Clarification from the agency

Washington Air National Guard Permanent Indefinite Employees of the 194th Wing. Washington Air National Guard Traditional Guard members and Washington National Guard Active Guard Reserves (AGR) of the 194th Wing

A GS-1035-9, PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST:

• Prepares internal and external public affairs products for distribution through social media, DVIDS, wing website, and release to civilian media, as applicable.
• Researches and writes stories/articles and rewrites material intended for distribution.
• Shoots related photos and video, as required.
• Edits and revises products for style, format and content; and, reviews and edits photography and artwork for quality and composition.
• May design overall products.
• Accesses public affairs' products to DVIDS per current DoD procedures.
• Responds to requests for information, materials, and support; and, plans and conducts community engagement activities with community officials and groups.
• Maintains an active web/social media presence; provides visual information services for documentation and/or publicity purposes; and, plans and arranges news media coverage.
• Coordinates support of requests from community and community groups, schools, news media organizations, and others to include requests for interviews, speakers, tours, bands, honor guards, and aviation support and support of local observances and celebrations.
• Prepares and ensures distribution of customer satisfaction/opinion surveys on internal information products.
• Evaluates feedback to determine customer needs and uses comments to improve future output.
• Makes positive suggestions to the supervisor for changes in approach and adoption of new techniques.
• Performs work for the production/management/maintenance of electronic and web-based information products.
• Implements and ensures the quality of the Hometown News Release program.
• Publicizes the programs, monitors, logs, and disseminates releases.
• Writes draft and final versions of news releases, feature articles, speeches, fact sheets, and brochures for internal and external audiences.
• Updates unit mission briefings and develops additional informational briefings as needed.
• Confers with program specialists, action officers, and other subject matter experts to obtain the latest and most accurate information and imagery approved for public releases.
• Prepares requests for photographer or graphic support; takes photographs; and, selects and edits photographs and electronic images to accompany articles and media releases.
• Provides historical documentation support.
• Provides photographic and video support for alert mission to include mishaps.
• Performs security reviews on information placed on the unit's public web-page and social media feed(s).
• Assists in the overall design of unit's web "home-page".
• Organizes, coordinates, publicizes and conducts periodic events with local organizations such as, community councils, local governments, Chamber of Commerce, and, state and national legislative offices.
• Assists with organizing and conducting larger events such as, Civic Leader Tours, Base Open-House activities, and Armed Forces Days, which are designed to promote positive relations between the base and surrounding communities.
• Responds to and processes requests from community organizations and individuals for military support and/or participation in various events such as, orientation flights, PA travel on military aircraft, flyovers, parades, fairs, and conventions.
• Assists in evaluating the events' primary purpose, potential risk factors, and benefits to the ANG.
• Recommends speakers and assists in training unit members for speaking engagements.
• Provides speech materials, topics, and objectives used by wing personnel.
• Organizes, coordinates and conducts wing tours for civic groups, media representatives, students and distinguished visitors.
• Ensures tour itineraries focus on improving ANG image and furthering base community relations and involvement activities.
• Prepares and monitors materials for the commander's civil leader/distinguished visitor program.
• Briefs visitors on the ANG and Wing's mission, impacts and contributions to DoD, the Air Force, and the community.
• Responds, in a timely manner, to media queries concerning special events, mobilizations, exercises, aircraft incidents, or accidents.
• Clears responses with appropriate authority before releasing information.
• Confers with subject matter experts to obtain latest and most accurate information for use in news releases on social media, radio, TV networks, newspapers or other public forums.
• Coordinates and responds to news media inquiries on the mission, capabilities, impacts, and contributions of the base.
• Assists the PAO in advising wing leadership on DoD, Air Force, and ANG policy concerning release of information to the public.
• Provides media training on a just-in-time basis for wing personnel.
• Assists PAO in establishing and maintaining positive relationships and on-going contacts with local news media representatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

MILITARY REQUIREMENTS:

Military Grades: E3 (A1C) - E5 (SSgt)

Desired Military Assignments: 3N076

- Applicants need not be assigned to the position or possess the AFSC to apply or be considered for selection. Selected applicant must be assigned to a compatible Military position and attain AFSC within 1 year of appointment action.

- Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.

- Males born after 31 December 1959 must be registered for Selective Service.

- Must maintain membership in the WA Air National Guard for continued employment.

- Must be able to obtain and maintain within one year of appointment, a SECRET security clearance of the position.

- This position is covered by the Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment (30 Sep 96) of the Gun Control Act (Lautenberg Amendment) of 1968. An individual convicted of a qualifying crime of domestic violence may not perform the duties of this position.

- Position requires ability to establish effective professional working relationships with coworkers and customers, contributing to a cooperative working environment and successful accomplishment of the mission.

- Must have a valid state driver's license for the state in which they live or are principally employed.

- Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day.

- The duties and responsibilities of your job may significantly impact the environment. You are responsible to maintain awareness of your environmental responsibilities as dictated by legal and regulatory requirements, your organization, and its changing mission.

- Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day.

- May be required to successfully complete a trial period.

Qualifications

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:
Progressively responsible experience that demonstrates the ability to:

1. Analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions;
2. Plan and organize work; and
3. Communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Experience, education or training in administrative, professional, investigative and/or technical work. Experience evaluating information and/or using analytical skills to disseminate effective communication. Experience in compiling reports, letters, memoranda, etc., and required person-to-person contacts to convey information. Experience using computers and automation systems.

Such experience may have been gained in administrative, professional, technical, investigative, or other responsible work. Experience in substantive and relevant secretarial, clerical, or other responsible work may be qualifying as long as it provided evidence of the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) necessary to perform the duties of the position. Experience of a general clerical nature (typing, filing, routine procedural processing, maintaining records, or other nonspecialized tasks) is not creditable. Must have had work experience that demonstrated KSA's in addition to those identified above.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
Must have 24 months experience or 12 months equivalent to at least GS-7 involving knowledge of writing, communication principles, methods and techniques that relate to the public affairs of an agency. Experience in applying and adapting knowledge of strictly controlled situations of an agency. Experience writing articles on routine events of non-controversial subjects. Experience responding timely and appropriately to requests for information concerning agency programs and services. Experience participating in meetings with specialized groups to listen to and understand feedback on agency programs that are of particular interest to public. Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

How you will be evaluated

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

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. You may also be excluded from consideration if you indicate that you are unwilling to accept the lower grade and a determination is made that you are not qualified at the higher grade. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Verbiage displayed on your resume or application must contain your own words. You may refer to position descriptions, as well as the general and specialized experience located within the vacancy announcement, to assist with describing work experiences; however, resumes or applications received in verbatim will not be considered. In your resume you will need to address the general and specialized experience listed above. Please use as much detail as needed, giving dates (months and years) of the experience, position title and how the experience was gained. This information is needed to determine if you are qualified for the position.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics). NOTE: You do not have to respond to the KSA's separately but your resume should contain sufficient information to demonstrate possession of the KSA's.

• Knowledge of public affairs concepts, principles, practices, and techniques including internal, social media, community, and media relations to establish, implement, and maintain a proactive program.
• Knowledge of the principles and methods of mass communication media and skill in applying principles and using methods in conducting an internal information program providing all unit members with relevant news and necessary information.
• Knowledge of the practices and techniques in planning and developing news stories and feature articles in laying out a newspaper.
• Skill in using DSLR cameras for static and video usage.Skill in utilizing Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, and MS Office programs.
• Skill in evaluating the news value or communication potential of visual material including photographs and illustrations.
• Skill in writing and editing news and feature articles.
• Skill in public relations, interpersonal and mass communication for developing effective working relationships with a variety of individuals and organizations interested in, or affected by, wing/base/ANG programs and policies.
• Skill in evaluating the appropriateness of information to be released.Knowledge of written and oral communication principles, concepts, and techniques.
• Knowledge and skill sufficient to analyze the organization's information program materials and offer recommendations for improving the delivery of program information to affected individuals.