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Client Communications Specialist

General Services Administration
Office of Strategic Communication
This job announcement has closed

Summary

As a Client Communications Specialist, you will facilitate client achievement of their business and workplace needs through providing strategic communication advice and support.

Location of position: GSA, Office of Strategic Communication (OSC), Atlanta, GA; Tacoma, WA.

We are currently filling one vacancy in each location, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/23/2024 to 09/06/2024
Salary
$91,897 to - $150,535 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Locations
Atlanta, GA
FEW vacancies
Tacoma, WA
FEW vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required for meetings/training/events.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
Z-2024-0035
Control number
806170100

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Duties

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The Office of Strategic Communication is responsible for using communication to help the agency meet its mission and business goals.

As a Client Communications Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

Advising senior level internal and external clients, assisting in the identification of existing or emerging issues or opportunities and providing recommendations for improving program effectiveness and efficiency through communication and outreach solutions, and gathers information and initiates accurate responses to inquiries concerning the activities of OSC and/or clients and, analyzes, interprets and integrates information into a variety of formats such as graphs and tables, databases, spreadsheets, presentations, and web pages.

Developing short- and long-term communication plans, campaigns, and solutions working with OSC's senior leaders and clients to identify and implement a satisfactory resolution by identifying key target audiences, researching and analyzing their attitudes and behaviors, and develops measurable communication activities, utilizing best practices to determine appropriate information products and communication channels.

Creating, planning, developing, scheduling, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating internal and external events and ceremonies for assigned clients by leading the development of an overall plan for events that can include site selection, providing budgetary figures, to operating officials, selection of a facility, contracting, and other coordinating instructions and requirements, and monitors progress towards meeting logistics plans, and identifies the cause and impact of any delays or issues.

Organizes national level public and internal forms and arranges for any publicity or employee notification in conjunction with these events.

Writes and edits highly professional materials, including formal presentations and communication materials for use by various clients as well as for/to regional and Central Office management within GSA, and to heads of other Federal agencies; proactively generates communication ideas; writes, obtains clearances for, and distributes national agency information for internal and external publication; coordinates and reviews work of colleagues or consultants and vendors, such as printers and other media production companies; and as needed, may also serve as the central writer, editor, proofreader in authoring detailed, high level responses, briefings and communication plans, etc., for regionally specific projects or national projects, employing the usage of leading project management principles.

Leads the researching, writing, editing, proofreading, and/or production coordination of multimedia communication deliverables including identifying and preparing appropriate national level internal and external subject matter experts, interviewing for key message ideas and translating trade specific information into clear, concise expressions for the targeted audience/client base.

Assesses and improves the effectiveness and management of GSA communication initiatives, processes and systems by serving as an advisor to OSC senior leaders and administrative staff on matters relating to the preparation, review, suspense and transmittal of national level communications material; establishing and monitoring products to ensure consistency in format and adherence to the applicable writing style and tone; working closely with clients to ensure scripts, speeches, talking points and other formal presentation materials are targeted, aligned with key agency messages and goals, and coordinated with the client’s short-term and long-term business objectives; and compiling data from a wide variety of sources for the purpose of analyzing issues, as well as ensuring compliance with various policies and procedures.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
  • Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date
  • Meet time-in-grade within 30 days of the closing date, if applicable
  • Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

  • Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non­Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
  • Serve a one year probationary period, if required.
  • Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 2 investigation level).
  • Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee.  We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.

This position has job functions that must be executed within a specific geographic location. The official duty station is a federal facility, leased space, or an alternative worksite (typically the employee’s home) and must be a physical address (not a PO Box) located within approximately a 50 miles radius of the duty location. Positions include routine telework work arrangements that are geographically specific to the location described below.

Southeast Region - Martin Luther King, JR Federal Building, 77 Forsyth Street, Atlanta, Georgia
Northwest/Arctic Region – 1301 A Street, Tacoma, Washington

Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide:

  • the exact dates you held  each job (from month/year to month/year)
  • number of hours per week you worked (if part time).    

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

For a brief video on creating a Federal resume, click here

The GS-12 salary range starts at $91897.00 per year.  If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.  

To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or higher in the Federal service. 

Specialized experience is participating in the development and/or execution of internal strategic communications plans that connect employees to strategies to achieve the mission and implement a vision for a large, customer-facing organization. This experience must include collaborating in the development (i.e., writing and review) of communication tools such as emails, presentations, talking points, online content, video, and/or social media to communicate with a variety of audiences.

The GS-13 salary range starts at $109278.00 per year.  If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.  

To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level or higher in the Federal service. 

Specialized experience is developing and implementing written and media communication strategies for an organization and/or client's programs, projects, or initiatives; developing news releases, radio and television scripts, feature articles, news conferences, etc.; managing communication publications, multi-media and special events; tracking media related coverage and events; and writing and editing highly professional materials.

Additional information

Existing Writing Sample - You may be asked to bring an existing writing sample to the interview.
Bargaining Unit Status: This position is ineligible for the bargaining unit
If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit GSA's webpage.

If you are selected at a grade lower than the full performance level, you may be promoted up to that grade level without having to re-apply or compete against other applicants.

Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.  

Travel expenses associated with interviews may be approved. Determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis.

On a case-by-case basis, the following incentives may be approved:

·       Recruitment incentive if you are new to the federal government

·       Relocation incentive if you are a current federal employee

·       Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government

Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed; through other means; or not at all.

We are also accepting applications from all U.S. Citizens and Nationals under Vacancy Announcement # Z-2024-0036.  You must apply separately to each announcement to be considered for both.

GSA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility that goes beyond our compliance with EEO regulations including: 
  • Valuing and embracing diversity, promoting equity, inclusion and accessibility, and expecting cultural competence; and
  • Fostering a work environment where all employees, customers and stakeholders feel respected and valued.
Our commitment is: 
  • Reflected in our policies, procedures and work environment;
  • Recognized by our employees, customers and stakeholders; and
  • Drives our efforts to recruit, attract, retain and engage the diverse workforce needed to achieve our mission.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated on the questions you answer during the application process, which will measure your overall possession of the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities.  Your responses to these questions must be supported by your resume or your score may be lowered.  

1. Skill in applying strategic communication concepts, methods, principles and practices, in conjunction with analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to develop and improve stakeholder communication efforts.
1a. Skill in meeting and supporting a diverse client base by working effectively with clients, assessing their needs, and satisfying their expectations within sound business practices.

2. Ability to formulate, develop and write strategic communication plans, and execute the tactics within those plans tactics within those plans.

3. Ability to effectively manage programs, devise communication methods, and identify and propose solutions to problems associated with broad and difficult communication issues.

4. Knowledge of or ability to employ writing and editing methods, techniques and established protocols required to prepare newsletters, webinars, customer conferences, formal briefing papers, reports, etc., for management and/or customer officials.

5. Skill in written communications to develop and prepare a variety of communication documents such as informational brochures, presentation support documents, email notices, and websites, etc.

6. Knowledge of or skill in applying analytical qualitative and quantitative methods and principles to conduct and validate customer studies; to determine customer relationship management needs in relation to an organization's policies and/or direction and to develop, present, and as needed, execute solutions to a variety of customer business and workplace needs.
6a. Ability to apply business and industry policies and processes to develop, execute, and evaluate customer/audience appropriate communications, educational outreach and/or branding.

Additional hurdle assessments, such as narrative responses or other assessments, may be administered to applicants who meet the requirements of the first hurdle, e.g., the minimum qualification requirements. If additional assessments are used, you will be provided with further instructions.

Consideration will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3). You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume so that information will be taken into consideration during the selection process.  If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

If you are eligible under Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan or GSA’s Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP/CTAP), you must receive a score of 85 or higher to receive priority.


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