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Public Affairs Specialist

Department of Transportation
Maritime Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is established to (1) inform the broad spectrum of individuals and groups affected by MARAD programs of the benefits, services, or requirements of such programs; and (2) assess the degree of understanding or interest the public has in these programs and activities. 

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/22/2024 to 05/31/2024
Salary
$99,200 to - $153,354 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Some travel will be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
MARAD.HQ-2024-0079
Control number
792525200

Duties

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The Public Affairs Specialist:

  • Provides senior level direction, instructions, and guidance to public affairs staff members as they work to support of MARAD’s communication efforts.  Participates in and makes contributions to management decisions
  • Functions as a coach, facilitator, or negotiator in coordinating team activities and consensus building.  Communicates program plans, missions and objectives; assignments, projects, issues, solutions for problems, and work progress or deadlines
  • Develops, writes, and clears as appropriate, information materials designed to reach national audiences through the news media such as wire services, radio, television, newspaper, etc.  Written materials include: news releases; spot radio and television announcements; fact sheets; feature stories; fact sheets, background statements; et
  • Assists in developing and planning special events such as news conferences, award and special ceremonies, and other activities to generate interest in and understanding of the Maritime Administration’s mission and agency programs
  • Develops communication plans to convey complex information, including MARAD initiatives and programs, by considering such items as specific topics or aspects to emphasize, the most effective media to use in communicating with intended audiences, the kind of information various groups want or need, etc.

The ideal candidate for this position will have a working knowledge of the Agency’s mission to foster, promote and develop the maritime industry of the United States to meet the Nation’s economic and security needs. The selectee will understand the significance of news media deadlines and will know the agency well enough to find internal subject matter experts who can provide clear, concise responses to media queries.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.
  • You must meet specialized experience to qualify.
  • Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
  • Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
  • GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel.  A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
  • TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: This position may be eligible for occasional and/or regularly scheduled telework.  The number of telework days approved will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.
  • PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT:  Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required.
  • SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
  • TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
  • DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet either the specialized experience requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the GS-12 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 it must include:

  • Experience with principles and methods of communication to use methods in conducting a public affairs program involving public information, and community relations activities for external audiences.
  • Experience in establishing and maintaining working relationships with local media representatives, community groups, the maritime industry, and other specialized groups in the private sector, and the general public.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience.

To qualify for the GS-13 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12 it must include:

  • Experience as a Public Affairs Specialist that includes serving as an agency spokesperson, providing direct public affairs support to principals, fielding/answering media queries, monitoring media coverage/interviews and engaging directly with journalists/editors to correct the record as required.
  • Experience drafting news releases and other written products.

You cannot qualify on education at the GS-12 level; you must have experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

  • Knowledge of communication principles, methods, practices, and techniques; analytical methods; and interpersonal relations practices sufficient to (1) function as a technical authority and (2) develop and apply new approaches to the most difficult and complex public affairs problems of an agency by developing or evaluating information programs enhancing understanding among publics opposed or indifferent to agency programs.
  • Skill in developing oral, written, and computer-based material to convey information concerning complex MARAD programs and activities to specialized audiences, the general public, media and other groups.
  • Ability to analyze public reaction to agency programs and policies in developing recommendations that significantly modify an agency's major programs or policies; and integrating diverse points of view in a communication plan in establishing and maintaining mutual understanding with various agency publics. 


For all types of consideration, 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

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

How you will be evaluated

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

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/ application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level. 

To compete with U.S. Citizens:  If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of two categories: Qualified and Well Qualified which is based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference that have provided supporting documents will receive selection priority over non-veterans. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position.

To compete with other competitive status government employees: If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be scored based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.

Eligible Federal employees also seeking consideration for noncompetitive reassignment for this position must indicate interest in the assessment. Noncompetitive federal candidates must have competitive status on a SF-50, meet minimum qualifications, have served at the same grade or higher, and held or exceeded the promotion potential of this position.

All applicants:  Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. The answers you select in the on-line process must be substantiated in your application package.  If upon review, it is determined that your described work history, competencies, and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be updated on your behalf or you may not be referred to the selecting official. Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers. The Automated Staffing Office is ultimately responsible for determining your final rating.


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