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PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
KANSAS
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located at the State Office (SO). The incumbent serves as a Public Affairs Specialist and has responsibility for developing, coordinating and carrying out a sound public information program to communicate agency policies, programs, services and activities throughout the state.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
01/10/2024 to 01/17/2024
Salary
$59,966 to - $94,317 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Salina, KS
Remote job
No
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
12
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
NRCS-24-12254567-DE-KS-AG
Control number
769788600

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Duties

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  • Serves as a member of the State Leadership Team (SLT).
  • Consults with and advises area and field office (FO) staffs and works with area information committee in planning and developing training programs in soil and water conservation information work.
  • Writes news releases, canned releases, and feature stories describing NRCS projects and programs, presentation ceremonies, and related staff activities.
  • Advises on and edits articles and other material written by field, area and SO staff in consultation with the technical supervisor and/or the staff specialist involved.
  • Provides guidance for developing brochures, bulletins, charts, photographs, and other materials to promote NRCS programs.
  • Provides training to individuals on the use of equipment, writing articles, photography, and other communication techniques.
  • Works with state staff in the development of the business plan to integrate information activities into the goals and actions.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US 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. If selected you will be sent instructions on obtaining fingerprints. Please note we are not able to reimburse any fees incurred for fingerprints.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Direct Deposit: 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 at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
  • Must possess and maintain a valid state motor vehicle operator's license for the type of vehicle(s) operated to perform the duties of this position.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Specialized Experience for the GS-9: To qualify for the GS-09 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience must include performing work advising management on the formulation and articulation of agency policy and designing, executing, and evaluating the information programs that communicate agency policies, programs, and actions to various audiences. Examples of specialized experience include:

  • Writing and editing news articles, feature stories, news releases, and selecting photographs to accompany releases which transmit information concerning the nature and purpose of an organization's programs or projects;
  • Composing reports, talking points, briefing packets and power point presentations for dissemination to the media or social media platforms;
  • Assisting with the development and implementation of internal and external marketing, outreach programs, and public affairs plans to communicate programs and services; and
  • Assisting with the planning, design and preparation of visual information material related to a program.
OR
Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience
for the GS-09 level: 2 year(s) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Master's degree, or Master's equivalent graduate degree in Public Affairs, Business Administration, Management, English, Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, etc. or a course of study directly related to the position.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience:
A combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy.

Specialized Experience for the GS-11: To qualify for the GS-11 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience must include performing work advising management on the formulation and articulation of agency policy and designing, executing, and evaluating the information programs that communicate agency policies, programs, and actions to various audiences. Examples of specialized experience include:
  • Writing and disseminating, to local and national print broadcast media representatives or social media platforms, news releases and feature articles;
  • Organizing and coordinating social media, print and broadcast media interviews with staff members, and oversees all arrangements with the media involving agency activities;
  • Establishing and maintaining working relationships with local groups and representatives, national organizations, and the general public;
  • Planning, executing, and evaluating the effectiveness of information and communication strategies to ensure organizational goals are met;
  • Identifying agency communication outreach needs and priorities;
  • Developing information and/or policy formulation materials (i.e., pertinent public affairs policies, programs, services, and activities) that inform the public and management of agency activities; and
  • Advising management officials on potential public reactions to proposed programs and policies.
OR
Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience
for the GS-11 level: 3 year(s) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D. equivalent graduate degree in Public Affairs, Business Administration, Management, English, Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, etc. or a course of study directly related to the position.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience:
A combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy.

For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: Administrative and Management Positions

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 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

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
You must submit a copy of your transcripts to include course number, title, completion and grade. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement.

Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Click on this link for more information.

Failure to provide all of the required documents/information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Additional information

  • 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 nor guaranteed.
  • Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary; however, it may require some physical exertion such as lifting and carrying video equipment and moving bulky equipment with some frequency.
  • Work Environment: The work is generally performed in an office setting and involves everyday risks and discomforts.
  • PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of filling these positions as efficiently as possible, we are requiring the following:
    • If called for an interview, applicants must be available to interview within 3 business days of being contacted.
    • If a tentative job offer is extended, selectee will have 2 business days in which to accept or decline.
  • This position is eligible for telework within the local commuting area of the position and other flexible work arrangements. Current USDA policy includes telework for an 8 hour work day, 4 days per week; other flexibilities are possible dependent upon availability and/or the position and its associated duties. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor.
  • Recruitment and/or relocation incentives may be authorized.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Oral Communication
  • Technology Application
  • 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. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. 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 up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12254567

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