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Public Affairs Specialist

Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This announcement is being advertised concurrently under R8-20-10612421-SG (MP) is open to all qualified persons. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/07/2019 to 10/21/2019
Salary
$96,311 to - $125,202 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
Sacramento, CA
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
R8-20-10621110-SG (DE)
Control number
547758000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens, CTAP

Duties

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The Congressional Affairs Specialist in the Office of External Affairs will plan and coordinate the dissemination of information relating to the agency's national and regional programs and priorities to members of Congress and other elected officials, the public, media, partners, and others.

Responsibilities include:
The incumbent will develop communications materials and methods designed to reach the Region's Congressional delegation, other elected officials, and local, regional and national audiences including, but not limited to communications plans, press releases, web and social media content, outreach and environmental education content, events and more. In doing so, the incumbent will consider the relevancy and appropriateness of both content and delivery methods to best position the agency with targeted audiences.

The incumbent will also evaluate the impact and effectiveness of congressional outreach efforts and advises management if efforts should be continued, emphasized, changed or expanded. The incumbent will determine the need for congressional outreach materials and communications opportunities to support agency and Departmental priorities. The incumbent will establish and develop effective relationships and partnerships to promote coverage of and engagement with Service programs and operations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period

Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by the close date will be considered.
Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must have the following:
Possess at least one year of full-time specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal service which included:

  1. Managing Congressional relations for a natural resource agency;
  2. Developing and finalizing formal communication outreach strategies and products for a natural resource organization to distribute complex information to Congressional or legislative contacts;
  3. Establishing and maintaining liaison as a member of a natural resources organization with Congressional staff and similar stakeholders regarding the impact of proposed or pending legislation; OR
  4. Evaluating public reactions/opinions to information releases and advising program officials on, and implementing, needed modifications to the content or presentation of information materials needed to influence legislative or Congressional actions as a core responsibility.
THIS IS CLEARLY DESCRIBED IN MY RESUME. I UNDERSTAND THAT IF IT IS NOT, I WILL BE FOUND NOT QUALIFIED FOR THIS POSITION REGARDLESS OF MY RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE.

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.

Education

There is no substitution of education at this level.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been or may be involuntarily separated (e.g. reduction in force, declining to relocate/transfer outside their local commuting area) from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal or Removal Notice; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; or Removal and most recent performance appraisal.). For more information visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

To register or verify your registration go to the Selective Service System at https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx

FWS has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for situational only telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. More than one position may be filled from this announcement.

A PCS Move is authorized as follows: travel and relocation expenses including reimbursable real estate expenses will be authorized in accordance with the Federal travel regulations including contractor-provided home sale. All moving expenses are taxable.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the basic qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the basic qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  • Knowledge and understanding of legislative and Congressional procedures.
  • Knowledge in correct procedures and protocols in coordinating with Congressional delegations, state legislators, and committees.
  • Ability to analyze legislation for implications to conservation policies and practices.
  • Ability to manage, receive, comprehend, analyze, simplify, organize and file, and communicate voluminous, technical information quickly under the pressure of short deadlines.
  • Knowledge of a variety of communication techniques to improve public understanding of natural resource and wildlife issues.
  • Ability to express ideas effectively to encapsulate essential concepts and complex issues to policy makers, leadership and other interest groups.
  • Skills in developing and implementing detailed outreach and communications plans.
All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The category ratings for this position are:
  • Qualified: Meets minimum qualifications established for the position, but fails to meet the benchmark definition for the Well Qualified category.
  • Well Qualified: Demonstrates overall competency in the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the position.
  • Highly Qualified: Demonstrates high proficiency and comprehensive level of knowledge, skills, and abilities of the position.

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the basic qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must attach an SF-15," Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" in addition to the proof required by that form.

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