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Public Affairs Specialist

Legislative Branch
Library of Congress
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Communications, Office of Communications and External Relations, Office of the Librarian.

The position description number for this position is 360665.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.

The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
04/10/2020 to 05/11/2020
Salary
$72,030 to - $112,240 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Position
Work schedule
Full-time - Flexitime.
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
VAR001208
Control number
565334200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Anyone may apply - By law, employment at most U.S. Government agencies, including the Library of Congress, is limited to U.S. citizens. However, non-citizens may be hired, provided that other legal requirements are met and the Library determines there are no qualified U.S. citizens available for the position.

Duties

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GS-11:

Prepare, with supervision, news releases, articles or op-eds to be proposed for publication, and website material using a voice and terminology appropriate to the situation or the audience; perform outreach to media and other interested parties regarding pending Library news conferences, concerts, seminars, book talks or other events to promote attendance and news coverage. Assist with providing recommendations for new projects and shifts in program objectives. Analyze public and media reaction to the Library's programs and policies and develop strategies to let the Library establish, maintain and build on positive perception of its programs, policies, services and activities. Gather input from individuals and groups. Develop varied strategies to communicate the Library's objectives to various groups. Establish and maintain effective working relationships at multiple levels within the Library in order to develop and disseminate coordinated messages that accurately address Library programs.

Support public-affairs outreach for a specific set of Library programs and issue, identifying opportunities to reach new audiences with information and content developed in consultation with various Library staff.

Perform other Office of Communications duties as required, including group-based planning activities, support of such major events as the National Book Festival and the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, launching of new Library exhibitions or Library of Congress projects.

GS-12:

Write news releases, articles or op-eds to be proposed for publication, and website material using a voice and terminology appropriate to the situation or the audience; perform outreach to media and other interested parties regarding pending Library news conferences, concerts, seminars, book talks or other events to promote attendance and news coverage. Provide recommendations for new projects and shifts in program objectives. Analyze public and media reaction to the Library's programs and policies and develop strategies to let the Library establish, maintain and build on positive perception of its programs, policies, services and activities. Develop new ways to gather input from individuals and groups, some of which have conflicting views and interests. Develop varied strategies to communicate the Library's objectives to groups unacquainted with, or sometimes opposed to, the Library's programs. Establish and maintain effective working relationships at multiple levels within the Library in order to develop and disseminate coordinated messages that accurately address Library programs. Lead teams within the Office of Communications or as designated within the Library to promote Library programs.

Manages Media Outreach Program for a specific set of Library programs and issue, identifying opportunities to reach new audiences with information and content developed in consultation with various Library staff.

Perform other Office of Communications duties as required, including group-based planning activities, support of such major events as the National Book Festival and the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, and launching of new Library exhibitions and other Library of Congress projects.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

No additional requirements to those listed above.

Qualifications

Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.

GS-11:

Ability to perform outreach activities.**

Knowledge of marketing principles and techniques for creating, producing, and distributing informational and promotional materials.**

Ability to communicate in English and Spanish.**

Ability to interact collaboratively with others to provide liaison services.

Ability to attend to detail.

Ability to present information orally.

GS-12:

Ability to perform outreach activities.**

Knowledge of marketing principles and techniques for creating, producing, and distributing informational and promotional materials.**

Ability to communicate in English and Spanish.**

Ability to interact collaboratively with others to provide liaison services.

Ability to attend to detail.

Ability to present information orally.

Additional information

Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid the minimum step of the grade.

The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email ADA@loc.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant’s college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application.  Certification from health care providers are not accepted. For more information contact the Library's Office of EEO/Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.
 
The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation.

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period. 

The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans. However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans. Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit.

A “Not to Exceed“ (NTE) status is used to identify an appointment with a specific ending date. However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints.

Are you a veteran?  Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim.  Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214.  Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form.  If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.
 

How you will be evaluated

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

The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview. The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview. The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.

For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section X.D, at: http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/msp010909.pdf.


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