Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to: U.S. Citizens and Civilian federal employees currently at the GS/GG-14 level, equivalent, or those who want to take a Voluntary Change to Lower Grade

The position serves as a Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist in the Office of Public Affairs (OPA). OPA is part of the Office of Congressional & Public Affairs (OCPA) at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) headquarters. OPA is comprised of three main functional areas: internal communication, external communication, and multimedia. Assigned positions within OCPA are responsible for administering, supervising, or performing work involved in establishing and maintaining mutual communication between NRO, Federal agencies and the general public and various other pertinent publics including internal or external, foreign or domestic audiences. The work involves identifying communication needs and developing informational materials that inform appropriate publics of the agency's policies, programs, services and activities, and plan, execute, and evaluate the effectiveness of information and communication programs in furthering agency goals.

As a SUPV PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST you will be responsible for the following duties:

• Advise staff regarding policies, procedures, and directives of higher-level management or headquarters.
• Advise agency management on policy formulation and the potential public reaction to proposed policy, and identify and carry out the public communications requirements inherent in disseminating policy decisions.
• Administer, supervise, or perform work involved in establishing and maintaining mutual communication between Federal agencies and the general public and various other pertinent publics including internal or external, foreign or domestic audiences.
• Oversee and lead professional staff serving as communications consultants to senior leadership and ensure that staff provides leaders and components with substantive advice and counsel on the development of internal communications, external communications, and/or multimedia.
• Lead staff in the planning, development, and dissemination of information to stakeholders using a full range of media and communication methods; based on assignment, methods may include Town Halls, roundtables, senior principal speeches and Congressional testimony, workforce memorandums, brochures and publications, press releases, questions and answers (Q&A) and frequently asked questions (FAQs) documents, web communications, and/or video presentations.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a US citizen
• Male born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service http://www.sss.gov
• Resume and supporting documents received by 11:59PM EST will be considered
• This is a Drug Testing designated position
• Position is a (DCIPS) position in the Excepted Service under U.S.C. 1601
• Must obtain/maintain Critical Sensitive TS/SCI clearance w/polygraph
• WORK SCHEDULE: Full Time
• OVERTIME: Occasionally
• TOUR OF DUTY: Flexible
• PCS (Permanent Change of Station): Not Authorized.
• FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA): Exempt
• FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Required
• TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position is NOT telework eligible
• COVID19: All Federal Employees must be fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021. Please see, additional information.

Qualifications

This position has a Basic Requirement for the 1035
This position is a Full Performance level DCIPS position. DCIPS Full Performance level positions include GS/GG-14. The NRO is accepting applications from both current Federal Government employees and non-Federal Government employees for this position. Federal Government employees, who currently are GS/GG-14, or equivalent, may ONLY apply for lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step.**Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade IAW DoDI 1400.25 Volume 2006.

This position has a Basic Requirement for the series:

1. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
2. Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
3. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
4. Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened from the Office of Personnel Management's (OPMs) basic qualifications requirements. See: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=1000-ndx OPM qualification standards, competencies and specialized experience needed to perform the duties of the position as described in the MAJOR DUTIES and QUALIFICATIONS sections of this announcement by 01/03/2022

Applicant must have directly applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position. Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience is typically in or directly related to the work of the position to be filled. Experience must be reflected in your resume.

Specialized experience required for this position is:

• Knowledgeable in applying rules, regulations, policies, principles and practices of a Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist;
• Utilizes interpersonal skills and ability to interact with a variety of audiences and convey information to a variety of audiences with different levels of comprehension;
• Understanding of analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to think strategically and to develop and produce complex public affairs information and materials;
• Exhibits ability to manage competing priorities under strict deadlines while maintaining a high level of attention to detail and the superior ability to work effectively with senior leaders in a high profile and demanding office;
• Experience in developing innovative and flexible solutions that result in the identification of new or innovative ways to handle unfamiliar or complex problems, make key contributions to group efforts, and initiatives;
• Ability to direct taskings, assess and manage performance, collaborate on goal setting, and support personal and professional development of all levels of assigned personnel. (Experience must be reflected in your resume)

The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened from the Office of Personnel Management's (OPMs) basic qualifications requirements. See: Qualifications, i.e. for professional positions or positions with a basic education requirement: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/; i.e. for positions with no IOR: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1000/public-affairs-series-1035/) for OPM qualification standards, competencies and specialized experience needed to perform the duties of the position as described in the MAJOR DUTIES and QUALIFICATIONS sections of this announcement by 01/03/2022

Applicant must have directly applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position. Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience is typically in or directly related to the work of the position to be filled. Experience must be reflected in your resume.

Specifically you will be evaluated on the following competencies:

1. Communication Counsel
2. Customer Service
3. Interpersonal Skills
4. Public Affairs Policies and Procedures

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The numeric rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. The score is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the knowledge, skills and abilities required of this position. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.