The Public Affairs Specialist is responsible for helping manage public engagement and reputation of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) with particular emphasis on media relations and external communication. This includes craft writing and editing news and informational material about SAO science, coordinating interview and filming requests, and helping develop and leverage relationships with key media stakeholders.
Summary
The Public Affairs Specialist is responsible for helping manage public engagement and reputation of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) with particular emphasis on media relations and external communication. This includes craft writing and editing news and informational material about SAO science, coordinating interview and filming requests, and helping develop and leverage relationships with key media stakeholders.
Yes—The selected candidate will be required to work onsite a minimum of 3 days a week.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - May be required to attend training, meetings, conferences, events, etc.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12 - This position has promotion potential to the grade 12
Candidates may be non competitively promoted to grade 12 upon the recommendation of the supervisor based on classification requirements, satisfactory performance and qualifications of the employee
This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals. Note: Federal employees with permanent status or individuals eligible for special appointing authorities may also apply to Job Announcement # 23-132
Helps develop press releases, and helps maintain and develop relationships with top-tier media outlets
Helps manage and measure the success of media plans for SAO science, working with scientists and partner organizations as necessary.
Manages and coordinates media and public affairs requests, including interviews and filming inquiries.
Works with scientists, engineers, designers, animators, videographers and image specialists to research and develop comprehensive written content packages as well as visual content. Packages must be scientifically accurate but tailored for key media and public audiences to be used on web pages, in social media, and the like. Assists with final-edit for public-facing written material.
Assists in managing the public face of SAO and its partnership with Harvard, ensuring that our name and brand is represented consistently and correctly across media, tracking and reviewing media coverage to identify opportunities for enhancement.
NOTE: The incumbent may be required to work nights and weekends.
Pre- and post-appointment background
investigation
U.S. citizenship
Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
May be required to serve a one-year probationary
period.
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
Qualifications
Minimum of one-year specialized experience (Federal or otherwise) equivalent to at least grade 09 that is close or similar to the work of this position. Specialized experience would include activities such as assisting in developing, managing and measuring the success of media plans and press releases, managing and coordinating media and public affairs requests, working with others to research and develop comprehensive written content packages as well as visual content, helping ensure that brands are represented consistently and correctly across media, and tracking and reviewing media coverage to identify opportunities for enhancement.
OR
3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree.
OR
a combination of education and experience.
To view qualifying educational requirements and/or combination of education and specialized experience, click on the following link: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp
Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.
Education
This position does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
Recruitment Incentive: Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position. However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.
Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.
The Smithsonian embraces diversity and equal employment opportunity.
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.
The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, vacation and sick leave, holidays, health/life insurance, accident insurance, and excellent retirement program options.
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.
Your application will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above. The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:
Skills in science writing and in managing and measuring the success of media plans.
Skills in maintaining and developing communication channels with organizations involved in scientific communities.
Experience in science journalism with enough knowledge in astronomy or astrophysics to communicate with diverse audiences, including scientific and technical staff.
Skills managing and coordinating media and public affairs requests, including interviews and filming inquiries.
Skill presenting information, both orally and in writing.
Knowledge of and skill in techniques of modern electronic communication.
Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:
Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job related competencies above.
Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job related competencies above.
Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job related competencies above to a substantive degree.
This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet 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 when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.
Important Note:
Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.
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.
The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, vacation and sick leave, holidays, health/life insurance, accident insurance, and excellent retirement program options.
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.
rYour application package should include the following documents:
Detailed resume created in the USAJOBS Resume Builder.
Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment.
Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.
Proof of Veteran's Preference - DD214 (Member 4 Copy), if you are a veteran. Additionally, applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, as well as additional documentation required by the SF-15, such as a VA letter.
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.
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page.
You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button.
Clicking the "DONE" tab does not submit your application. The "DONE" tab allows you to exit the system and save your information for completion at a later time. To submit your application, click the "FINISH" tab.
The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
SMITHSONIAN
60 Garden Street, MS17
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
United States
Next steps
After you apply, you will receive an automated acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. The staffing process to identify highly qualified candidates may take up to four weeks or more to complete. After the announcement closes and application reviews are done, you may be contacted by the hiring office if further evaluation or interviews are required. All applicants will receive written notification on the final outcome of the position.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
rYour application package should include the following documents:
Detailed resume created in the USAJOBS Resume Builder.
Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment.
Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.
Proof of Veteran's Preference - DD214 (Member 4 Copy), if you are a veteran. Additionally, applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, as well as additional documentation required by the SF-15, such as a VA letter.
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.
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page.
You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button.
Clicking the "DONE" tab does not submit your application. The "DONE" tab allows you to exit the system and save your information for completion at a later time. To submit your application, click the "FINISH" tab.
The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
SMITHSONIAN
60 Garden Street, MS17
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
United States
Next steps
After you apply, you will receive an automated acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. The staffing process to identify highly qualified candidates may take up to four weeks or more to complete. After the announcement closes and application reviews are done, you may be contacted by the hiring office if further evaluation or interviews are required. All applicants will receive written notification on the final outcome of the position.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
