Public Affairs Specialist

Overview Accepting applications Open & closing dates Opening and closing dates03/30/2021 to 04/05/2021 This job will close when we have received 75 applications which may be sooner than the closing date.

Learn more Service Competitive Pay scale & grade GS 13 Salary $92,143 to $119,787 per year Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Full-time Duties SummaryThis position is located in the Public Affairs Branch, Public Affairs Division, Office of External Affairs, USDA, Rural Development (RD).

The incumbent is responsible for development and dissemination of public information and RD’s external web presence and multimedia activities, including digital customer-facing content and to lead digital communication efforts of RD Public Affairs.There is one position, location to be determined based on selectee’s current duty location.ResponsibilitiesAdvises Director/Branch Chief on existing and emerging issues and implications for RD management and policies.

Develops/implements strategies, techniques, goal for communication with media and Congressional contacts.Prepares in-depth analyses and other information for development of RD strategy in addressing critical and complex issues.Designs and implements communication plans and strategies for overall communication planning for RD.Identifies, researches, analyzes and designs communications with various publics on programs, policies and activities.Evaluates trends to determine public attitudes, perceptions, and relate program policies with community interestTravel RequiredOccasional travel
– You may be expected to travel for this position. Supervisory status No Promotion Potential None Requirements Conditions of EmploymentYou must be a US Citizen or US National.Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.Direct Deposit
– Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.

To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.

Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.For the GS-13 level: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: Experience to include wide range of public affairs, including developing and implementing strategies, techniques, and goals for communicating with stakeholders, media, and congressional contacts; writing and editing marketing campaigns, publications, brochures, fact sheets, annual/special reports; communicating effectively with internal and external customers, stakeholders, government officials and general public using variety styles, and materials to help address existing and emerging issues; preparing analyses of critical and complex issues to help maximize the impact of the message or information being communicated.

There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS13 grade level.NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-1035 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement.

A copy is available at: 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education This job does not have an education qualification requirement. Additional informationCareer Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible.

To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section.

When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran’s Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).

Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran’s Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website.Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions.

Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years.

Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better.

Refer to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG.

7, 2015 for more information.To be eligible for appointment to this position, the new hire must be cleared to come on board once the results of the fingerprint check, review of the OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and the candidate’s Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQIP) entries have been reviewed and determined to be satisfactory.

This position requires a favorable credit check as part of the background investigation.Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc) should contact: USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position.

This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

How You Will Be EvaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:Analytical SkillsInterpersonal SkillsOral CommunicationPublic Affairs principles and practices.Written CommunicationYour application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions.

Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need only meet minimum qualifications to be referred.Note: If after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible.

Please follow all instructions carefully.

Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e.

the online questionnaire.

The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process.

To initiate the online application process, click the “Apply” button to the right.To view the application form, visit: Background checks and security clearanceSecurity clearance Not Required Drug test required No Position sensitivity and riskNon-sensitive (NS)/Low RiskTrust determination processSuitability/FitnessThis job is open to Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees who meet the definition of a “surplus” or “displaced” employee. Federal employees
– Competitive service Current or former competitive service federal employees. Individuals with disabilities Land & base management Certain current or former term or temporary federal