Public Affairs Specialist (SME)

Are you seeking a career using your journalism or media relations skills to craft clear and effective messaging?  Do you thrive under tight timeframes in a deadline driven, fast-paced environment?  Join NHTSA's high-profile media relations programs to conduct outreach to national and trade press; respond quickly to media inquiries; and produce concise briefing materials, talking points, background information, press releases, and media advisories on traffic and vehicle safety issues.

Qualifications:

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet either the education or specialized experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the GS-11, on Experience, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the following:

• Experience in journalism or working with trade press or mainstream media to communicate policy and programs by producing content using a strong, plain language voice.
• Experience serving as a program liaison collaborating with technical staff to gather, evaluate, and interpret data into plain language for press releases and consumer advisories.
• Experience researching, conducting interviews, editing feature articles or press releases to include traditional and digital media.
• Experience developing and presenting approaches to supervisor for releasing critical or time‑sensitive information to trade or mainstream (local or national) press.

To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have:

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
• 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree
• A LL.M., if related

You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience.  This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.  

To qualify for the GS-12, on Experience, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the following:

• Experience providing sound, policy-based media statements in a fast-paced, multi-tasking media relations office.
• Experience in drafting factual media statements in response to breaking news and under very tight deadlines; and experience in pulling together information from many sources to present accurate information to the public in a timely manner.
• Experience researching, conducting interviews, editing feature articles or press releases to include newspaper, television, radio and online media outlets; and experience developing and presenting approaches to supervisor for releasing critical or time‑sensitive information to trade or mainstream press.

There is no education requirement for the GS-12 and above for this position.

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. Communication and Media - Demonstrated knowledge and skills as a public affairs professional or equivalent experience as a reporter with strong writing and grammar skills for communicating to the public and media; working under very tight deadlines acquiring information about different subjects and in analyzing, selecting, and presenting the information in a style, manner, and format that is accurate and suited to the requirements of the designated medium.
2. Stakeholder Management – Demonstrated experience working with reporters and/or editors daily.
3. Written Communication – Demonstrated capability producing content using a strong, plain language voice.

For all types of consideration, 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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Responsibilities:

As a Public Affairs Specialist, you will:

• Interacts with trade press and consumer media organizations to distribute news and other information on traffic and vehicle safety issues.
• Develops, writes, and edit highway safety-related media advisories, press releases, and editorial content to further understanding of NHTSA’s mission and activities.
• Works with behavioral and vehicle safety staff to prepare and coordinate responses to inquiries from trade press and other media organizations, the public, and other stakeholders to provide in-depth information on traffic and vehicle safety issues.
• Coordinates press conferences and special events that amplify NHTSA’s mission, driving public awareness of key safety priorities.

Ideal Candidate Statement: Creative, passionate, dynamic, and energetic are just a few characteristics for the ideal candidate who fills this position. Crafting clear and effective content, the individual is a skilled communicator with a unique ability to get critical information to intended audience. The candidate thrives under tight deadlines in a fast-paced public relations office while producing powerful, impactful content. The candidate can establish and maintain effective external working relationships with industry media, national and regional media outlets, industry associations, as well as internal working relationships.

Possessing an uncanny command of the written word, the ideal candidate will grow in this position and will continue to enhance these talents. The candidate is the consummate team player who works cooperatively and effectively as part of a highly adaptable, spirited public affairs team and is eager to take on challenging assignments and projects.

Salary : $85,447