PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Summary

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The primary purpose of this position is to serve in an Air Staff, Field Operating Agency (FOA), Major Command (MAJCOM), or Direct Reporting Unit (DRU)-level position providing public affairs advice, authority, technical expertise, and management support to leadership.

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Duties

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• As a senior Public Affairs Specialist for the organization; plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates a major public affairs function with Air Force-wide applicability, ensuring public affairs activities comply with legal and regulatory requirements and meet customer needs.
• Responds to, or leads initiative to respond to information requests on the organization's program from the news media and specialized and general publics, to include all levels of the Air Force, local, state, and federal elected officials and special interest groups, community, and civic organizations.
• Manages wide-ranging programs, special projects, and initiatives with responsibility for researching, planning, executing, and evaluating complex public affairs operations, programs, policies, and strategies of significant importance and which affect functional areas and multiple organizational levels.
• Represents the organization with a variety of councils, boards, working groups, and panels inside and outside the agency, including Headquarters Air Force, DoD (Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Staff, unified combatant command and sister services), and other governmental, nongovernmental, public, civic, service, industry, business, educational, entertainment, think tank, and media organizations.
• Serves as the senior adviser in the assigned area of responsibility.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see
• If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at:
• This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
• Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on civilian or military aircraft.
• Employee must be able to obtain and maintain a secret security clearance.
• May be required to be on call and/or to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• This is an Obligated Position in which an employee has return rights. Upon the employee's return, incumbent may be required to vacate this position.
• This is a term position
• This is a centrally managed position in the 1035 series, Public Affairs Field.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions, GS-1035 series.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: I have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level or higher in the Federal service which has equipped me with the particular knowledge, skill, and ability to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: using rules, procedures, and practices within the Public Affairs discipline with the ability to apply this expertise to develop new approaches, methods, or procedures in regards to media relations, community engagement, command information and senior leader support; Possess analytical skills to include: gathering, evaluating, and interpreting complex data in all areas of the Public Affairs discipline; and drawing appropriate conclusions from conflicting data including determining what kinds of information are needed and ways of collecting data.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-12 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

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 a full range of oral, written and visual communication concepts, principles, policies, practices, methods, applications, techniques, standards, and trends applicable to researching, planning, developing, coordinating, guiding, and evaluating broad public affairs and visual information programs; to develop new approaches to extremely difficult issues; and prioritizing requirements, strategies, and assets to perform the mission.

2. Knowledge of missions, roles, functions, organizational structures, relationships, and operational planning objectives of Air Force and DoD organizations; as well as knowledge of a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to evaluate public reaction to agency programs and policies.

3. Skill in gathering, evaluating, and interpreting conflicting data, considering various points of view, to arrive at valid conclusions and offer meaningful recommendations.

4. Skill in planning and independently managing short- and long-term projects and to cultivate and sustain positive working relationships to project completion.

5. Skill in communicating effectively with tact and diplomacy, orally and in writing, to advocate agency positions; to recommend response to criticism of the agency''s function or performance; to logically and effectively explain programs, functions, and activities and gain understanding of the organization''s efforts by concerned publics.

6. Ability to evaluate and assess program effectiveness and prepare reports on accomplishment of program objectives.

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.

Education

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.

Additional information

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 well qualified or above for this position. 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.

Current Federal Civilian employees may apply for temporary and term positions and if selected, a break in service may be required prior to appointment to the position.

Temporary and Term Appointments: If you are selected for a temporary or term position in the competitive service, your appointment may be extended to the maximum period allowed by law without further competition.

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.

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here .

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties 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.

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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.

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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.