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PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Department of the Air Force
Headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.

The primary purpose of this position is to: Serve as public affairs Operations Chief and to carry out a wide range of public affairs assignments.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
08/05/2025 to 08/26/2025
Salary
$86,199 to - $112,053 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
FEW vacancies in the following location:
March AFB, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
No
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
5K-AFPC-12778531-935915-CMI
Control number
842573500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current appropriated fund civilian employees of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC).

Duties

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Assists the chief of public affairs in managing all PA activities for the installation/organization

Coordinates the planning and development of complex, high level public affairs assignments in support of commander's programs and priorities

Researches, drafts, coordinates, produces, and reviews public affairs products such as news releases, talking points, fact sheets, news and feature articles, web-based content, briefings, speeches and scripts, newsletters, photographs, videos, pod casts, and other materials

Represents the office with a variety of installation and local governmental, media, community engagement, service, and educational organizations

Assists in the planning, organizing and carrying out the visual information program

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Position is open to current appropriated fund civilian employees of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC).
  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
  • If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
  • This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military and/or commercial aircraft
  • Shift work may be required
  • May be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays
  • Recall to duty may be a requirement of this position
  • May perform periodic weekly 24-hour alert duty as the public affairs on-call representative to answer news media and other inquiries after duty hours
  • May be the public affairs point of contact during deployment with news media representatives to a forward operating location in the event of hostilities or a major wing deployment
  • A Secret Clearance is a condition for employment. The employee will be required to maintain a Secret security clearance

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions, Public Affairs, Series 1035.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-09, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience include: Using rules, procedures, and practices within the Public Affairs discipline with the ability to apply this expertise to develop new approaches, methods, or procedures in regards to media relations, community engagement, command information and senior leader support; Possess analytical skills to include: gathering, evaluating, and interpreting complex data in all areas of the Public Affairs discipline; and drawing appropriate conclusions from conflicting data including determining what kinds of information are needed and ways of collecting data.

OR

EDUCATION:
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

OR

COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:
A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-inĀ­-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-09 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

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:

1. Knowledge of concepts, principles, and practices of a public affairs program and written and oral communication principles, techniques, and analytical methods to perform a wide range of public affairs assignments to develop intercommunication between the agency and a variety of stakeholders.

2. Knowledge of the organization's operations and functions sufficient to communicate accurate information and modify standard methods and adapt approaches in the development of new information materials to meet organizational needs.

3. Knowledge of the concepts, principles, policies and practices of visual information activities, which may include illustrations, photography, presentations, television/motion picture production, and base cable access television.

4. Skill in gathering, evaluating, and interpreting data to identify potential problems, arrive at valid conclusions, and offer meaningful recommendations and/or resolutions.

5. Skill in working with people to establish and maintain effective working relationships with groups interested in or affected by public affairs programs or policies, and producing written information conveying complex information to publics with different levels of understanding.

6. Ability to plan and develop news stories, features, and quasi-technical articles.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

********************ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ACTIVE DUTY SERVICES MEMBERS********************

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act requires federal agencies to treat an eligible active duty service member as a veteran, disabled veteran, and preference eligible (as applicable) when applying for civil service positions before the effective release or discharge date. Appointment of military members before the release or discharge date is permissible if the member is on terminal leave. At the time the active duty member applies for a civil position, he or she must submit a "certification" memo in lieu of a DD-Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Active duty members applying for a civil service position without submitting a valid certification memo or DD-Form 214 with their application will render the member ineligible for the position. The certification memo must originate from the member's military service branch on official letterhead and contain the following:

  • Name/Rank/Grade of Service Member
  • Branch of Armed Forces
  • Dates of Active Service (Start and End Date(s)
  • Expected Date of Discharge/Release from Active Duty
  • Terminal leave start date (if applicable)
  • Expected character of service (honorable or general) and type of separation (i.e. separation or retirement)
  • Must be certified within 120 days of anticipated discharge
  • Signature by, or by direction of the adjutant, personnel office, unit commander, or higher headquarters commander.
Note: The VOW Act provides tentative preference. If appointed, a DD Form-214 must be submitted upon receipt

Additional information

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected at the full performance level and placed at the full performance level. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

BASIS OF RATING:
Your application will be rated under the Cut Point procedures based on the extent to which the quality, depth, and complexity of your experience and education relate to the qualification requirements. Additional points are not added for Veteran's Preference; however, Veteran's Preference is considered where applicable.

Best Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements
Fully Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements.
Basically Qualified Group: Candidates in this category meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements.

The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

For additional information on what to include in your resume, click here.

APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

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