Correspondence Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) with one vacancy in Silver Spring MD.

This position is also announced under vacancy number NMFS-26--DE which is open to all US Citizens or Nationals. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

Duties

As a Correspondence Specialist you will perform the following duties:

• Develop and coordinate communications pertaining to difficult or sensitive issues that involve the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) regarding marine fisheries regulations and ocean sciences. Ensure communication measures are consistent with legislative changes reflecting complex programs to an audience with opposing viewpoints. Resolve misunderstandings or conflicts between offices concerning correspondence congressional reports and other official agency materials for senior officials of the agency.
• Conduct analysis of information to prepare written and electronic correspondence. Review documents for uniformity logic clarity of expression and edit phrases conveying the meaning of program objectives. Recommend changes with authors verifying that all references are pertinent to the subject and are up to date.
• Design and maintain guidance for correspondence procedures manual to monitor all action correspondence to ensure its timely execution. Review and comment on proposed changes to correspondence policies and procedures. Maintain historical current files and other reference materials for use by staff in ensuring continuity quality and appropriateness.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). Under CAPS positions are classified by career pay plan and pay band. The ZA-3 is equivalent to the GS-11/12.

Key Requirements:

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
• Suitable for Federal employment as determined by background investigation.
• More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Additional Information.
• Must be registered for Selective Service if applicable ()
• Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
• If you are a Federal employee applying for a promotion (under merit promotion procedures) you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Additional Considerations:

• One year probationary period may be required.
• Payment of relocation expenses (PCS) is not authorized.
• Payment of relocation incentives OR recruitment incentives may be authorized. Note: Relocation incentives are for current federal employees only.
• This position requires Low Risk Security Clearance.
• Background investigation will be required. Continued employment is subject to applicants successful completion of security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position for those required to serve a 1-year probationary period we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• Your performance and conduct;
• 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 then 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.

Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Managements website located at: There is no positive education requirement for this position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

To qualify at the ZA-3 or GS-11 level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Preparing correspondence covering marine conservation issues; and
• Providing recommendations for the development or management of communication materials or recommendations for proposed changes to correspondence policies and procedures.

OR

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. if related.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements. Note: Only graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience.

Education

College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e. Bio 101 Math 210 etc.) name of accredited institution course title number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.

Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.

Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated visit: OPM Foreign Education Evaluation.

Additional information

During the application process you will have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

ICTAP and CTAP Candidates: Eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on OPMs Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition.

ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

1. Copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
2. Copy of your SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action documenting your RIF separation noting your positions grade level and duty location and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL etc;
3. Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

1. Copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement or similar notice).
2. Copy of your SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action noting current position grade level and duty location;
3. Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

Non-Competitive Reinstatement to a Higher Grade/Band than Previously Held MUST submit the following documents:

1. SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action: You must provide the most current Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) that verifies career/career-conditional status title series and highest grade level held on a permanent basis for your previous position AND the SF-50 that verifies your separation date; AND
2. Performance Appraisal: Most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record signed by a supervisor or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable.

NOAA participates in e-Verify an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.

The Federal Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates will not be hired based on their race sex color religion or national origin.

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.

Required Experience:

IC