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Public Affairs Specialist

Department of Agriculture
Food and Nutrition Service
Western Regional Office
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in a Regional Office of the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). FNS serves as the Nation's first line of defense against hunger. Through the agency's nutrition assistance programs, FNS provides children and needy families' access to food and/or healthful lifestyle. The Regional Office is responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient operation of the Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs administered by State agencies.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/11/2023 to 10/24/2023
Salary
$121,873 to - $158,432 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
San Francisco, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
DE-12151768-24-LR
Control number
754059800

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Duties

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  • Evaluates the impact of the regional communication system and exhibits sound judgment to direct regional senior management in developing direction in public affairs activities to achieve the Agency's goals.
  • Skillfully uses software for photo editing, desktop publishing, and web design. Writes and edits articles which publicize program activities.
  • Evaluates information from public and private organizations, recipients, and national, state, and local agencies.
  • Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with media representatives, and organized groups throughout the region.
  • Skillfully develops interpersonal relationships, including the ability to be diplomatic, tactful, and using accepted protocol.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a US Citizen or US National
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Direct Deposit – Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

To qualify for the GS-13 level, you must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-12 or pay band in federal service or equivalent non-federal experience. Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following:

  • Determining effective communication strategies in order to facilitate public affairs activities and to promote programs and/or services of an organization;
  • Developing, organizing, and preparing materials for all forms of mass communication for publication;
  • Establishing relationships with local stakeholder groups and government agencies to gain interest and cooperation in an organization's programs; and
  • Developing creative approaches for management consideration to present informational material using new technologies and social media.
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 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

There is no substitution of education at this grade level.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

This position is being concurrently announced under Merit Promotion Announcement Number IMP-12154746-24-LR. Current or former Federal employees or other eligible applicants may apply to both announcements to expand all possibilities of consideration since different referral criteria apply to each type of announcement. See the above announcement for more information.

USDA is offering a variety of strategic workplace flexibilities which allow us to recruit and retain the best talent that reflects the diversity of our country, improve employee morale, and make USDA an employer of choice. In support of this commitment, telework-eligible positions may be eligible to telework up to eight days a pay period, based upon the duties of specific positions. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by Departmental policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

This position is included in a bargaining unit represented by one of the following: AFGE Local 2735, NTEU Chapt. 226, 227, 237, 240, 255, 265 or 268.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of two or three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:

  • Communications and Media: Knowledge of the production, communication and dissemination of information and ideas to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  • Multimedia Technologies: Knowledge of the principles, methods, tools, and techniques to develop or apply technology using text, audio, graphics, or other media.
  • Partnering: Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. Eligible applicants will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Applicants with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12151768

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