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Public Affairs Specialist

International Boundary and Water Commission: United States and Mexico
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Serves in the Public Affairs Office, Executive Office of the Commissioner, United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) responsible for the identification, development, and implementation of media, community relations, and public information functions which communicate USIBWC polices, programs, initiatives, and activities in direct support of its mission and in furtherance of the public policy initiatives of the agency.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/07/2024 to 11/18/2024
Salary
$72,553 to - $113,047 per year
Pay scale & grade
GG 11 - 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
El Paso, TX
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
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
NCS/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
DEST-12599350-24-JR
Control number
818123800

Duties

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  • Monitors USIBWC Headquarters inquiry traffic and ensures that responses are timely and in accordance with established policy.
  • Creates and posts social media content and reviews and edits draft social media posts submitted by other staff.
  • Coordinates agency special events such as groundbreaking ceremonies and Citizen Forum meetings.
  • Arranges for and makes informational presentations to the community and representatives of other governmental entities.
  • Develops informational literature usable by the USIBWC in its public affairs activities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or Naturalized U.S. Citizen.
  • You must maintain direct deposit of your federal pay.
  • You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
  • You must possess and maintain a valid U.S. Motor Vehicle Driver License, without impeding restrictions, and issued by a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory.
  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You must be able to lift and carry items weighing up to 15 pounds unassisted such as office items and supplies; and sustain periods of bending, stooping, and reaching.
  • You must obtain and maintain a favorable background investigation.
  • You may be required to work overtime.
  • You may be required to travel with overnight stay up to 25% of the time.
  • You may be required to travel to Mexico to carry out official agency business.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications for Public Affairs Specialist.

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described below. 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). Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience.

GG-12 Specialized Experience: The definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level in the federal service (GS/GG-11) or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Examples of Specialized Experience: communicating principles, methods, practices, and analytical methods to identify public affairs interests of an organization; establishing and nurturing effective communication with a wide variety of stakeholders; applying knowledge of social media etiquette, activities, and platforms in order to develop and maintain an organizations social media plan and presence; creating and posting social media content and reviewing and editing draft social media posts submitted by other staff; developing informational literature used by an organization or agency in its public affairs activities; obtaining and analyzing a constant flow of information; applying expert written and spoken communication skills to effectively interact with stakeholders, agency staff, and government officials; writing communications sufficient to compose technical reports and correspondence; speaking publicly in-person and online to deliver presentations and participate in interviews; photographing events, personnel, activities, and projects; and researching documents, historical files, and communications such as text and email to gather qualitative and quantitative information.

GG-11 Specialized Experience: The definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level in the federal service (GS/GG-09) or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Examples of Specialized Experience are similar to those listed above for the GG-12 but with less responsibilities and closer supervision.

Special Factors. The following factors are agency unique for the Delegated Examining Office (DEO) to use in its evaluation. A Special Placement Factor (SPF) is a specific qualification an applicant MUST possess to successfully perform in a position. A Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) is a specific qualification an applicant MAY possess that would enhance performance in a position.

QRF: Possess the ability to converse in Spanish sufficient to communicate with representatives of the Mexican government, members of the public, and representatives of the news media.
QRF: Posses the ability to read and interpret Spanish sufficient to understand written articles in the Spanish language.
QRF: Skill in graphics design to generate newsletters and informational brochures.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications

Part-Time or Unpaid Experience: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the number of hours per week spent in such employment.

Time in Grade (TIG): Current and former Federal employees must have a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level to be eligible under Merit Promotion procedures. An SF-50 must be provided that verifies eligibility as stated in the Area of Consideration section.
Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management web site: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1100/contracting-series-1102/

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this Public Affairs Specialist, GG-1035-11/12 position, you must meet the specialized experience qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Education

Some federal positions allow you to substitute education for experience, for this Public Affairs Specialist, GG-1035-11/12 position, you must meet the specialized experience qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Additional information

  • If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (member-4 copy preferred) or other proof of eligibility that shows the dates you were on active duty and your character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are claiming Disabled Veterans' preference you must also submit documentation of disability (i.e. VA Disability Verification Letter) and the SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference." For more information on veterans' preference see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/
  • The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be rated in well-qualified by scoring 85 or higher on the assessment for this vacancy. Additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/
  • The hiring agency may use this announcement to fill similar positions that become vacant in the near future.
  • If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, your resume may be reviewed. Your resume and supporting documentation are used to determine if you are qualified for this job. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. If reviewed, your qualifications will be evaluated on the following knowledge, skills, abilities or competencies:

  • External and Internal Outreach
  • Media Relations
  • Written Communications

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