Clarification from the agency

See Requirements section of this announcement for information on who may apply.

Responsibilities include assessing the informational needs of both internal and external parties; developing and implementing strategies and tactics to advance the programs and activities of the HOB, disseminating information about these programs; responding to requests and maintaining positive relations with stakeholders and the public; and working with numerous Congressional and governmental organizations. This position will have the lead role for communication planning, strategy and implementation of all HOB-related programs and activities in coordination with the LPA Director and the HOB Superintendent.

MAJOR DUTIES:

Formulates and Implements Communications Strategies

• Responsible for strategies and tactics for communication and media initiatives, planning and disseminating public information, internal information, government and community relations for programs and activities of the HOB. Conceptualizes, plans and executes programs and promotes innovative strategies and techniques to ensure awareness and education. Builds and maintains relationships with customers (including Members of Congress and their Staffs) and other stakeholders, other offices within AOC, Federal agencies, advisory bodies and industry partners. Identifies problems and develops solutions for issues that pertain to public and Congressional communications.
• Works in collaboration with AOC LPA to create communications strategies and tactics; works with the media to publicize programs and services, including developing news releases and media briefings; and crafts printed materials. Delivers clear, effective communications and takes responsibility for understanding others.
• Devises new and innovative approaches for determining the success of communications initiatives and develops approaches to strengthen future efforts. Analyzes benefits and cost of accomplishing communications work in-house versus contracting; recommend whether or not to contract; provide technical requirements and descriptions of the work to be accomplished; plan and establish the work schedules, deadlines and standards for acceptable work; coordinate and integrate contractor work schedules and processes. Decides on the acceptability, rejection or correction of work products or services and similar matters that may affect payment to the contractor.
• Acts as the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) for specific communications-related contracts, as assigned. Monitors, reviews and evaluates contractor performance of technical requirements. Manages contracted support, including development of contract specifications, interface with contractors and management of deliverables. Performs market research, price estimates and submittal reviews as needed to develop and implement contracts required to support communication initiatives.

Communication and Information Dissemination

• Manages all public relations and other external/internal communications initiatives for the HOB in coordination with LPA. Plans and formulates policies, programs and procedures governing information dissemination functions. Oversees a communications program involving issues that are controversial or of significant interest to Congress, stakeholders and the public. Develops policies and makes recommendations regarding content and means of dissemination of information to enhance understanding of these groups. Independently determines the potential of public information related to highly visible subjects.
• Applies a broad and comprehensive knowledge of techniques involved in managing public and Congressional communications to achieve effective relationships between the AOC, Members of Congress and their staff, oversight committee staff, the media and other outside organizations in striving to promote and advance its programs and operations. Advises on reaction to proposed policies and programs. Ensures all communications comply with AOC communications standards and strategic messaging is fully coordinated with LPA.
• Integral to the preparation of information for stakeholders, Congressional reports, hearing testimony, information for media organizations and other professional associations and the public. Responsible for writing, editing and assuring quality and consistency in written work by HOB.

Conditions of employment

• You must be able to pass a drug test.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.

To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below:

• A citizen of the United States;
• A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
• A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
• A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or
• A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position.  You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.  Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions.  It is available for your review on the OPM web site at OPM qualification standards
 
Specialized experience: is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.  To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.
 
Candidates for the GS-14 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-13) grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as having experience: (1) Developing and implementing effective communication strategies; (2) Disseminating public information to the general public, media, and various government officials; (3) Planning and formulating policies, programs and procedures governing information dissemination functions; (4) Working with Members of Congress and their staffs, other stakeholders, advisory bodies, industry partners, employees, and senior leadership to provide information about or advance an organization's interests; and (5) Developing news releases, media briefings and crafting printed materials.

How you will be evaluated

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

Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions.

Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement.  The self-assessment questions relate to the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies:

- Mastery knowledge of the laws, policies and regulations of an administrative field sufficient to apply new theories and developments to problems not susceptible to treatment by accepted methods and make decisions or recommendations that significantly change, interpret or develop major public policies or programs.

- Mastery knowledge of a wide range of methods for the assessment and improvement of complex programs, processes and systems.

- Skill to plan, organize and implement programs, plans and proposals involving substantial agency resources or that require extensive changes in established procedures.

- Ability to deal courteously and effectively with people, to motivate and work effectively on teams and exercise tact and diplomacy in spoken and written word.

Your responses to the self assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating.  You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions.  Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter.   Your resume must support your answers to the self assessment questions.  Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or disqualification for further consideration. 

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the “Required Documents” section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).