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Press Assistant

General Services Administration
Office of Strategic Communication
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Announcement amended to include additional Requirements. 

As a Press Assistant, you will be responsible for generating positive, national media coverage for GSA and its initiatives, products, and services.

Location of position: GSA, Office of Strategic Communication, 1800 F Street, NW, Washington, DC

The Office of Strategic Communication is responsible for using communication to help the agency meet its mission and business goals.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
09/29/2021 to 10/12/2021
Salary
$87,198 to - $113,362 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
Washington, DC
Few vacancies
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required for meetings and/or training.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
22STFB001FMDE
Control number
615840900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

US Citizens and National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)

Duties

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Assists in developing and administering plans for public appearances and social engagements for GSA, including establishing and coordinating a variety of protocol requirements for ceremonies, official recognitions, etc.  Assists in developing strategy surrounding proactive communication and responses to inquiries, including researching and writing comprehensive GSA press releases, press social media advisories, and any subsequent edits and/or follow-ups as needed, which involves consulting and coordinating with GSA subject-matter experts.  Establishes and maintains relations with the communication media providing them with a wide variety of information on issues related to the agency's operation, including overseeing all arrangements with the media involving agency activities, and provides photographs and other material, as required.  Tracks daily media inquiries and prepares daily status report of all inquiries to ensure all inquiries are being handled and information is communicated effectively and in line with the appropriate messaging.  Executes the strategic media and communications plans developed by the Press Secretary and Associate Administrator to maintain public confidence in and understanding for GSA programs and missions.  Assists with managing the routine operations of meetings, to include preparing agendas and meeting notes;  maintaining operational documents; participating in meetings; preparing for press conferences, public affairs events, and radio and television appearances by coordinating with events management, marketing and public affairs professionals to combine the essential information needed to inform and facilitate the Administrator's participation.  Conducts research on a variety of documents to gather, correlate, analyze, determine and recommend solutions; analyzes policies to determine the impact  and consequences of current GSA policy, practices and/or procedures; and maintains and follows established record schedules to ensure proper storage or disposal of subject matter files.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizens and National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
  • Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date
  • Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959
  • Direct Deposit of salary check to financial organization required.

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

  • Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch.
  • Serve a one year probationary period, if required.
  • Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 2 investigation level).
  • Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee.  We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.
  • As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal executive branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before appointment or onboarding with the agency (if later than November 22, 2021). The agency will provide additional information regarding which forms of documentation can be accepted and how you can request a legally required exception from this requirement.  If selected and you are a current GSA employee (except in the OIG), you are not required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination if this requirement has already been met.
  • Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement within 45 days. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework one or more days a pay period depending upon the terms of the agency’s telework policy.

Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide:

  • the exact dates you held  each job (from month/year to month/year)
  • number of hours per week you worked (if part time).    

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

For a brief video on creating a Federal resume, click here

The GS-12 salary range starts at $87,198.00 per year.   

If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.  

To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or higher in the Federal service.  Specialized experience is defined as experience developing responses to media inquiries, press releases, strategies to produce timely coverage of important issues and breaking new stories; developing written informational materials for dissemination to the general public; and responding to news media inquiries either personally or arranging for a response by officials.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Bargaining Unit status:  Not applicable

Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.  

Travel expenses associated with interviews may be approved. Determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis.

On a case-by-case basis, the following incentives may be approved:

  • Recruitment incentive if you are new to the federal government
  • Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior non-Federal work experience or uniformed service experience.

We are currently filling one vacancy, but additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area, as needed; through other means; or not at all.  

If you are eligible under Merit Promotion, you may also apply under Vacancy Announcement #22STFB002FMMP.  You must apply separately to each announcement to be considered for both.

This is not a full-time telework position.  The selectee will be expected to report to the duty location stated in this announcement on a routine basis.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will use a method called Category Rating to assess your application.  Here’s how it will work:

  • You will be scored on the questions you answer during the application process, which will measure your possession of the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities:
  1. Ability to apply knowledge of communication and protocol principles, methods, practices and techniques.
    1a. Ability to establish and maintain relationships with management officials at all levels.
  2. Skill in providing briefings and communicating through blog posts and/or press materials.
    2a. Ability to write clearly and concisely.
    2b. Ability to disseminate information using tact and diplomacy.
  3. Knowledge of administrative techniques, and methodologies to develop substantive program information and briefing materials.
  4. Ability to apply knowledge of the organizational structure, mission, functions, programs, priorities and policy issues of an organization and its constituent offices and agencies that impact on the final products.
  5. Ability to handle communications, scheduling, and coordination with several individuals from inside and outside an organization simultaneously.
    5a. Ability to multi-task under pressure and under tight deadlines.
  6. Skill in analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and developing recommendations.
    6a. Ability to synthesize complex information into summary form.

Your answers to the questions will be used to place you in one of three categories:  Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified.

We will verify your answers to the questions in your resume.  If your resume doesn’t support your answers, we may lower your score, which could place you in a lower category.

Within each category, veterans will receive selection priority over non-veterans.

Additional assessments may be used, and, if so, you will be provided with further instructions.

If you are eligible under Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan or GSA’s Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP/CTAP), you must receive a score of 85 or higher to receive priority.


To preview questions please click here.

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