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Public Affairs Specialist

Department of Commerce
Minority Business Development Agency
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency, Washington, DC. The primary purpose of this position is to implement MBDA’s media/press program, including public outreach
efforts through work with media products, and to inform and educate both internal and external audiences about MBDA, its mission, programs, and policy priorities

Overview

Help
Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/13/2022 to 05/23/2022
Salary
$89,834 to - $138,868 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
Washington, DC
MANY vacancies
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
DOC-MBDA-2022-0327
Control number
654345700

Duties

Help

  1. Plans, implements, and coordinates press conferences, media interviews, issue briefings and other media related events.
  2. Works with radio, television, printed media and editors of on-line news sources, as well as organizational groups and business communities, to ensure coverage and support of MBDA objectives.
  3. Develops communication plans, prepares/clears briefing materials, identifies/summarizes national & regional news impacting an organization’s, evaluates public resources/information & recommends public release of information.
  4. Responds to media inquiries, drafts and edits executive level speeches, talking points, radio scripts, opinion-editorials and other types of multi-media communications consistent with an organization’s messages and priorities.
  5. Plans and executes public information programs and specific public relations campaigns considering the audience, the complexity of the subject and available communications technologies.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment


  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position.
  • A probationary period may be required.
  • License required: No
  • Pre-employment physical required: No
  • Bargaining Unit Position: Yes
  • Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses (will or will not) be paid.
  • You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
  • If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

Qualifications

Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Specialized Experience requirements as noted below.

Specialized Experience:  To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Analyzing and evaluating materials as they relate to public affairs issues and media engagement.
• Developing digital communication materials to promote awareness of mission, initiatives, and activities.
• Assisting in the development of information campaigns using current and emerging web-based communications strategies and technologies (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube Instagram, blogs, etc.).
• Assisting w/ planning press conferences, community engagements, and/or other public affairs outreach efforts to a wide range of audiences.

Specialized Experience: To qualify at the GS-13 grade level, applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in federal service. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Evaluating the effectiveness of public affairs and/or communications program, contributing to long-range plans, and developing new methods and techniques in communicating organizational initiatives, policies, and programs.
• Researching complex agency programs and developing digital communication materials to promote awareness of mission, initiatives, and activities.
• Overseeing an organization's interaction with the press, including the development of press releases/statements/summaries, media advisories, background statements, and press conferences.
• Preparing executive-level speeches, talking points, presentations, and/or questions and answers.
• Development of information campaigns using current and emerging web-based communications strategies and technologies (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, blogs, etc.).

NOTE(s):

  • Experience: Your resume must support your claim of experience, or you may be found ineligible.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification claims will be subject to verification.

Note: 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.

Education

Education may not be used or combined to qualify for this position.

We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process.

Preview job questionnaire

Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

Additional information

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Commerce requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet these standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for Non-Sensitive clearance as a condition of placement in this moderate position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support, and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Work Location: The physical worksite for this position is located in Washington DC. The nature and scope of future telework opportunities will be subject to the unit’s telework policy, any applicable bargaining unit agreements, and supervisory approval.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Promotion Potential: When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval. 

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP): This program applies to Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed, or employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the Competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must 1) meet eligibility criteria for CTAP or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP), 2) will be eligible if it is determined that you have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out 100, and 3) Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for this position. See Workforce Restructuring.

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 minimum qualification requirements. Best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview. The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:

  • Technical Competence
  • Written Communication
  • Planning and Evaluating
If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the job opportunity announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions) and place you in one of three pre-defined categories. These categories are GoldSilver , and Bronze . Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Candidates placed in the Gold  category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

The Category Rating process does not add veteran’s preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher). For more information on category rating, please see Category Rating .

Veterans Preference: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-Point Preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 Members Copy 4, or an official statement that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days from the date the certification is signed. This must include your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions. If you are claiming 10-Point Preference, in addition to the DD-214 Members Copy-4, you must also submit the Application for 10-Point Veterans Preference, SF-15 , and required supporting documents listed on that form. See Feds Hire Vets for more information on veterans preferences.

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