PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Duties

• Plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates major public affairs functions with Air Force-wide applicability, ensuring that public affairs activities comply with legal and regulatory requirements and meet customer needs
• Manages broad programs, special projects, and initiatives with responsibility for researching, planning, executing, and evaluating complex public affairs operations, programs, policies, and strategies of significant importance and which affect broad functional areas and multiple organizational levels
• Represents the organization to a variety of councils, boards, working groups, and panels inside and outside the agency, including Headquarters Air Force, DoD (Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Staff, unified combatant command and sister services), and other governmental, nongovernmental, public, civic, service, industry, business, educational, entertainment, think tank, and media organizations
• Serves as senior adviser in the assigned area of responsibility

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
• This is a Centrally Managed Position in the 1035 Series, Public Affairs Field.
• If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
• This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• Advance in hire may be authorized if there is demonstrable proof provided on your resume
• Leave accrual may be authorized upon request
• Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
• Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on civilian or military aircraft
• May be required to be on call and/or to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a SECRET security clearance required for the position
• May be required to escort news media representatives to a forward operating location in the event of a deployment or other operations
• This position meets the administrative exemption criteria for the Fair Labor Standards Act (5 CFR 551.206)

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions for the GS-1035, Public Affairs Series.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-13, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes communication principles, methods, practices, and techniques; analytical methods to serve as the technical authority on specific matters within the organization; and skill in applying these principles and methods in managing a public affairs program involving media operations, community engagement, think tank/civic outreach, planning and execution of nationally prominent events, command information, visual information, communication planning/research/analysis, public affairs career field force development, force management, force integration, standardization and evaluation, emerging technology/social media, public affairs resource management, and/or contingency planning and operations.

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-13 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-14 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

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. Mastery knowledge of the communication concepts, principles, policies, practices, methods, applications, techniques, standards, and trends applicable to researching, planning, developing, coordinating, leading, and evaluating broad public affairs and visual information programs and stratifying requirements, strategies, and assets to perform the mission.

2. In-depth knowledge of missions, roles, functions, organizational structures, relationships, and operational planning objectives of Air Force and DoD organizations.

3. Expert skill in methods and techniques to develop and evaluate written materials; to research and analyze concepts; to analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, recognize valid solutions, and offer meaningful recommendations; to extend existing principles to new and unusual applications; to conduct innovative program evaluations; and to prepare advisory materials on matters of importance for audiences of various levels of understanding and interest.

4. Highly skilled with the ability to independently manage short and long term projects and to cultivate and sustain positive working relationships to project completion.

5. Demonstrated skill in communicating effectively with tact and diplomacy, orally and in writing, to advocate agency positions; to respond to criticism of the agency's function or performance; to logically and effectively explain programs, functions, and activities and gain understanding of the organization's efforts by concerned publics; to negotiate complex issues, programs, and functions with people having varying levels of understanding of Air Force and public affairs programs and activities; and to maintain good working relations.

6. Ability to evaluate and assess program effectiveness at all echelons of command, prepare reports on accomplishment of program objectives, lead a detailed planning effort, and develop recommendations while representing a wide variety of organizations and viewpoints.

7. Ability to analyze, plan, organize, direct, and adjust activities and functions to meet program requirements and objectives within available resources while meeting time-critical deadlines, often under high pressure, politically sensitive conditions.

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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click . To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.

Employed Annuitants (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. Click for more information.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click .

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