Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals. Note: Federal employees with permanent status or individuals eligible for special appointing authorities may also apply to Job Announcement #20R-SA- 305282-MPA-OCEA.

The incumbent will supervises a staff of Public Affairs Specialists, Writer-Editors, and others involved in public relations and internal communications work who support and manage the communications and media relations for most pan-institution and multi-unit projects and initiatives and provide media relations services for SI units that do not have public affairs staff. The incumbent reports to the Director of OPA.

The incumbent will also perform the following duties:

• Plans and carries out the full range of supervisory and managerial authorities related to assignment of work.
• Provides overall management and direction over the OPA staff, contractors and/or of ad hoc teams assembled for special projects.
• Plans, directs and executes national and international communications campaigns to convey complex information concerning Smithsonian programs, research on program related areas, responsibilities, and outreach activities.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with members of the top tier national and international news media, specialized groups interested in SI programs, as well as with non-SI museums and various academic and research organizations.
• Responds to information requests from local, regional, national and international news media, as well as specialized and general public, on various programs in written and oral form, often requiring detailed explanations of performance in a particular situation.
• Serves as principal advisor to the Director of OPA and the Assistant Secretary for Communications and External Affairs on all media matters.

Conditions of employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
• May need to complete a Probationary Period
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service
• May be required to serve an 18-month probationary period for supervisors.

Qualification requirements must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE:

You qualify for this GS-14 position if you possess one year of specialized experience at the GS-13 level.  For this position specialized experience is 1) Leading or supervising a staff in the public affairs field; 2) Overseeing the quality and consistency of all external communication, this includes written material, publications, press releases, brochures, and the information online; 3) Ensuring timely performance of work by subordinates and assuring quality standards are met; and 4) Serving as public relations and communication professional as it relates to fostering relationships and interests among major general public and external stakeholder segments.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the average number of hours per week spent in such employment.

How you will be evaluated

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

The online questionnaire will evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below:

• Leadership Skill.

• Knowledge of principles, methods and techniques of media relations and public affairs.

• Written Communication.

• Oral Communication.

Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:

Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job related competencies above.

Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job related competencies above.

Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job related competencies above to a substantive degree.

This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.

Important Note: Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience.