depending on the position and grade level of the job. For more information on Category Rating, please go to Category Rating.

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

  1. Knowledge of policies and programs of the Economic Development Administration and other Federal, state and local government agencies.
  2. Knowledge of all media technology, i.e., written. oral and visual media.
  3. Skill and ability to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with local and national media.
  4. Knowledge of EDA program areas, pending congressional legislation, Commerce Department regulations, and official agency policies.
  5. Skill in developing promotional activities and materials to achieve the highest public awareness of EDA programs. 

To preview questions please click here.

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