In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Group Standard for Administrative & Management Position.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in federal service which equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of Public Affairs Specialist. Specialized experience is experience which may have been gained carrying out parts of recurring public affairs assignments which include media relations, social media, civic outreach, internal information, visual information, communication planning, contingency/crisis response, special event planning, security and policy review, and public affairs resource management.
OR
EDUCATION: Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or master's or equivalent graduate degree in education or a subject area related to the position to be filled.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: 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 percent. To combine education and experience, determine the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level. Then determine the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level. Finally, add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR TRANSCRIPT TO VERIFY YOUR EDUCATION.
To view qualifying educational requirements and/or combination of education, click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1000/public-affairs-series-1035/
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, methods, and techniques to conduct and coordinate public affairs activities to develop intercommunication between the organization and a variety of stakeholders.
2. Knowledge of the organization's operations and functions sufficient to communicate accurate information.
3. Knowledge of concepts, principles, policies, and practices involved in communicating information through visual means which may include illustrations, photography, presentations, television/motion picture production, and base cable access television.
4. Skill in gathering, evaluating, and interpreting information to identify potential problems, arrive at valid conclusions and offer meaningful recommendations and/or resolutions to recurring, precedented assignments.
5. Skill in working with people to establish and maintain effective working relationships with groups interested in or affected organization programs and policies and producing written information conveying complex information to public stakeholders 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.
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.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated in the "Highly Qualified" or "Best Qualified" Category on the rating criteria for this vacancy. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.
Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more 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.
Selective Service: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. For additional information, click here.
Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
If you are unable to apply online, view the following link for information regarding Alternate Application. The Vacancy ID is 12135727
If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.
Tax Law Impact for PCS: On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017" suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit GSA Bulletin FTR 20-04 here for additional information.
