The National Indian Gaming Commission's primary mission is to work within the framework created by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) for the regulation of gaming activities conducted by tribes on Indian lands to fully realize IGRA's goals: (1) promoting tribal economic development, self-sufficiency and strong tribal governments; (2) maintaining the integrity of the Indian gaming industry; and (3) ensuring that tribes are the primary beneficiaries of their gaming activities.
Summary
The National Indian Gaming Commission's primary mission is to work within the framework created by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) for the regulation of gaming activities conducted by tribes on Indian lands to fully realize IGRA's goals: (1) promoting tribal economic development, self-sufficiency and strong tribal governments; (2) maintaining the integrity of the Indian gaming industry; and (3) ensuring that tribes are the primary beneficiaries of their gaming activities.
The Public Affairs Specialist is responsible for media relations and public engagement program, and assists with reviewing, creating and updating the agency's media relations, strategic engagement, and external information sharing activities for the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC/Commission).
Major duties include but are not limited to the following:
Serves as the primary NIGC press point of contact for external public communications and media interactions. Keeps the Public Affairs Manager and other key NIGC officials informed on matters regarding media relations, community engagement and external issues that may impact the Agency or reaction toward NIGC programs and activities.
In coordination with the Public Affairs Manager reviews and/or develops communications, including talking points related to important actions concerning media inquiries, actions by interagency partners or other significant external entities. Develops and/or reviews external messaging consistent with current NIGC positions.
Analyzes, evaluates and advises management on the impact and effectiveness of media engagements and recommend methods and tactics for increasing audience reach, effectiveness and stakeholder engagement.
Assists with common public affairs tasks, including but not limited to: social media content development and/or posting; audio/visual content production and editing; writing, research and content production in support of the Commission; speechwriting; and drafting official Agency written responses.
Serves as lead for the media relations program. Develops relationships with local, state, trade, and national media outlets and journalists. May routinely meet with members of the press to discuss Agency matters.
Develops and/or reviews NIGC's public statements to media, including press releases, speeches, reports and policy statements. Conducts Agency press conferences, media roundtables, and radio or satellite media tours. Serves as the conduit for all incoming media queries and their responses.
Develops media pitches and engagement proposals for interview opportunities for the Commission and NIGC Subject Matter Experts. Prepares Commission and staff for media interviews and must be able to provide essential information and data to reply to possible questions or comments. Assists in the development of briefing papers for discussion. May accompany key agency officials when appearances are requested by a representative of the media. Serves as the Agency's subject matter expert and primary trainer for NIGC internal media training.
Identifies opportunities to engage with professional organizations and attend tradeshows and conferences to increase awareness and understanding of the NIGC and the mission, policies, and programs of the Commission.
Develops and oversees the annual strategic engagement and public outreach plan, which identifies communication objectives and maps them to stakeholder engagement opportunities with organizations and individuals.
This position is in the excepted service and not subject to competitive service procedures. Competitive Civil Service status is not acquired under this appointment. New appointees to the excepted service must serve a two year trial period. Merit Promotion procedures do not apply.
The NIGC has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be able to telework per agency policy with supervisory approval.
You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education or experience. Resumes must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results.
Mandatory Qualification Criteria:
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Communications, English, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field, PLUS at least 3 years' additional experience as described below under the experience section.
-OR-
EXPERIENCE: A minimum of 8 years' experience developing and executing coordinated media relations programs and providing targeted external and internal communications products, strategies, tactics, and advice to organizational leadership. Experience should include the following:
Expertise conducting media relations, including researching and answering media queries, conducting press events, preparing agency officials for media engagements, and serving as an organization spokesperson.
Experience writing materials, such as speeches, news releases, and news and feature articles, responses to external inquiries that effectively and accurately convey information concerning policies, programs and functions.
Experience developing and maintaining effective working relationships with members of the news media and external stakeholders or constituencies.
Experience developing and implementing national public information media campaigns and programs.
Experience drafting press releases, pitches, case studies, white papers and/or media summaries.
Expertise tracking, measuring and analyzing media coverage and reach to inform future campaigns using media monitoring services (e.g. Cision, Meltwater, MuckRack, or similar).
Experience identifying opportunities for external outreach and engagement to spotlight an organization's programs or policies.
Desirable Qualification Criteria:
The following qualifications are desired, but not required.
Specialized Education: Master's degree in Public Relations, Public Affairs, Communications, English or a related field; or certified professional education credit from PRSA, PAC, an accredited college, university, or federal department program; or Accreditation in Public Relations Certification (APR).
Specialized Experience: At least 7 years' experience (3 years federal experience) which includes applying principles and using methods in conducting a public affairs program involving public information, internal information, media relations, and community relations activities for internal and external audiences.
Specialized experience: At least 2 years' experience in public relations and communications as related to the gaming industry, with a focus on Tribal gaming, casino operations, gaming regulation or gaming industry outreach and marketing.
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements.
Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4
Additional information
Important Note : All National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) employees are subject to the conflict of interest restrictions imposed upon all employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and may be required to file a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-Form 278) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest and your prospective position with the agency. This information will be required annually .
Employees must be totally objective and impartial in the performance of their work. All potential issues (e.g.: work related interactions with friends, family members or previous employers) must be disclosed at the time of application or during the interview process.
This position is in the excepted service and not subject to competitive service procedures.
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.
Effective January 1, 2010, OPM must authorize any employment offers we make to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES (political) employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.
Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.
A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work with the National Indian Gaming Commission. The preliminary background check consists of a search of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense background investigation files and an FBI National Criminal History Fingerprint Check; it may take up to 3 weeks to complete. If selected for this position, you will be extended a tentative offer of employment pending a satisfactory background check. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check; these will be handled on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the Bureau Security Office.
For additional information about the National Indian Gaming Commission, please visit: www.nigc.gov .
NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Your resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement and OPM qualification standards for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. It is strongly recommended that you use the USAJobs Resume Builder as it was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. The Resume Builder is available at https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/How_to_create_your_resume.
Your application package must include: (1) Resume showing relevant experience as written in your own words.(2) Completed online Assessment Questionnaire; (3) College transcript (if applicable) for verification of qualifying education. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; (4) Certificates, license, etc. (if applicable)
NOTE: If you submit an incomplete application, you will be given credit only for the information you provide. You are responsible for submitting all required documentation in support of your application in order to receive full credit for your experience, education, training, veterans preference, and/or Indian preference.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents. To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.
To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to E.O. 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
Office of the Secretary
45600 Woodland Road
Sterling, VA 20166
US
Next steps
You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJobs account. You will receive an acknowledgment from USAJobs that your submission was successful, once we have received your on-line assessment questionnaire, resume and any supporting documentation. You will be notified of the status of your application via your USAJobs account after we conduct a qualification review of your complete application package. You will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Your resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements as stated in this vacancy announcement and OPM qualification standards for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. It is strongly recommended that you use the USAJobs Resume Builder as it was designed to ensure that your resume includes the standard information needed. The Resume Builder is available at https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/How_to_create_your_resume.
Your application package must include: (1) Resume showing relevant experience as written in your own words.(2) Completed online Assessment Questionnaire; (3) College transcript (if applicable) for verification of qualifying education. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; (4) Certificates, license, etc. (if applicable)
NOTE: If you submit an incomplete application, you will be given credit only for the information you provide. You are responsible for submitting all required documentation in support of your application in order to receive full credit for your experience, education, training, veterans preference, and/or Indian preference.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. To apply on-line, you must complete and submit an application by accessing the USAJOBS website at www.usajobs.gov. To begin, click the Apply Online button near the bottom of this screen and follow the prompts to register into your USAJOBS account, answer the questions, and submit all required documents. To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at www.usajobs.gov and click on "Application Status." Click on the position title, and then select Apply Online to continue.
To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to E.O. 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
Office of the Secretary
45600 Woodland Road
Sterling, VA 20166
US
Next steps
You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJobs account. You will receive an acknowledgment from USAJobs that your submission was successful, once we have received your on-line assessment questionnaire, resume and any supporting documentation. You will be notified of the status of your application via your USAJobs account after we conduct a qualification review of your complete application package. You will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background checks, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the Human Resources Office posting this announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
