PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST (PROGRAM MANAGER)

Duties
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Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following:

• Serves as the senior strategic advisor for public affairs within the Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA),
• Serves as PFPA's primary crisis communications expert, responsible for managing high-profile incidents and public messaging during security events and emergencies.
• Drafts and edits speeches, remarks, talking points, statements, and other related documents for the PFPA Director and senior leadership.
• Develops and maintains the PFPA Crisis Communication Plan, training key leadership and staff on crisis response protocols.
• Exercises independent judgment in determining the appropriate level of information disclosure during crises, balancing transparency with operational security.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment
• Required to participate in the direct deposit program
• This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
• This position is subject to the DoD Priority Placement Program
• The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance. A Special Background Investigation (SBI) is required with favorable adjudication by a determining authority.
• The employee assigned to this position is designated as a MISSION ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEE.
• This position is eligible for telework.
• The employee must file the required financial disclosure statement(s).
• The employee may be required to travel up to 20% of the time both within the local commuting area as well as outside

Qualifications

Additional Condition of Employment

• This position is designated as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the civilian drug-testing program. As a mandatory requirement for employment in this TDP, the incumbent is to (a) refrain from the use of illegal drugs and (b) if required, submit to urinalysis testing. The selectee must sign statements acknowledging the position is identified as a TDP.
• The employee assigned to this position is designated as a MISSION ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEE. Mission essential employees may be required to report for, or remain at, work in dismissal or closure situations due to adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, or other emergency situations ( e.g., building closure due to power outage) causing disruptions of government operations, and are required to maintain contact with their supervisor during any dismissal or closure situation unless specifically excused by their supervisor.
• This position is eligible for telework. The employee must meet all eligibility requirements prior to teleworking, including completion of required telework training, submission of all required paperwork, and obtaining appropriate approvals.
• The employee must file the required financial disclosure statement(s). The employee is required to submit United States (US) Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Form 450, 5 Code of Federal Regulations Part 2634, Subpart 1, USOGE, 12/2011, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entering the position and annually, in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R, Joint Ethics Regulation, dated March 23, 2006.

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below.

You may qualify at the GS-14 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to: 1) Developing and implementing comprehensive communication strategies; 2) Gathering and interpreting complex data and making recommendations on public affairs approaches, policies, and audience reactions to information; 3) Providing expert skill in writing and editing materials, such as; communications plans, employee communications, printed publications, talking points, web page content, memorandums news release or response queries, etc.; and 4) Developing principles, practices, and techniques of communication and a wide range of communications media and methods.

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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.Your resume may not exceed two (2) pagesFor qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave.

Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Additional information

Probationary Periods: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the 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 the 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.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing an online application, you may request an alternative application. Please send an email to the following address for information on how to obtain an alternative application: whs.job.application.assistance@mail.mil

Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants (DODI 1400.25, volume 300). http://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/

Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.