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Communications Specialist

Federal Housing Finance Agency
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The incumbent works in the Office of Congressional Affairs and Communication and supports the Supervisory Communications Specialist on a variety of Agency communications strategies pertaining to internal staff.

This is not a remote position. Employees must report to the building each week per the telework agreement.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
01/26/2023 to 02/01/2023
Salary
$70,549 to - $112,174 per year
Pay scale & grade
EL 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington
Remote job
No
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
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
OCAC-23-03 DE
Control number
702087900

Duties

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The incumbent assists the Supervisory Communications Specialist in carrying out the Agency's internal communications strategy, including, but not limited to drafting the internal newsletter, crafting briefing documents for internal events, creating digital signage, and supporting the production of internal events and videos.

The incumbent addresses communication needs and gaps and develops informational materials that inform staff of the Agency's policies, programs, services, and activities. The incumbent executes and later evaluates the effectiveness of information and communication programs in furthering Agency goals.

The incumbent writes and edits appropriate intranet materials for spelling/grammar, readability, punctuation, continuity, and consistency with Agency policy.

The incumbent will work collaboratively with subject matter experts and other communications specialists. The incumbent will also work with External Communications Specialists, Congressional Affairs Specialists and Agency Webmaster as needed.

The incumbent monitors communications channel content to ensure that it remains current and accurate. The incumber will have experience with graphical illustration skills, web design, strategic, and visual communications plans. Experience using graphic design fundamentals to conceptualize ideas and information. Experience developing, reviewing, and editing materials for distribution for internal customers.

Experience working with senior leadership to design effective communication strategies, develop and execute strategies and processes to expand and refresh communication products. Experience in crafting briefing documents for internal events, creating digital signage, and supporting the production of internal events and videos.

The incumbent performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • This is not a remote position. Employees must follow the agency or division telework policy.
  • Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period

Qualifications


Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume.

Qualifying Experience

Qualifying experience for the EL/GS-09 level includes one year of specialized experience at the equivalent to EL/GS-7 or higher and/or education which is directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Specialized experience required

  • Experience with graphical illustration skills, web design, strategic, and visual communications plans.
  • Experience using graphic design fundamentals to conceptualize ideas and information,
  • Experience developing, reviewing, and editing materials for distribution for internal customers
  • Experience working with senior leadership to design effective communication strategies, develop and execute strategies and processes to expand and refresh communication products.
  • Experience in crafting briefing documents for internal events, creating digital signage, and supporting the production of internal events and videos.
OR

Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a related field of study, such as Communications, Language Arts, Media, Political Science or other closely related field. Equivalent combination of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.


Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans.

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.

FHFA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, disability (physical or mental), age (40 years of age or over), genetic information, parental status, marital status, prior protected EEO activity, political affiliation, or other non-merit factors.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

FHFA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, except when doing so would pose an undue hardship on the Agency. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify FHFA. The Agency's decision on granting a reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.


Ethics: FHFA employees are subject to government-wide ethical standards of conduct, financial disclosure requirements, and post-employment prohibitions. In addition, certain FHFA employees are prohibited from accepting compensation from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for a two-year period after terminating employment with FHFA. Furthermore, to avoid financial conflicts-of interest or the appearance of conflicts-of-interest, FHFA employees may need to divest or sell certain assets they, their spouse, or minor children own or control, including securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the Federal Home Loan Banks. Employees who work on Federal Home Loan Bank issues may need to sell or divest financial interests with any of the Federal Home Loan Bank members, which may include stock in bank holding companies, insurance companies, and other financial services firms. Questions regarding these requirements and prohibitions should be directed to the Office of General Counsel at (202) 649-3088.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:

How you will be evaluated

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

All applicants will be rated on the following competencies for this announcement:

Competencies:

  • Customer Service
  • Message Development & Delivery
  • Oral Communication
  • Writing


Please click here to preview the assessment Questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11815611


Applicants for this position who meet the basic qualification requirements for this vacancy will be rated according to Category Rating Procedures. ***

Candidates applying for this position are applying under delegated examining procedures and will undergo a multi-tiered evaluation process. A subject-matter expert will determine if you possess the competencies and skills required for the position. Candidates successfully achieving the competency/skill review will be evaluated for eligibilities and minimum qualification requirements by human resources.

Finally, you will be rated according to Category Rating Procedures. Based on your veteran's status and responses to the job specific questioner you will be assigned to a pre-defined quality category. There will be three quality categories: Highly Qualified, Well Qualified and Qualified. Generally, only candidates in the top-quality category will be referred to the hiring manager for selection.

Best Qualified - Applicants who have experience that is almost identical to those required by the position. (95)

Well Qualified - Applicants who have experience that is very similar to those required by the position. (85)

Qualified - Applicants who meet minimum qualification requirements, but do not identify any additional qualifying experience or skill. (70)

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' 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 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher).



All of the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application forms, by checking references or through other means, such as the interview process. This verification could occur at any stage of the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for rating you ineligible.

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