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Public Affairs Specialist

Department of Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration
Office of Communications (NA-COMM)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is part of the Office of Communications. A successful candidate in this position will serve as a Public Affairs Specialist to provide technical expertise to make available timely and accurate information so that NNSA stakeholders - including the public, news media, and workforce.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
09/05/2025 to 09/12/2025
Salary
$101,401 to - $161,486 per year
Pay scale & grade
EN 3
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
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
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Q Access Authorization
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
25-NA-COMM-XA-00282-GOV
Control number
845146300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Current Federal Employees with competitive and excepted service status.

Duties

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As a Public Affairs Specialist you will:

  • Analyze and recommends outreach strategies and policies to promote NNSA's and provide information about NNSA to the general public and media. Implements relevant actions to support and achieve DOE/NNSA goals concerning public awareness and public communications formats that allow full and open communication both internally and among state, local, and community stakeholders.
  • Coordinate with NNSA headquarters program offices, NNSA site offices, the NNSA Albuquerque Complex, and NNSA national laboratories and production plants on responses to the media and distribution of proper materials. Establishes and develops effective relationships with media representatives and public affairs personnel of specialized groups, as well as strengthening and building on relationships already established. Determines methods for working more closely and effectively with media and groups in communicating with audiences interested in or affected by NNSA programs.
  • Based on knowledge of NNSA programs and communications techniques and methods, advises NNSA leadership on programs and policies to promote to the media. This includes, but is not limited to, implementing communication strategies and activities at the international, state, and local levels to gain the acceptance and resources necessary to implement NNSA programs.
  • Analyze past, current, and proposed operating programs to identify current and potential public perception problem areas and initiates and develops approaches to address them. Advises NNSA management on the preparation and implementation of program and communication initiatives and activities that are consistent with corporate communications goals to reach targeted and broad-based audiences.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Subject to Random Drug Testing
  • Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
  • Favorable suitability determination required.
  • Financial Disclosure is required.
  • Must be able to obtain/maintain a Q level Security Clearance.
  • You must be a United States Citizen.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
  • Compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity which will require that you provide two forms of identification.
  • A two (2) year trial period may be required. Employees serving on a trial period may be terminated at any time during the trial period for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service.
  • More than one position may be filled from this vacancy announcement.
  • Please limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, only the first two pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility and qualifications. Your full resume will be made available to the hiring manager if you are referred.

Trial periods are required for all excepted service employees. Trial periods served in the same position and agency with no break in service will satisfy the requirement.

Qualifications

A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA pay band level or GS grade level in the Federal Service, i.e., NQ-02 or GS-12. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: creating and analyzing outreach and media engagement activities, collaborating with stakeholders to address the needs of communication programs, overseeing production of communication materials, and reporting on the execution of communication and/or outreach activities.

Examples of Qualified Experience that May Be Qualifying:

  • Experience planning, initiating, and implementing comprehensive communication campaigns to enhance understanding of the nuclear security mission and agency programs among the general public and specialized groups and organizations.
  • Experience preparing, editing, and rewriting original articles and reports in technical fields.
Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following competencies. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the competencies. identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application!

Competencies:
  • Analysis and Planning
  • Communications and Media
  • Oral Communication
  • Stakeholder Management


For more information on the "Qualification Standards for Administrative and Management Positions, please click here.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

There is no education requirement for this position and education cannot be substituted for experience.

Additional information

  • Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website.
  • More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
  • All positions require successful completion of a background investigation.
  • All males born after December 31,1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
  • A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified applicant in accordance with the Agency policy and applicable regulations.
  • In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to the four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answers to these questions are not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration.

EEO Policy: Click HERE.
Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Click HERE.
Veterans Information: Click HERE.
Telework: Click HERE.
Selective Service Registration: 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 will be rated by our application system using the Self-Assessment Rating procedure.

THE APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS WILL BE IN TWO STAGES:

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Office will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.

Structured Resume Review: The Human Resources Office will review the first two pages of your resume to determine your technical qualifications.

Additional documentation (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) may not be considered.

Your application and resume shall demonstrate that you possess the following Competencies. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the Competencies identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write "see resume" in your application.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified'.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the link below.
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12795457

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