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PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Development Finance Corporation
Office of External Affairs

Summary

This position is part of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Office of External Affairs (OEA). As a Public Affairs Specialist, you will be responsible for drafting messaging and coordinating events that build DFC's reputation and existing relationships with stakeholders throughout the investment, diplomatic, think tank, non-governmental organizations (NGO), private sector, thought leader, and policymaking communities.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/08/2026 to 05/15/2026
Salary
$121,785 - $158,322 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
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
13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
26-OEA-IMP-12953603-KS
Control number
868538400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted only from current permanent DFC employees with competitive status.

Duties

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  • Draft and regularly update strategic messaging for use in media interviews, responses to media inquiries, and open-press events
  • Draft responses and respond to daily media inquiries after liaising with relevant stakeholders, including other departments within DFC, U.S. Government counterparts, and clients
  • Organize and coordinate media interviews; proactively pitch CEO and other senior leadership for interviews with local, international, finance, and trade-focused media
  • Manage coordination with clients and U.S. Government counterparts, including U.S. embassies, seeking to amplify DFC's investments through media engagement, such as through press releases and media interviews, to ensure accuracy and appropriateness of messaging

Please Note: This is a Bargaining unit position represented by AFGE, local 1534.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Must submit resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitability for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • This position will require foreign travel to developing countries

Qualifications

Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level). Applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements no later than the closing date of this announcement.

TIME-IN-GRADE
: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).

You may qualify at the GS-13 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirements:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates your ability to 1) Draft responses to media inquiries; 2) Monitor news coverage and prepare summaries, clips, and/or reports that highlight issues or areas for follow-up; and 3) Assist with preparing briefing materials for officials in advance of media interviews.

Note: Education is not substitutional at this grade level.


Please Note: Applicants may be asked to produce a writing sample during the interview stage.


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.

This announcement may be used to fill similar positions, if additional vacancies occur.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

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 85 or above; and
3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.
For more information: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp).

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on appointment authority eligibility requirements:

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/verify/).

Telework Suitability: The duties of this position are suitable for telework. The selectee may be allowed episodic or emergency telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act.

Stipulations of Employment: Selection may require completion of a 1-year probationary period.

Work Schedule: This position allows for a flexible work schedule.

Miscellaneous: DFC uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Recruitment and relocation incentives may be authorized for this position.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit https://www.dfc.gov/who-we-are/careers/fairchanceact for more information.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Flexibility
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork
  • Communications and Media
  • Writing
  • External Awareness

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.


You may preview the Application Questionnaire at: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12953603

Development Finance Corporation

Become part of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation! The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), established in 2019 with bipartisan support under President Trump, is America's development finance institution. DFC partners with the private sector to advance U.S. foreign policy and strengthen national security by mobilizing private capital around the world. DFC invests across strategic sectors including critical minerals, modern infrastructure, and advanced technology - fostering economic development, supporting U.S. interests, and delivering returns to American taxpayers.

Agency contact information

Kirstin Showalter
Email
kirstin.showalter@dfc.gov
Address
International Development Finance Corporation
1100 New York Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20527
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Development Finance Corporation, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.dfc.gov/who-we-are/careers

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