PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

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The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Public Affairs Specialist, to carry out a wide range of public affairs assignments primarily focused on media operations, communication planning, contingency/crisis response, special event planning, environmental, security and policy review, and public affairs resource management.

Qualifications:

Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions. Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes conducting public affairs functions for the organization, ensuring public affairs activities comply with legal and regulatory requirements and meet customer needs; researches and responds to information requests on assigned programs from the local, regional, and national news media, specialized groups, and/or public; local, state, and federal elected officials; special interest groups; performing special assignments and participates in special projects and initiatives with responsibility for researching, planning, executing, and/or evaluating public affairs operations, programs, and policies. NOTE: Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.

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:

• Knowledge of a wide range of oral, written, and visual communication concepts, principles, policies, practices, methods, applications, techniques, standards, and trends; analytical methods; interpersonal relations practices applicable to researching, planning, developing, coordinating, and evaluating new information materials for information programs.
• Knowledge of the missions, roles, functions, organizational structures, relationships, and operational planning objectives of Air Force and DoD organizations.
• Skill in gathering, evaluating, and interpreting data sufficient to arrive at valid, supportable conclusions and to offer meaningful recommendations.
• Skill in planning and independently managing short- and long-term projects and to cultivate and sustain positive working relationships to project completion.
• Ability to communicate effectively with tact and diplomacy to advocate agency positions; to logically and effectively explain programs, functions, and activities and gain understanding of the organization's efforts.

This is a TERM position: It's a time limited position and may be extended up to six years. Position may be converted to a permanent, career or career-conditional appointment without competition as long as all requirements are met. Eligibility for conversion; employee must be complete at least 2 years of current continuous service under a term appointment in the competitive service and employee have a current performance rating under such modified term appointment of at least fully successful or equivalent.

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.