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Public Affairs Specialist

Department of Energy
Department of Energy - Agency Wide
This job announcement has closed

Summary

A successful candidate in this position will conduct assignments in support of the public affairs program for the Richland Operations Office (RL).

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/12/2019 to 12/23/2019
Salary
$88,704 to - $115,313 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Richland, WA
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation or Recruitment Incentive MAY be authorized subject to the availability of funding. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) MAY be authorized.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
TN-19-RL-00576-MP
Control number
554128800

Duties

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As a Public Affairs Specialist, you will:

  • Serve as public affairs representative and spokesperson regarding all aspects of the missions, policies and activities to include: environmental clean-up and disposal; environmental protection; and establishing and maintaining positive community relations.
  • Researches, develops, writes, edits, reviews and disseminates information material such as speeches, news releases and advisories, fact sheets and feature stories using the appropriate format for the communication medium, the target audience(s) and the information objectives it is expected to achieve.
  • Independently initiates, develops and maintains effective liaison with higher headquarters, managerial, technical and other personnel to provide open communication lines to enhance the public affairs programs effectiveness.
  • Develops contingency communication plans to provide continuous, timely and accurate, internal information during important high level initiatives and emergencies
  • Develops and writes informational materials designed to reach national, regional and local audiences through wire services, radio, television and daily and weekly newspapers.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a United States Citizen.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
  • Subject to satisfactory security and suitability requirements
  • Resume and question responses must be submitted online

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Telework is in accordance with agency policy and at the supervisor's discretion.

This position is part of a bargaining unit.

This is a public Trust Position.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as:

  1. Coordinating support to public advisory boards under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and managing a FACA board, including formulating relationships with diverse stakeholder groups.
  2. Conducting public involvement processes under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) - also known as Superfund , and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) etc.
  3. Working with federal, state, county, local governments and private industry representatives to develop presentations, tours, exhibits and campaigns for the media and publics to educate and promote an understanding of site missions, policies and activities to include public involvement activities for chemical/nuclear cleanup work.
  4. Developing new approaches to complex internal and external affairs issues using keen interpersonal relationship skills, facilitating large-group meetings and discussions and managing a multi-agency advisory board with often differing objectives and opinions, to achieve balanced outcomes.
  5. Planning, executing and evaluating effectiveness of communications/information programs in furthering agency goals, advising agency management on policy formulation and the potential public reaction to propose policy, and carry out public involvement requirements inherent in disseminating policy decisions.

Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the KSAs identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application!

  1. Knowledge of the principles, methods, practices and techniques of communication, analytical methods, and interpersonal relations that enable the employee to function as the technical authority on all public affairs and community problems and issues.
  2. Knowledge and skill sufficient to direct and oversee the development of communication products ranging from print through the various electronic media, including web-based, multimedia and video.
  3. Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationship with individuals and groups interested in or affected by programs creating meaningful communication interchanges.
  4. Knowledge and skill to develop communication plans that integrate from among all types of media and methodologies the most appropriate, c.ost effective means to attain communication objectives and to establish and maintain mutual understanding with various agency publics.
  5. Knowledge and skill sufficient to present ideas and information in written and electronic materials in new and innovative ways, so as to increase understanding among publics with varying levels of comprehension and opposition or indifference to programs and policies.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

EDUCATION:

There is no education requirement for this position.

Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

Additional information

The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

  • New employees to the Department of Energy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
  • Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website.
  • If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information. In order to be considered under the ICTAP program, your application must score within the pre-established "well qualified" category as stated in the Qualifications section.
  • More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
  • Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.
  • Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation.
  • All males born after December 31st 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
EEO Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/EEO_Policy_Statement
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Reasonable_Accommodation_Policy_Statement
Veterans Information: https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Veterans_Information
Telework: www.telework.gov
Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/


How you will be evaluated

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

The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications necessary for this position. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to determine if your qualifications meet the criteria for referral to the selecting official.

We will also verify that you are eligible for Merit Promotion positions by reviewing your previous Federal employment to ensure you meet Time-in-Grade requirements. If you are eligible to apply to Merit Promotion announcements based on Veteran or other non-competitive statuses, we will verify your supporting documentation prior to referral.

If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the definition of "well qualified" which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly.
To preview questions please click here.

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