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Public Affairs Specialist (Recent Graduate)

Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Inspector General
Immediate Office
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Health And Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Immediate Office.

You must meet the requirements of the job by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date: 07/30/2021

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/20/2021 to 07/30/2021
Salary
$60,129 to - $78,167 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Location
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
HHS-OIG-RG-21-11177084
Control number
608048800

This job is open to

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Recent graduates

Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute or certificate program within the last 2 years or 6 years for Veterans.

Clarification from the agency

US Citizens - Recent Graduates

Duties

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Must be a recent graduate - Applicants must have completed within the previous two years a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution; OR be a veteran, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 2108, who due to military service obligation, was precluded from applying to the Recent Graduate Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon his/her release or discharge from active duty.

The incumbent of this position conducts a public affairs program for HHS OIG with responsibility for planning, and communicating the organization's programs, policies, and activities. Transmits informational materials to a variety of publics to enhance the understanding of certain attitudes and practices advocated by the organization.

Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with representatives of the print and broadcast media and national organizations interested in the aspects of the agency's programs. Analyzes work products, public engagements for content, accuracy, balance, placement, audience, source timeliness, message, frequency and subsequent related postings related to HHS OIG operations.

Maintains targeted outreach campaigns through research, planning, writing, production, and posting of content on digital media platforms to facilitate public understanding of the agency's work.

Uses a variety of methods and techniques in achieving communication goals such as producing news releases, broadcast scripts, feature articles, media interviews, news conferences, exhibits, brochures, pamphlets, social media content, etc.

Recommends specific information activities designed to meet these challenges. Analyzes information needs in terms of the stakeholder needs to be met and provides advice on program information problems to program staff.

Prepares plans for campaigns to disseminate information about organization's programs. Organizes campaigns to bring about timely and coordinated use of all tools and skills available in the organization, within the agency, and with cooperating State and other Federal agencies. Prepares basic campaign materials including fact sheets, news releases, feature articles, broadcast scripts, and other materials.

Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with federal and state officials, extension services and other cooperating agencies as well as with online, print and broadcast media, and industry organizations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S Citizenship is required.
  • Registration with the Selective Service (if applicable).
  • Suitability for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
  • One-year probationary period may be required.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements, including education, and any selective placement factors described below within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Education used as part of an application package will only be considered if complete transcripts are submitted and must be from an accredited institution as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. To see if your institution is accredited, please follow this link: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx

Positive Education Requirement: This position has a position education requirement, as indicated below. A complete transcript showing relevant coursework and degrees must be submitted with your application package. A list of completed courses or incomplete transcripts will not be accepted.

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following experience:

  • Assisting with preparing communication items such as fact sheets, news releases, and broadcast scripts;
  • Communicating agency mission and activities through social media, web, and other platforms; and
  • Utilizing at least two of the following Microsoft Office functions: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Desktop Publishing.
Applicants may substitute two full years of graduate level education leading to a master's degree, or possess a master's or higher degree, in Public Affairs work that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of this position. (Eighteen semester hours is generally equivalent to one year of graduate education). NOTE: Applicants must submit supporting transcripts if qualifying based on education. OR

Applicants may combine graduate level education and specialized experience to equal one year of specialized experience. To compute this, first determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required under letter A above. (For example, 6 months of professional experience equals 50% of the experience requirement.) Then, determine your graduate education as a percentage of the education required under B above. (For example, 9 semester hours of creditable graduate work equals 50% of the education required.) Add the two percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. The first 18 semester hours may not be credited towards specialized experience. NOTE: Applicants must submit supporting transcripts if any part of qualifications is based on education.

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. Your resume should include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.

Education

Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click on the link for a list of accrediting organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials.

Additional information

Recruitment Incentives: Payment for relocation expenses is not authorized for this position. A recruitment bonus will not be offered. Repayment of student loans will not be offered. Private sector work experience may be approved as credit for your Annual Leave accrual.

Security and Background Requirements: A background security investigation will be required for all appointees. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. In addition, if hired, a background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time. Applicants are also advised that all information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.

E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires, and as a condition of continued employment obligates the new hire to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is an E-Verify Participant.

Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

Career Transition Program (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Documentation: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee eligible for consideration under the CTAP or ICTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility. Appropriate documentation such as a reduction-in-force (RIF) separation notice, an SF-50 reflecting your RIF separation, or a notice of proposed removal for declining a directed reassignment or transfer of function to another commuting area. You MUST also submit documentation to reflect your current (or last) performance rating of record along with your application package. Those eligible for consideration will need to be rated as well-qualified at 85.0 or above on the rating criteria for this position in order to exercise selection priority. For more information about ICTAP, go to: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition.

EEO Statement: HHS is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status, or other differences.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education, and training will be rated using a job questionnaire that is based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Communications and Media
  • Written Communication


This agency uses Category Rating Procedures. Under Delegated Examining (All U.S. Citizens), we will use your responses to the job questionnaire to place you in one of three categories. If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:
  • Best Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a superior level of all evaluation criteria.
  • Well Qualified: Applicants possessing a background that demonstrates a satisfactory level of evaluation criteria.
  • Qualified: Applicants possessing the basic qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.
The 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 quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

If, after reviewing your resume and any supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses will be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

Your resume must document specialized experience and support your responses to the vacancy questions.

You will be evaluated on the following:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Communications and Media
  • Written Communication

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11177084

Selections may be made for vacancies across the entire Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). By applying, you agree to allow your application and other personal information to be shared with one or more HHS hiring officials for employment consideration for same/similar positions within the location(s) identified in this announcement.

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