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Communications and Outreach Specialist, GS-0301-13 MP

National Science Foundation
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position serves as a Communications and Outreach Specialist in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI). ODI is an office within the Office of the Director which provides direct support and assistance to accomplish NSF’s commitment to organizational excellence, inclusiveness, and building an increasingly diverse, engaged, and high performing workforce.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
06/21/2021 to 07/06/2021
Salary
$103,690 to - $134,798 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
Alexandria, VA
Few vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Selected individual will be required to travel no more than 25%
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
ODI-2021-0001
Control number
605056400

Duties

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The employee collaborates with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) team by maintaining and further strengthening linkages with NSF Offices and Directorates and other federal agencies; and by participating in business processes and outreach and communications of ODI programs in close coordination with the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs (OLPA). Establishes goals and objectives, initiates program thrusts, and/or revises and improves current activities.  Specifically:

Serves as a confidential advisor and resource person to the Office Head and Deputy Office Head in support of their policy, planning, strategy, and communication activities.

Reviews and edits policy documents, reports, and analyses to ensure consistency with agency guidelines and ODI policy. Writes, reviews, and edits Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) documents, such as Final Agency Decisions (FADs), settlements, and other related documents.

Researches and establishes the Office’s outreach strategy in support of NSF’s mission, policies, goals and impacts as a technical expert. Enhances understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, equal opportunity, and civil rights amongst awardees, grantees, academic institutions, other external organizations, and internal audiences.

Develops and distributes content through written and digital platforms and oversees efforts of supporting written and digital contributors. The work requires close coordination with OLPA, who is responsible for direct communication with media and Congress and provides guidance to ODI leadership on outreach and communication activities.

Develops, implements, and maintains a substantive ODI communications plan to keep NSF staff informed and engaged about ODI initiatives, policies, and processes.

Communicates internally and externally with a full range of stakeholders. Maintains effective relationships with constituent groups and serves as a liaison on various committees and workgroups.

Organizes, analyzes, and presents (in written, visual, or oral formats) information, analyses, speeches, briefing materials, reports, and formal replies to official correspondence. Writes/edits content for public audiences including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), brochures, fact sheets, talking points, reports, and other material.

Develops a substantial outreach program that utilizes all available avenues to increase awareness of and disseminate information about ODI activities to a broad range of stakeholders.

Participates in outreach opportunities, conferences, workshops, webinars, and other forums to communicate with grantees, awardees, professional societies, and academia seeking information about ODI programs.

Represents NSF by staffing booths at workshops and conferences, answering questions and providing information; and may be asked by the Office Head or Deputy Office Head to make oral presentations at workshops, seminars, and conferences.

Serves as Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for program support contracts. Performs the more complex aspects of planning, developing, coordinating, organizing, implementing, communicating, and tracking project plans, guidelines, budgets, procedures, and timetables including recommending changes in policy and management activities for outreach and communications projects.

Collects pertinent statistical data and narrative information from a variety of sources within and outside NSF and applies analytical techniques to identify patterns and trends.

Serves as the primary communication liaison for ODI with OLPA on all the communication tools that the Office utilizes, including social media and web platforms, ensuring information is releasable within federal government and NSF guidelines and policy by isolating and defining unknown conditions and resolving critical problems requiring substantial depth of analysis.

Uses a variety of social media tools such as regular posts to platforms; creating new content and repurposes content; coordinates with OLPA.

Competencies:

  1. Strategic Communications
  2. Outreach
  3. Project Management
  4. Technology
  5. Collaboration

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Background investigation.
  • Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.
  • US citizenship.

It is NSF policy that NSF personnel employed at or IPAs detailed to NSF are not permitted to participate in foreign government talent recruitment programs.  Failure to comply with this NSF policy could result in disciplinary action up to and including removal from Federal Service or termination of an IPA assignment and referral to the Office of Inspector General. Foreign Talent Definitions

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: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent.

You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date.

You must answer all job-related questions in the NSF eRecruit questionnaire.

All online applicants must provide a valid email address.  If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full or blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.

This position is a non-bargaining unit position.

Qualifications

For the GS-13 grade level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in federal service developing communication and outreach strategies for an organization. Examples of experience include: developing communications strategies in written, verbal, and digital formats; technical writing and editing; maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders; planning and participating in outreach activities; utilizing social media to share organizational information; and managing outreach and communications projects.

Education

Education may enhance skills required for this position; however, no substitution of education for specialized experience may be made at this level.

Additional information

Relocation Expenses will not be paid.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):
ICTAP and CTAP provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP or CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP or CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified you must meet the following: OPM qualification requirements for the position, all selective factors, where applicable; special OPM approved qualifying conditions for the position; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate, to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and receives a rating of at least “Very Good” on the questionnaire.  You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP or CTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information regarding ICTAP or CTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources

Veteran's Preference:
If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. For 5-point veterans' preference, please provide your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions. For 10-point veterans' preference, please submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, DD-214, and the required documentation as specified on the SF-15.

NSF has determined that all of its positions are eligible for telework. Work suitable for telework depends on job duties; therefore, employees must receive approval from their supervisor for telework and have a telework agreement in place. Entering into a telework agreement is voluntary.

For additional information on the NSF eRecruit system, please visit our NSF eRecruit Applicant Guide.

This announcement may be used to fill like positions in other organizations within the National Science Foundation.

The Selected Candidate(s) may be subject to a background investigation.

How you will be evaluated

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

Ratings will be assigned based on your responses to the occupational questionnaire.  In some cases, additional assessment processes may be used.

Review your resume and responses carefully.  Responses that are not fully supported by the information in your application package may result in adjustments to your score.  A Human Resources Representative will validate the qualifications of those candidates eligible to be referred to the selecting official.

Applicants eligible for selection preference under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) must meet the agency definition of "well qualified." At NSF, this means a score of 90.0 or higher.

In the merit promotion selection process, formal performance appraisals may be considered if voluntarily submitted by the applicant.


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