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Public Affairs Specialist

Small Business Administration
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This is a bargaining unit position.
This is not a (drug) testing designated position (TDP).

This position is located in the Small Business Administration, Office of Communications and Public Liaison in Washington, D.C. This position is in the Press Office and coordinates and executes marketing, communications and public affairs programs for internal and external communications.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
03/13/2020 to 03/27/2020
Salary
$102,663 to - $133,465 per year

In almost all cases, pay on a new appointment will be set at the minimum rate (GS-13 step 1).

Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
20-156-CS
Control number
562750800

Duties

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  • Serve as an agency spokesperson. Responsible for responding to news media inquiries about SBA by researching and coordinating with program office for proposed response.
  • Uses a variety of methods and techniques in achieving communications and marketing goals such as news releases, radio and television scripts, feature articles, personal appearances, news conferences, exhibits, brochures, pamphlets, etc.
  • Analyzes and evaluates program office media strategies for the Press Director and other management officials. Maintains a constant surveillance of the interests and attitudes of small business constituencies and the general public toward SBA program and policies. Makes recommendations to the Director and other management officials.
  • Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with members of the print, broadcast and digital news media. Determines which media are most effective and the extent of coverage to be sought in promoting specific agency programs and policies. Pitches stories to the media.
  • Produces press releases and makes periodic written reports and enters pertinent data into into the Press Office database.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • You must successfully complete a background investigation.
  • You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.

Qualifications

GS-13: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, obtained in either the private or public sector that demonstrates your ability to perform work that involves designing, planning, and executing a public affairs program to inform and educate the general public and special interest groups about agency programs, activities, and services, and to convey information to the public served or affected by such programs.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on OPM's Qualifications web site:

Public Affairs Series; GS-1035

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: If you are a current career or career-conditional federal employee applying for promotion under Merit Promotion you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks in positions at the next level lower than the position being filled.

All qualification requirements must be met by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on 03/27/2020.

Education

Education may not be substituted for experience for this position.

Additional information

SUITABILITY, CLEARANCE & REQUIREMENTS: A background investigation may be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

Career and InterAgency Career Transition Assistance Programs: If you are applying for a special selection priority under SBA's Career Transition Assistance Plan (open to surplus SBA employees only) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (open to surplus and displaced Federal employees), you must:

  1. meet CTAP eligibility criteria;
  2. be rated well-qualified for the position with a rating of 85 or above based on the competencies listed below; and
  3. submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP eligibility. For more information: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. For additional information visit www.sss.gov.

Consistent with work requirements and current SBA Policy, and all applicable provisions of the collective bargaining agreement with AFGE the SBA offers employees opportunities to perform work at an alternative location (e.g. home).

Telework may be available. For information on Telework visit: http://www.telework.gov/

Additional vacancies may be filled from this vacancy announcement if additional vacancies occur within 180 days of the date the certificates were issued.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applicants meeting basic eligibility requirements will be further evaluated based on the information provided in the Occupational Questionnaire. To preview this questionnaire, click on the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10748791. You will be rated based on your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The occupational questions relate to the following Competencies required to do the work of this position:

  • Communication
  • Media
  • Strategic Thinking


All qualified Non Competitive applicants and the best qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

Career and InterAgency Career Transition Assistance Programs: If you are applying for a special selection priority under SBA's Career Transition Assistance Plan (open to surplus SBA employees only) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (open to surplus and displaced Federal employees). To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above based on the competencies listed above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP eligibility. For more information: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp

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