Public Affairs Specialist

Summary

Positions may be filled at one or more of the duty locations included in this announcement. Final determination of the duty location will be made at the time of the job offer.

These positions serve as a Public Affairs Specialist. The incumbent performs a variety of activities in planning and implementing a comprehensive public affairs program.

For additional information about the duties of these positions, see the Additional Information section for location specific contact information.

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Duties

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• Duties listed are at the full performance grade level.
• Plans, directs and implements a comprehensive public affairs program for the unit.
• Informs interested public including other agencies, organizations, and individuals of units activities and programs.
• Advises as to how to present the organizations position on controversial issues.
• Develops and maintains an effective working relationship with media representatives in the unit's zone of influence.
• Collaborates with other staff to develop and implement public affairs communication plans, program strategies and techniques for dealing with and addressing critical and complex public issues.
• Provides input into the long-range planning, development, and coordination of the overall public affairs program for the unit.
• Responds to inquires and keeps unit informed of issues, especially important program or policy changes which may generate interest among their constituents.
• Uses a variety of communication methods and techniques (i.e. written, oral, visual and personal) in devising the appropriate communication method for each public affairs campaign.

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 or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GS-11 : You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following: Responding to requests for information by determining the nature of the data required and collecting and assembling the material using the appropriate format and style based on needs and organization practices; and/or Assisting in evaluation and analysis of public comments on management issues; and/or Identifying areas to be addressed, characteristics and needs of the target audience, and communication techniques most appropriate. OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to the position being filled); OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree i.e. more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.).

For the GS-12 : You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following: Preparing written materials to promote an organization's position on a variety of sensitive, controversial and/or complex issues; and/or Establishing and maintaining working relationships at multiple levels both internally and externally in order to develop and disseminate accurate messaging; and/or Designing and tailoring meetings and public involvement strategies to audiences that involved a degree of controversy.

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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered.

Locations, full performance levels, and points of contact:

• Bishop, CA, Inyo National Forest, GS-1035-12
  
  
  • Stephanie Heller at View email address on click.appcast.io
• Silver City, NM, Gila National Forest, GS-1035-12
  
  
  • Bret Ruff at View email address on click.appcast.io
• Vernal, UT, Ashley National Forest, GS-1035-11/12
  
  
  • Kristy Groves at View email address on click.appcast.io

Salary wage as shown is for Rest of the U.S. Final salary will be determined at the time of selection dependent on the duty location. For more information, refer to the Office of Personnel Management, Salary and Wages web page.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed.

The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional Information is available on the OPM Website.

Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.

Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.

Government Housing may be available.

We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.

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.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.