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Public Affairs Specialist

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Springerville, AZ .

This position is located on a Forest Service unit where the incumbent performs a variety of public affairs activities.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Dustie Aylor at 928-333-6337 or dustie.aylor@usda.gov

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/02/2021 to 08/12/2021
Salary
$35,265 to - $69,462 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Springerville, AZ
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
9
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
21-R3SVAUG-11186268-G-JG
Control number
608974200

Duties

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  • Responsibilities are at full performance level.
  • Participate in unit planning, organizing, and executing information, external relations, public involvement, and environmental education activities to develop experience in various phases of public affairs.
  • Plan news, features, and articles featuring agency programs or activities to inform internal and external audiences.
  • Analyze agency information program materials to make recommendations for improvement of program delivery.
  • Prepare audiovisual programs for specific presentations and for broad repeated use.
  • Prepare information releases and programs for the press, radio, schools, and television to disseminate information about the mission, programs, and activities of the agency.
  • Provides guidance to field staff on documenting accomplishments in the appropriate database.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Specialized Experience:

GS-5: You must have three years of progressively responsible experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level. Examples of experience include one or more of the following: Analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; plan and organize work; and communicate effectively orally and in writing. OR a bachelor's degree or 4 years of successfully completed education above high school leading to a bachelor's degree; OR appropriate combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

GS-7. One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5. Examples of specialized experience one or more of the following: Perform developmental assignments in support of a Public Affairs program; participate in planning, organizing, and executing information, external relations, public involvement, and environmental education activities on the unit, to develop experience in various phases of public affairs; interact with the public (e.g. providing information and answering questions); assist with preparation of information releases, brochures, and/or pamphlets and presentations to the public; present programs to groups on Forest Service programs and activities; draft assigned portions of programs.

GS-9. One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7. Examples of specialized experience are one or more of the following: Prepare and present speeches for special interests groups, schools, and the general public; Answer routine requests for information about the agency and its programs; Present programs to groups on agency programs and activities; Organize and coordinate print and broadcast news and information media interviews with key agency officials; Review print, broadcast, and internet media to analyze public awareness and attitudes regarding agency and activities; and/or advise management on the probable public reaction to specific proposals, policies and actions.

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

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status such as leave without pay is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.

For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied or guaranteed.

This is not a bargaining unit position

Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

Government Housing is not available.

Daycare facilities are not available.


This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the competencies listed below:

  • Communications and Media
  • External Awareness
  • Oral Communication
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Technical Competence
  • Writing


Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11186268

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