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SUPERVISORY PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Department of Defense
Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist will lead a team of PA professionals in the Strategic Engagement Office to deliver the full suite of public affairs products to include strategic communications plans, press releases, public affairs guidance, website and social media content, etc. in planning, initiating and implementing comprehensive communications campaigns to enhance the understanding of DCSA's programs among the workforce, general public and specialized groups.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/04/2025 to 12/12/2025
Salary
$142,488 to - $185,234 per year
Pay scale & grade
GG 14
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Fort Meade, MD
Arlington, VA
Quantico, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
DCSA-26-12844555-MP
Control number
851581200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to: Department of Defense (DoD) employees in the competitive and excepted service; Retained Grade Preference (RGP) eligibles, and Military Reserve and National Guard Technician eligibles in the commuting area may also apply.

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Duties

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As a SUPERVISORY PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST you will be responsible for the following duties:

  • Position requires mastery of communication principles, methods, practices and techniques; analytical methods; and interpersonal relationships practices.
  • Develop, oversee and drive a comprehensive strategic and operational communications plan that identifies goals, programs, and activities to inform and educate all external and internal stakeholders regarding DCSA's missions and activities.
  • Plan, initiate, and implement comprehensive public affairs campaigns to enhance the understanding of DCSA's programs among the general public and specialized groups.
  • Implement public affairs tactics, techniques, and procedures to support and amplify the agency's priorities, missions, and organizational objectives.
  • Oversee the formulation of press releases, fact sheets, talking points, speeches, employee communications, feature articles, and other materials that effectively communicates DCSA's goals to a variety of external and internal audiences.
  • Review and approve the work of subordinate Communications personnel and is responsible for developing plans and programs related to agency mission efforts.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a US citizen
  • Selective Service Requirement: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. For more information http://www.sss.gov
  • Resume and supporting documents received by 11:59PM EST will be considered
  • This is a Drug Testing designated position
  • Position is a (DCIPS) position in the Excepted Service under U.S.C. 1601
  • Work Schedule: Full Time
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • PCS (Permanent Change of Station): Not Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Not Required
  • Telework Eligibility: Supervisors may approve situational telework on a case-by-case, temporary basis for limited situations.
  • If selected, the incumbent must obtain and maintain appropriate security clearance as indicated in job announcement.

Qualifications

The experience described in your resume will be evaluated and screened from the Office of Personnel Management's (OPMs) basic qualifications requirements. See: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1000/public-affairs-series-1035/ for OPM qualification standards, competencies and specialized experience needed to perform the duties of the position as described in the MAJOR DUTIES and QUALIFICATIONS sections of this announcement by 12/15/2025

Applicant must have directly applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position. Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position.

You must have specialized experience sufficient to demonstrate that you have acquired all the competencies necessary to perform at a level equivalent in difficulty, responsibility, and complexity to the next lower grade (GS/ GG-13) in the Federal service and are prepared to take on greater responsibility.
Generally, this would include one year or more of such specialized experience.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

  • Developing, overseeing and advising on the implementation of comprehensive strategic and operational communications plans that identifies goals, programs, and activities to inform and educate all external and internal stakeholders using written, oral and visual media;
  • Utilizing a variety of communications techniques and methods-including both print and electronic media to convey the agency's missions and its role across the federal government and in the national defense;
  • Planning, initiating and implementing comprehensive public affairs campaigns to include implementing public affairs tactics, techniques, and procedures to support and amplify priorities, missions, and organizational objectives;
  • Developing press releases, fact sheets, talking points, speeches, employee communications, feature articles, and other materials that effectively communicates goals to a variety of external and internal audiences;
  • Exercising a high degree of originality and judgment in interpreting guides where there are no precedents or guidelines on which to base or predict expected results.

Specifically you will be evaluated on the following competencies:
1. Communications and Media - Knowledge of the production, communication and dissemination of information and ideas to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

2. Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.

3. External Awareness - Identifies and understands economic, political, and social trends that affect the organization.

4. Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

Additional information

VETERANS PREFERENCE/CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL
In accordance with DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, veterans preference is not required to be applied when considering candidates with prior Federal competitive or excepted service who have completed a probationary or trial period and have not been separated for cause. Therefore, veterans preference will not be applied to applicants with current federal service, or former federal civilian service meeting the above criteria.

Re-employed Annuitant: This position does not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

Applicants selected from this announcement may be required to serve a two-year trial period.

If selected, Federal employees currently serving in the competitive service must acknowledge that they will voluntarily leave the competitive service by accepting an offer of employment for a DCIPS excepted service positions.

If selected, non-DCIPS candidates must acknowledge in writing that the position they have been selected for is in the excepted service and covered by DCIPS.

All Defense Intelligence positions under the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) are in the excepted service by specific statue, 10 U.S.C. 1601. This position is in the excepted service and does not confer competitive status.

For more information on the DCIPS occupational structure click here.

For more information about career advancement in DCIPS 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.

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), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire.

Application Questionnaire: Applicants must complete a screen out questionnaire as part of the application process. Applicants identified as meeting the basic education requirement and minimum qualifications for the position may move on.

EXCEPTED SERVICE PILOT REVIEW: Once the application process is complete, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. All applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration.

To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

Top ranked candidates will be referred to the selecting official for further review and consideration.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified'.

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your consideration for employment.

All eligibility and qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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