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Public Affairs Specialist

Department of State
Department of State - Agency Wide
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Position is in the Bureau of Global Public Affairs, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Media Strategy, International Media Office, Foreign Press Center Division, DC Press Center Unit (GPA/IM/FP/DC) promotes accuracy, objectivity, and balance in foreign reporting from the U.S. by providing foreign media representatives with direct access to authoritative sources of information about U.S. foreign policy and key domestic developments.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/12/2022 to 12/23/2022
Salary
$89,834 to - $138,868 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be 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
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
HRSC/GPA-2023-0003
Control number
693828700

Duties

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  • At the GS-12 level, the incumbent performs essentially the same duties as outlined below however, the scope and complexity of assignments are of less responsibility and independence and receives closer than normal supervision than the GS-13 level.
  • Provides opportunities for foreign correspondents to gain meaningful insights into the political, economic, social, and cultural context in which U.S. foreign policy is made by coordinating media programs, reporting tours and other programs.
  • Leads the planning, development and implementation of new foreign media relations programs in response to new requirements i.e. shifts in U.S. foreign policy, changing global conditions, or other conditions affecting the dissemination of information.
  • Researches and analyzes foreign media information requirements, develops programs to ensure that information requirements are met effectively and in a manner that promotes balanced reporting of U.S. foreign affairs matters.
  • Assesses news stories, documentaries, and messaging narratives for their accuracy in depicting or interpreting U.S. foreign policy and other aspects of American government and society for accuracy of balanced issues.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement.

Applicants for the GS-12 grade:

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

  • Experience implementing major public information programs designed to provide foreign journalists with access to accurate and reliable information about U.S. foreign policy initiatives.
  • Experience researching methods to collect and analyze information that meets the needs of foreign audiences and promotes objective reporting of U.S. foreign policy objectives.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position.

Applicants for the GS-13 grade:

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

  • Experience establishing and maintaining productive relationships with foreign media representatives.
  • Experience applying advanced research and analysis to accurately assess the information requirements of foreign audiences and to determine the most appropriate approaches for disseminating information.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

Additional information

  • For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (202) 663-3474 or OAA@state.gov.
  • If eligible, telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval.
  • Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.  If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days.  Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions. 

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 resume will be conducted and compared against your responses to the assessment questions to determine if you are qualified for this job.  Note:  Responses to questions that are not fully supported by the information in your resume may result in adjustments to your rating. 

Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements, as described in the “Qualifications” section of this announcement, will be assigned to one of three quality categories:

  1. Qualified - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must demonstrate a basic level of the required competencies (knowledge, skills and abilities) for the position.
  2. Well Qualified - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in some but not all of the required competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities) for the position.
  3. Highly Qualified - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must fully demonstrate proficiency in all of the required competencies (knowledge, skills and abilities) for the position.

Highly Qualified applicants may be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview.  The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities) required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies:

  • Knowledge of the media environment as well as the principles and techniques of journalism or media relations.
  • Ability to understand trends in public and media attitudes.
  • Knowledge of foreign policy and public affairs.
  • Ability to identify problems and recommend solutions.
  • Skill in developing and implementing outreach strategies and communications plans.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the Highly Qualified category. Other 10-point preference eligible and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligible applicants within the category in which they qualify.  View information on veterans' preference on OPM’s Fed Hire Vets website.

Agency and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never been a Federal employee, you are not CTAP or ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category for this position and submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement to receive consideration for selection priority. 


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