This position will be filled under the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority for Post-Secondary Students and is open to all United States citizens and U.S. nationals. Veteran's preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications do not apply. All qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration for this position.
Click this Link to download a table with information on these specific positions: Link
Summary
This position will be filled under the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority for Post-Secondary Students and is open to all United States citizens and U.S. nationals. Veteran's preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications do not apply. All qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration for this position.
Click this Link to download a table with information on these specific positions: Link
Only experience and education obtained by 04/07/2023 will be considered.
Post-secondary students will initially be appointed to a term appointment in the competitive service for an initial period expected to last more than 1 year; may be extended up to 4 years.
As a Student Trainee (Communications) your duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Assists in developing integrated proactive communication strategies and outreach plans and, in close coordination with senior public affairs specialists.
Assists in authoring and disseminating, in accordance with established procedures, information and news in support of regional and/or national communications objectives through print and electronic media, that may include web-based multimedia tools (podcasts, blogs, slide shows, and other interactive media), and utilizing web text, graphics, photos, audio, video, and other social media
Assists in the development of briefing materials and talking points for senior agency officials for media interviews, public speeches and employee broadcasts.
Resume (See "Required Documents"). Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is provided on resume.
Eligibility and Supporting documents - You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to AND submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section.
May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation
Post-secondary students will initially be appointed to a term appointment in the competitive service for a period expected to last more than 1 year not to exceed 4 years
Post-secondary students may be non-competitively converted to a career or career-conditional appointment after successfully completing the qualifying academic program and conversion requirements.
Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered for Selective Service
Valid state issued driver's license MAY be required
Qualifications
Only experience and education obtained by 04/07/2023 will be considered.
OPM's Qualification standard: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/final-groupcoveragequalificationstandardforpathwaysprogramschedule-20d.pdf. Applicants meet the following eligibility requirement, and provide documentation such as a copy of your official transcript and/or veteran's documentation by the closing date of the announcement to be considered:
To be eligible for a Post -Secondary Student Appointment, you must meet the following requirements:
You must be a student enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited institution of higher education (as defined by the Higher Education Act of 1965)
Is pursuing a bachelor's or graduate degree on at least a part-time basis (You are required to submit a copy of your transcript or notice of acceptance.)
Educational institutions must be accredited by organizations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. To see if your school is accredited, please visit: http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/
Applicants meet the following eligibility requirement, and provide documentation such of your official transcript by the closing date of the announcement to be considered:
In order to qualify, you must meet the education requirements described below:
Basic Requirement:
Currently accepted for enrollment or enrolled on at least a half-time basis in an accredited college (including 4-year colleges/universities, community colleges, and junior colleges); professional, technical, vocational, and trade school; advanced degree programs; or other qualifying educational institution pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate in an academic field related to the duties of this position. This enrollment will continue during my employment.
Minimum Qualification [GS-04]
1. 6 months general experience and 6 months specialized experience. General experience is defined as (1) any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Specialized experience is defined as experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to the GS-03 grade-level in the Federal service. Specialized experience may include: Assisting with developing and using social media, Web and mobile media based internet and intranet content and applications to deliver information; Assisting with writing informational; Participating in outreach activities such as presenting information to internal and external groups. OR
2. Completed 2 full academic years of post-high school study or an associates degree (two years of full-time academic study is defined as 60 semester hours, 90 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university) in a discipline/academic program related to the position. OR
3. Combination of general and specialized experience and education as described above that, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement.
Minimum Qualification [GS-05]
1. 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade-level in the Federal service. Specialized experience may include: Assisting with developing and using social media, Web and mobile media based internet and intranet content and applications to deliver information; Assisting with writing, designing and producing informational materials such as news releases, newsletters, fliers, posters, fact sheets, and PowerPoint presentations; Participating in outreach activities that includes preparing and presenting information to internal and external groups. OR
2. Completed 4 academic years of post-high school education from an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or equivalent degree (four years of full-time academic study is defined as 120 semester hours, 180 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university in a discipline/academic program related to the position. OR
3. Combination of specialized experience and education as described above that, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement.
Minimum Qualification [GS-07]
1. 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade-level in the Federal service. Specialized experience may include: Develops and assists in the development of communication plans; Writes, designs, and produces informational materials for internal and external audiences using a variety of outreach tools; Assists in response to media inquiries and coordinating media interviews; Participating in outreach activities such as presenting information to internal and external groups; Coordinates outreach efforts with web and social media managers. OR
2.1 year (18 semester hours) of graduate education in a discipline/academic program related to the position. OR
3. A bachelor's degree AND meet one of the Superior Academic Achievement Provisions. 1. Maintained a grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 3.0 or higher) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study, -OR- 2. Maintained a grade-point average of "B+" (a GPA of 3.5 or higher) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study, -OR- 3. Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university, or major subdivision, -OR- 4. Be a member of a national honor (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor societies. OR
4. Combination of specialized experience and education as described above that, when combined, equals 100% of the total requirement.
May be selected at any grade level advertised with non-competitive promotion potential to the target grade. Non-competitive promotion to the target grade is based on time-in-grade requirements and demonstrated ability to perform the higher graded duties.
Education
PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts.
PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Additional information
Post-secondary students MAY be converted to a permanent appointment after the following requirements are met: Completed 640 hours of current continuous employment; Completed the course of study leading to a bachelor's or graduate degree; Demonstrated successful job performance; meets OPM qualifications; an meets time-in-grade requirements.
Telework:
This position is suitable for telework and may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.
Pay Scale Information:
Click this Link for salary information: Link
Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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. Veteran's preference and traditional rating and ranking of applications do not apply. All qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration for this position.
Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If, after reviewing your résumé and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
Resume:You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included in your Resume. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose then you must describe your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates for paid and non-paid work experience, hours worked per week, month and year of employment for each job title listed, and description of job duties. Include name and address of employer, supervisor name and telephone number. Additional information on what to include can be found here. Your experience needs to address every required qualification. Note: Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.
Other supporting documents:
Cover Letter, optional
You MUST submit CURRENT proof of enrollment and education, or acceptance. Unofficial Transcripts are acceptable
Official or unofficial College Transcript(s), if the position has education requirements, or if you are using your education to qualify. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. A copy of your official transcripts will be required if you are selected. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Note on Expanded Telework Posture: Due to COVID-19, the USFWS is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement in accordance with the Department's reentry procedures provided by your Servicing Human Resources Office. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days per pay period depending upon the terms of the Department of the Interior's telework policy.
Review the Appointment Eligibility Criteria: The eligibility section of the application process is designed to allow you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the appointment eligibilities that you selected. You must provide proof of your eligibility as required by appointment eligibility to be considered.
Resume or Application. At a minimum, your resume MUST contain job title (include job series and grade, if federal), duties, starting and ending dates (month/day/year), hours worked per week, and salary. USAJOBS has a template to ensure a complete resume.
You must also complete the online application and assessment questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
DEADLINE DATE: A complete application package must be received by 11:59 PM (EST) on 04/07/2023 to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is received. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
You will be considered for all eligibilities for which you select "yes" and submit the required documents and supporting documentation (e.g. Transcripts, DD214, etc.). The supporting documentation you submit will be used to determine your eligibility. Please review the list of documentation provided in the eligibilities language to ensure you provide the appropriate information.
Please note, your eligibility will be based solely on the selections you have indicated "yes" in this section. You must provide the supporting documentation to support your claim to be considered. You may choose more than one eligibilities in this section.
This Post-Secondary position may be converted to a career, or career conditional position, upon successful completion of the program. Conversion is neither mandatory nor guaranteed and would need to occur prior to the expiration date of the appointment.
Applicants that will not be able to meet the minimum requirements listed below will be ineligible for conversion.
To be eligible for possible conversion to a career or career conditional position, the Post-Secondary Student MUST:
Complete at least 640 hours of continuous employment in the Post-Secondary position prior to completing degree requirements.
Successfully complete their degree requirements.
Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Post-Secondary Student will be converted, including any minimum education requirements.
Meet time-in-grade requirements
Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the Participant's Agreement.
Performance must be rated at least at a fully successful level.
Must be a U.S. citizen.
Be recommended for conversion by the supervisor.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Division of Human Resources
5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
US
Next steps
Once you submit all the required documents and the online application in USAJOBS, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the evaluation process is complete, you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.
You will be notified if this job is filled or canceled. Timelines for this process vary widely.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJobs Account.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
Resume:You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included in your Resume. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose then you must describe your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates for paid and non-paid work experience, hours worked per week, month and year of employment for each job title listed, and description of job duties. Include name and address of employer, supervisor name and telephone number. Additional information on what to include can be found here. Your experience needs to address every required qualification. Note: Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.
Other supporting documents:
Cover Letter, optional
You MUST submit CURRENT proof of enrollment and education, or acceptance. Unofficial Transcripts are acceptable
Official or unofficial College Transcript(s), if the position has education requirements, or if you are using your education to qualify. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. A copy of your official transcripts will be required if you are selected. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Note on Expanded Telework Posture: Due to COVID-19, the USFWS is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement in accordance with the Department's reentry procedures provided by your Servicing Human Resources Office. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days per pay period depending upon the terms of the Department of the Interior's telework policy.
Review the Appointment Eligibility Criteria: The eligibility section of the application process is designed to allow you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the appointment eligibilities that you selected. You must provide proof of your eligibility as required by appointment eligibility to be considered.
Resume or Application. At a minimum, your resume MUST contain job title (include job series and grade, if federal), duties, starting and ending dates (month/day/year), hours worked per week, and salary. USAJOBS has a template to ensure a complete resume.
You must also complete the online application and assessment questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
DEADLINE DATE: A complete application package must be received by 11:59 PM (EST) on 04/07/2023 to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is received. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
You will be considered for all eligibilities for which you select "yes" and submit the required documents and supporting documentation (e.g. Transcripts, DD214, etc.). The supporting documentation you submit will be used to determine your eligibility. Please review the list of documentation provided in the eligibilities language to ensure you provide the appropriate information.
Please note, your eligibility will be based solely on the selections you have indicated "yes" in this section. You must provide the supporting documentation to support your claim to be considered. You may choose more than one eligibilities in this section.
This Post-Secondary position may be converted to a career, or career conditional position, upon successful completion of the program. Conversion is neither mandatory nor guaranteed and would need to occur prior to the expiration date of the appointment.
Applicants that will not be able to meet the minimum requirements listed below will be ineligible for conversion.
To be eligible for possible conversion to a career or career conditional position, the Post-Secondary Student MUST:
Complete at least 640 hours of continuous employment in the Post-Secondary position prior to completing degree requirements.
Successfully complete their degree requirements.
Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Post-Secondary Student will be converted, including any minimum education requirements.
Meet time-in-grade requirements
Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the Participant's Agreement.
Performance must be rated at least at a fully successful level.
Must be a U.S. citizen.
Be recommended for conversion by the supervisor.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Division of Human Resources
5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
US
Next steps
Once you submit all the required documents and the online application in USAJOBS, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the evaluation process is complete, you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.
You will be notified if this job is filled or canceled. Timelines for this process vary widely.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging in to your USAJobs Account.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
