This position is located in the Division of Consumer and Business Education (DCBE), within the Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP), Federal Trade Commission (FTC). DCBE is a dynamic communications shop, responsible for developing and marketing culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate educational materials to help consumers know their rights in the marketplace, and to help businesses comply with the FTC laws and regulations.
Summary
This position is located in the Division of Consumer and Business Education (DCBE), within the Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP), Federal Trade Commission (FTC). DCBE is a dynamic communications shop, responsible for developing and marketing culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate educational materials to help consumers know their rights in the marketplace, and to help businesses comply with the FTC laws and regulations.
The Consumer Education Specialist (Languages) in DCBE helps implement education and outreach programs for national and regional campaigns on consumer protection topics that reach audiences that speak languages other than English and Spanish (e.g., Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese); writes plain-language, persuasive education materials designed to reach specific audiences; researches effective methods to reach intended audiences; and collects and analyzes information and statistics from a variety of sources to evaluate campaign results.
Develops, plans, and analyzes major mission-critical education programs related to consumer protection issues, including fraud, privacy, advertising, credit, technology, and mobile issues. Creates new consumer education methods and strategies - including identifying new audiences, new ways to reach existing audiences, new styles of writing and outreach to reach those audiences, and education campaigns on new topics - and develops tactical methods for implementation. Demonstrates familiarity with language usage in communities across the United States in general, how to reach audiences in-language with educational messages, and relevant communications tools. Drafts articles, blog posts, presentations, video scripts, consumer disclosures, consumer letters, talking points, backgrounders, newsletter articles, and statements for Bureau Director and other senior staff. Ensures written materials adhere to Division standards continuously re-evaluates DCBE's consumer education process, products, and outreach to more effectively promote the agency's efforts in-language to reach communities of widely diverse cultures and needs.
Presents ideas for new articles and blogs, recommending innovative and fresh approaches to convey consumer-friendly messages to speakers of languages other than English. Works closely with staff in the Divisions, the Bureau, and the Chairman's office to develop new content regarding consumer privacy, fraud, advertising, credit, technology, mobile and other issues. The work is often complex, requiring the incumbent to translate the material into a plain language style that is accurate and readable for the FTC's many targeted audiences and maintain that approach through the review process. Manages high-level comments, resolving differences, and displaying strong management, negotiation, and persuasive skills. Proofreads and copy edits a wide variety of consumer education publications in English and at least one other language other than English or Spanish. Ensures accuracy and cultural appropriateness of in-language communications in languages other than English and Spanish.
Plans, manages, and evaluates major national and regional campaigns for consumer and business education campaigns to reach audiences in-language with educational messages, and relevant communications tools. Speaks, reads, and writes fluently in English and at least one other language, preferably Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese. Advises DCBE on best practices to communicate effectively, persuasively, and appropriately with speakers of other languages. Regularly communicates and maintains relationships with relevant communities, including planning, attending, and participating in events. Develops and disseminates materials and presentations in-language.
Sets deadlines and goals and ensures they are met. Coordinates projects independently and creatively and resourcefully resolves conflicting priorities. Uses project management skills to lead teams of specialists and contractors to plan develop, execute, and evaluate culturally relevant education campaigns in languages other than English or Spanish, preferably including Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese. Develops creative strategies and coordinates work. Establishes partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as non-profits and other groups, to extend the reach of the agency.
Creates content, blogs, and articles for FTC websites, including www.consumer.ftc.gov. Independently makes decisions on when to develop new, culturally, and linguistically relevant content or revise existing content. Considered an expert in creating culturally appropriate plain language content; makes recommendations to managers, consistently advises colleagues, and provides coaching and feedback on targeting plain language, culturally appropriate content to audiences. Establishes best practices for BCP, which are used in developing FTC content to reach consumers who speak languages other than English or Spanish.
U.S. citizenship requirement must be met by the closing date of this vacancy.
Position is subject to a background investigation.
Males born after December 31, 1959 must register with Selective Service.
You may serve a one-year probationary period under this appointment.
Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply).
This position is in the bargaining unit.
This position is designated as eligible for remote work. If selected, you must be approved for remote work prior to onboarding in accordance with FTC's Workplace Flexibilities Policy.
If approved for remote work or telework from a regional office, your salary may change based on your official duty station.
Qualifications
To qualify for the Consumer Education Specialist (Languages) position at the GS-13 level, you must meet the following requirements:
You must demonstrate fluency in speaking, reading, and writing in English and at least one other language, preferably Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese. You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: working in teams to design, implement and evaluate high-impact, culturally relevant communications campaigns languages other than English or Spanish; contributing to the development of a variety of consumer informational and educational materials and products; and developing partnerships with national, state, and local organizations to reach consumers who prefer to receive information in languages other than English or Spanish.
To qualify for the Consumer Education Specialist (Languages) position at the GS-14 level, you must meet the following requirements:
You must demonstrate fluency in speaking, reading, and writing in English and at least one other language, preferably Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese. You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: leading teams to design, implement and evaluate high-impact, culturally relevant communications campaigns in languages other than English and Spanish; leading the development of a variety of consumer informational and educational materials and products; and developing extensive partnerships with national, state, and local organizations to reach consumers who prefer to receive information in languages other than English or Spanish.
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, knowledge, and skills 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 education requirement for this position or substitution of education for specialized experience at this grade level.
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: VETERANS GUIDE
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see SELECTIVE SERVICE).
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 87 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: CAREER TRANSITION.
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 announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category.
Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies.
Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies.
Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies.
Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans' preference.
The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
Foreign Language, Marketing and Outreach, Messaging and Tone, Oral Communication, Planning and Evaluating, Problem Solving, and Writing
Ability to communicate fluently in English and at least one additional language (other than English or Spanish).
Knowledge of the marketing of consumer education and outreach campaigns, including targeting specific audiences who might be unfamiliar with consumer topics and who may prefer to communicate in other languages than English or Spanish.
Ability to analyze and synthesize data to communicate effectively in non-technical language and make actionable recommendations.
Ability to establish communication plans that identify target audiences, appropriate messages, activities, and resources needed for effective communication with consumers and agencies.
Skill in written communication.
Skill in Oral Communication.
Skill in evaluating the effectiveness of education and outreach programs, seeking, and analyzing feedback from media, the public, and internal statistics; developing recommendations to improve internal operations and enhance the overall consumer and business education program.
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.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. Other supporting documents:
- Cover Letter, optional
- College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education
- Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
- Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) - Schedule A- In order to receive consideration under the Schedule A authority, you must provide a certification of job readiness printed on a medical professional's letterhead and signed. For more information, please visit USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities (https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/individuals-with-disabilities/)
- Demonstration of your language fluency, including, for example, copies of or links to presentations, documents, webinars, or articles you created in-language.
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
- Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Suite H-723
Washington, DC 20580
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. Other supporting documents:
- Cover Letter, optional
- College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education
- Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
- Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) - Schedule A- In order to receive consideration under the Schedule A authority, you must provide a certification of job readiness printed on a medical professional's letterhead and signed. For more information, please visit USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities (https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/individuals-with-disabilities/)
- Demonstration of your language fluency, including, for example, copies of or links to presentations, documents, webinars, or articles you created in-language.
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.
A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
- Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Suite H-723
Washington, DC 20580
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
