Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

Salary :

Base salary listed - Salary is dependent upon the associated duty station which will be determined upon hire. You may review salary on these locality tables based on these .

NOTE : First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01 .

Open to current or former Federal employees : USGS-DEN-24-12373095-ST-MDB.

This job is open to

Duties

As a Public Affairs Specialist within the Office of Communication and Publishing, some of your specific duties will include :

• Helps develop and maintain relationships with key government officials at the federal, state and local level, ensuring their offices are informed of USGS science that may inform key policy and management decisions.
• Understanding of scientific concepts and content to effectively communicate the fundamental scientific principles behind technical products.

Or the ability to learn the aforementioned items rapidly.

• Plans and coordinates special events such as news conferences, congressional field meetings, high ranking official visits, national conferences or events, partner and stakeholder events, photo and video opportunities and other functions.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with media, elected officials and their staff, other governmental agencies and stakeholders and responds to their requests for information about USGS science, programs, research studies, initiatives and events.
• Independently researches, writes and prepares content for public dissemination that highlights USGS science and activities and develops strategies for reaching audiences by writing and executing communication plans and talking points.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Key Requirements :

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
• Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
• Selectee may be subject to serving a one-year probationary period.
• More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information.

Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position?

This vacancy is limited to the first 175 applications received and will close at midnight Eastern Time on the day this application limit is reached regardless of the closing date specified in this vacancy announcement.

Any application received prior to midnight Eastern Time of the day the application limit is reached will be accepted and considered.

You are strongly encouraged to submit all required supporting documents at the time of application should the vacancy close earlier than stated in this announcement due to the applicant limit being reached.

Supporting documents will not be accepted once the vacancy announcement closes.

Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment.

Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued.

A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.

Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

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

Definitions :

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION : A year of undergraduate education is 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours or the equivalent of college study.

This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent was a prerequisite.

GRADUATE EDUCATION : In the absence of specific graduate program information, a year of graduate education is 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours of graduate level college course work, or the number of credit hours the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full time study.

This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

For GS-11 :

Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-11 level :

Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education (54 semester hours or 81 quarter hours or the equivalent) leading to a Ph.

D. or equivalent doctoral degree or LL.M., in a field of study which provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR One year of appropriate specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service that is in or related to public affairs and that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

• Examples of such experience could include : (1) preparing communication plans and materials such as brochures, correspondence, briefing papers, speeches / talking points, news releases, news and feature articles, video scripts, public service announcements, or other content for intranet / internet / social media accounts in support of a public affairs or outreach program;
• 2) responding to media or stakeholder inquiries; (3) working with subject matter experts to explain scientific or technical concepts in communication products designed to be understood by lay audiences;

and (4) following appropriate protocols prior to releasing information publicly.

OR A combination of successfully completed graduate level education as described above that is beyond the second year of progressive graduate study and specialized experience, as described above.

CLICK FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE)

For GS-12 :

Applicants must have one year of appropriate specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service that is in or related to public affairs and that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

• Examples of such experience could include : (1) developing strategic communication plans and preparing related materials such as brochures, speeches / talking points, news releases, news and feature articles, video scripts, public service announcements, or other content for intranet / internet / social media accounts in support of a public affairs or outreach program;
• 2) serving as a point of contact for media inquiries and briefing media, government officials, and / or stakeholders on an organization's programs in a way that is relevant to public interests and current affairs;
• 3) advising subject matter experts on how to translate scientific or technical concepts and identifying communication approaches and products that are most likely to resonate with lay audiences;

4) identifying key messages and following appropriate protocols prior to releasing information publicly; and (5) monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of public affairs tactics and strategies.

NOTE : Evidence of specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held.

Please provide such documentation on resume.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

• 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.