Skip to main content
U.S. flag

Public Affairs Specialist (Direct Hire)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Headquarters, NASA
This job announcement has closed

Summary

As a Managing Editor or Public Engagement Manager within the Earth Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, you will be responsible for setting tactical direction and overseeing the implementation of NASA's Earth science communications and public engagement materials, activities, web and social media presence, special events and apps. You will lead a team of highly skilled specialists and pursue opportunities for expanded collaboration.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open date: 04/29/2022
Closed date: 05/03/2022
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Salary
$106,823 - $164,102 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 14
Promotion potential
14
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
HQ-22-DE-11477121-RW
Control number
651578900

Videos

Duties

Help
  • Duties described below are at the full-performance level. Duties assigned at a lower grade level will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee.
  • Lead production of Earth science communications and public engagement materials and activities, including written materials, social media, multimedia content such as videos, website materials, and public engagement events.
  • Write/edit media products that explain and interpret complex research programs and projects, resulting in a better understanding of agency Earth Science activities and increase understanding and support of plans, programs, and activities.
  • Manage editorial writing, copy editing, and assignment editing, including for multimedia content, of Earth science communications and public engagement materials and events.
  • Align and coordinate NASA's Earth science communications and public engagement materials and events with interagency and international partners.
  • Oversee development and implementation of messaging for NASA's Earth science communications and public engagement materials and activities, ensuring consistency with broader NASA and Science Mission Directorate messages.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S
  • Position subject to pre-employment background investigation
  • You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement
  • Please see the "Additional Information" section for important information about COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal employees.

Qualifications

You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, which has equipped you with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position described above.

To qualify for GS-13, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level

  • Planning, developing, coordinating, and implementing materials, events and/or activities that reach intended audiences in support of Earth or Space science communication or public engagement programs and goals.
  • Developing Earth or Space science communication or public engagement materials and/or activities and sharing information before and after engagement activities to enhance future initiatives.
  • Identifying goals and/or objectives for Earth or Space science communication or public engagement efforts to support broader organizational goals.

To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level
  • Lead the planning, developing, coordinating, and implementing of materials, events and/or activities that reach intended audiences in support of Earth or Space science communication or public engagement programs and goals.
  • Lead the development of Earth or Space science communication or public engagement materials and/or activities, and sharing information before and after activities to enhance future initiatives.
  • Lead in identifying goals and/or objectives for Earth or Space science communication or public engagement efforts to support broader organizational goals.
Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

If you are selected, NASA may request information regarding your vaccination status for the purposes of implementing workplace safety protocols, such as masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must:
- Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
- Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position
- Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents'

For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap.

How you will be evaluated

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

Direct Hire Authority: These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and veterans' preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet.

Veterans: Under the provisions of Direct Hire Authority, veterans' preference does not apply. However, applicants who are eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214, or other substantiating documents). For more information on please see: Veterans' Preference information on the FedsHireVets website.

You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements listed in this vacancy announcement. To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

You will be assessed on the following competencies:

  • Communications and Media
  • Public Communications and Outreach
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Written Communication

NASA considers 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.

Headquarters, NASA

Explore the Extraordinary
Calling all the innovators, pioneers, visionaries, and adventurers! We are a diverse group of professionals united by a common purpose: to discover and expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity. We're building on our rich legacy by embarking on new and exciting missions, both on Earth and beyond and we're looking for fresh ideas to help us get there. Do you have a passion for exploration? Do you want your work to leave an enduring impact? Join us in a career that can take you farther than you can imagine. At NASA, our work is more than just a profession-it's a lifelong pursuit, a passion, and a chance to change the world. NASA is more than astronauts. We are scientists, engineers, IT specialists, human resources specialists, accountants, writers, technicians and many other kinds of people working together to break barriers to achieve the seemingly impossible.

Explore the extraordinary, every day; explore a career at NASA!

Agency contact information

NASA Shared Services Contact Center
Phone
1-877-677-2123
Fax
1-866-779-6772
Email
nssc-contactcenter@mail.nasa.gov
Address
NASA Headquarters
300 E St SW
Washington, DC 20546
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Headquarters, NASA, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.nasa.gov/careers

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.