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PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES THIS POSITION IS BEING EXTENDED 7 DAYS. APPLICANTS WHO PREVIOUSLY APPLIED NEED NOT REAPPLY.

This position is located in Region 4 in the Regional Office located in Ogden, Utah. 

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Michael Richardson at (801) 625-5347 or via email at mjrichardson@fs.fed.us

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
08/31/2018 to 09/20/2018
Salary
$87,252 to - $113,428 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
Ogden, UT
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional Travel may be required for training and support to subordinate units.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Entitlements for payment of basic moving expenses, as required and to the extent allowed by the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) 302-3.101, are authorized for eligible applicants changing duty station when the change meets the distance tests as provided in FTR 302-1.1 and 302-2.6. In addition, the following relocation benefit is available: temporary quarters. Other relocation benefits may be negotiated with selectee.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
18-SVQ4-0400-510702G-AV
Control number
509640700

Duties

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Advises the Director, Regional Forester, RO Staff, and the Forests on existing and emerging issues and their implications for Forest Service management and policies.

Participates with the Director, other public affairs program managers, Regional Forester, RO Staff, and Forests in developing and implementing strategies, techniques and goals for communicating with the regional media and congressional contacts for the purpose of explaining Forest Service policies, programs and activities.

Prepares in-depth analyses and other information needed by the Region in developing strategy for addressing critical and complex issues.

Plans, organizes, and assists in development of the regional public affairs program, which includes media, congressional coordination on key issues, public involvement and issue management, audiovisual programs, graphic design, partnerships, and volunteer and service programs.

Represents the Region and Forest Service in meetings and discussions involving individuals, groups, and organizations working in support of, or opposing, the policies, programs, and work of the Forest Service.

Provides training in these methods and techniques for the field, the Regional Office, other Public Affairs Specialists, and others as needed.

Assists internal managers with methods to enhance two-way communication between employees and management which encourages honest and meaningful exchange of ideas and other information intended to achieve organizational objectives.

Plans the work to be accomplished by the unit, assigns work to employees, and establishes production or quality standards for the unit’s work. 

Performs administrative and human resources management functions for the unit; provides advice, counsel or instruction on both administrative and work matters



Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email asc_tos@fs.fed.us.

Part-time and intermittent service will be credited on a pro-rated basis, based on the number of hours served. LWOP will be credited for up to six months; anything beyond six months will not be.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement (or date of referral if an Open Continuous announcement) as defined below: For more information on the qualifications for this position, go to: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/group-stds/gs-admin.asp

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.

For the GS-13 level
: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level. Examples of specialized experience are: Evaluating the effectiveness of a public affairs and/or communications program, contributing to long-range plans and developing new methods and techniques in communicating with an agency’s various publics and groups; Researching complex agency programs and developing communication materials using various tools and techniques, such as press releases, Opinion Editorials, multimedia and social media; Researching and analyzing controversial agency programs, assessing public reaction and developing appropriate communication strategies, information materials, campaigns, and programs.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

To receive consideration for this position, you must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Additional information

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AND FINGERPRINT CHECK: Selection and retention in this position is contingent on a successfully adjudicated FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check) and a background investigation.

Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choosing.

E-Verify: Federal law requires agencies to use the E-Verify system to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. If you are selected as a newly hired employee, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS 'E-VERIFY' system. Under the system, the new hire is required to resolve any identified discrepancies as a condition of continued employment.

This position is eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements.

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.

Government housing is not available.

Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.  

For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the; 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website.

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.

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.

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 knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:

    • Knowledge of communication and public affairs principles, methods, practices and techniques.

    • Ability to analyze, develop, and implement a complex communications program.

    • Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

    • Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

    • Ability to supervise and lead a diverse workforce.

    • Ability to determine the need for, plan, coordinate, and conduct public affairs and media activities.

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

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have 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 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://fs.usda.ntis.gov/cp/?event=jobs.previewApplication&jobid=AB0E32A5-5BF0-4A87-802B-A94B00D4681F

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