PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Duties

This position is in the Joint Force Headquarters - Wyoming National Guard (WYNG), Personal Staff, Public Affairs Office. As the state's Public Affairs Officer (PAO), the incumbent is responsible for all Army and Air National Guard public, community, digital media, productions, visual information, and agency history within Wyoming and for providing supervision and direction to the staff of the Joint Force Headquarters - State (JFHQ-Wyoming), Public Affairs Office, as well as field and unit public affairs specialists and Mobile Public Affairs Detachments (MPADs) personnel covering the region.

The PAO reports to the WYNG's Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) and is responsible for planning, budgeting, designing, and executing public affairs communications strategies to inform and educate the public, both general and specialized, about the Army and Air National Guard programs, activities (e.g. Wyoming Veterans Commission, Cemetery, Museums, STARBASE, etc.), and services and the vital role they play as components of the U.S. armed forces as well as being an invaluable asset for homeland defense and homeland security. Plans, directs, and executes command/internal information, media and community relations campaigns to convey sensitive and complex information concerning the National Guard's state and federal programs, responsibilities, and activities.

** This is NOT an all-inclusive list of duties. **

Requirements

Conditions of employment

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS:
U.S. Citizenship Required.
Must obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET security clearance.
This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program.
Employees are paid through Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer (DD/EFT).
Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation.
Veterans' Preference applies (if applicable) to this advertisement.
May be required to successfully complete a two-year trial and one-year supervisory probation period.
Recruitment/Relocation Incentive MAY BE authorized, if eligible. Subject to funding and TAG approval.
PCS costs are not authorized. Must be willing to relocate at own expense if selected.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT & NOTES:
1. Work may require access to classified information. Must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance.
2. The incumbent of this position description must have at a minimum, a completed National Agency Check (NAC) prior to position assignment.
3. Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day.
4. The employee may be required to travel in military and/or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
5. The work may require the employee to drive a motor vehicle and if so, an appropriate valid driver's license is required.
6. This position is designated as Essential Personnel and may be subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state emergency or disaster declaration. This designation will not exceed calendar days per year unless otherwise approved in advance by the Adjutant General (TAG).
7. Must complete the Defense Information School (DINFOS) Public Affairs & Communication Strategy Qualification Course requirements within 12 months of appointment to position, if not already certified.

Qualifications

TITLE 5 POSITION INFORMATION:
Type of Appointment: Permanent
Tenure: Group 1 or 2
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
FLSA: Exempt
Telework: The duties of this position require primary physical presence. Situational teleworking may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Position #: 01057034
Selecting Official: CSM Thad Ehde

AREAS OF CONSIDERATION:
Referrals of qualified applicants will be issued in the following order:

Area 2: Permanent and indefinite WYNG Title 5 and T32 DST employees with the Wyoming Air/Army National Guard.
Area 3: Current Federal employees within the Competitive and Excepted Service, and Competitive Service Reinstatement Eligible employees. Former NG T32 Dual Status employees receiving an Honorable or a General Discharge under Honorable Conditions are eligible for reinstatement provided they have been separated for at least one year before applying for reinstatement and received a rating of record of their most recent permanent position of a least fully successful (or equivalent).
Area 4: Currently serving and former Active Guard/Reserve (AGR), and M-Day/Drill Status Guard (DSG) members of the National Guard. This provision is intended to boost the candidate pool to reach more qualified candidates and place DSG/M-Day personnel on par with currently serving civilian personnel.

* Veterans' Preference Rules are mandated by law, and some applicants may receive priority consideration before other applicants without veterans' preference.
* Area 7: U.S. Citizens

Upon acceptance of this position, if selected candidate is a competitive employee, they will convert to Excepted Service and be required to sign a memorandum IAW 5 CFR 302.102. Acceptance of the proposed appointment will take the employee out of the competitive service while s/he occupies the position.

To qualify, you must meet the experience and/or education requirements described below. 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. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE:
Must possess experience, education, or training in administrative, professional, investigative, and/or technical work. Must demonstrate experience evaluating information and utilizing analytical skills to disseminate effective communication. Must have experience compiling reports, letters, and memoranda, as well as conducting person-to-person contacts to convey information. Requires proficiency in using computers and automation systems.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
Must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of a GS-13 Public Affairs Specialist.

GS-12 equivalent experience includes responding to routine and controversial media requests; preparing or assembling information kits; editing and rewriting informational material; and releasing photographs or feature stories to news media. Experience should also include coordinating news interviews, arranging media coverage for National Guard events, maintaining unclassified photo libraries, and coordinating public affairs airlift or orientation flights.

GS-13 duties provides strategic Public Affairs advice to the Adjutant General and staff regarding policies and programs for internal audiences. Analyzes, coordinates, and updates Command Information (CI) plans and policies. Oversees the production of print and electronic media projects. Researches and analyzes trends in internal audience opinions to refine CI strategies. Provides guidance to subordinate commands and coordinates projects with NGB staff or other agencies.

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.

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.

TIME-IN-GRADE: Any applicant who within the previous 52 weeks held a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. NOTE: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement.

If you are a current GS employee applying for a higher grade than the grade you currently hold, provide an SF-50 showing the next lower grade was held for at least one year. Some SF-50s effective within the last 52 weeks will not demonstrate the next lower grade was held for at least one year (e.g., General Adjustment SF-50 from this year). In many cases, we may need to see two (2) SF-50s to determine time-in-grade and eligibility for promotion. If you are a DoD employee, you may obtain copies of your SF-50(s) from MyBiz ( )

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Upon issuance of the Certificate of Eligibles, the Selecting Official will require referred candidates to complete a written assessment. Detailed instructions and the specific topic will be provided at that time; completion is required before interviews are scheduled.

DRIVER'S LICENSE:
Must possess a valid driver's license.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered, or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency ( )

Do not send/fax/courier/email any applications or resumes to the Wyoming National Guard Human Resource Office, you must apply on-line via . The Human Resource can only process materials received through USA Jobs.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians:
MR or NG Technicians who will lose or lost military membership through no fault of their own after completing at least 15 years of technician service and a minimum of 20 years of service creditable for non-regular retirement may exercise preference eligibility to DoD positions with the local commuting area in accordance with section 3329(b) of Title 5, U.S.C. This preference eligibility is valid for 1 year after separation.

If meeting this requirement, applicant must submit a copy of the "Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification checklist" and copies of appropriate documentation, such as the received notification letter indicating no longer eligible for military or NG membership (through no fault of your own) and you have completed at least 15 years of technician service and at minimum of 20 years of service creditable for non-regular retirement.

PPP DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible:
If applicant is on retained grade based on receiving a written Reduction in Force (RIF) notification letter of a change to lower grade, or a notification letter of a classification downgraded dated within the last two years, may exercise preference eligibility to DoD positions at the retained grade, within the local commuting area.

If meeting this requirement, applicant must submit a copy of the "Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification checklist" and copies of appropriate documentation, such as a RIF change-to-lower grade notification, and an SF-50 reflecting your RIF change to lower grade.

PPP DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Eligible Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement:
If applicant is an MR or NG Technician who will or has been involuntarily medically retired due to a service-connected medical disability that disqualifies them from military membership or from holding the required military grade, and has applied for or is receiving a disability retirement annuity, may exercise preference eligibility to DoD positions within the local commuting area and understands that the position to which they are applying for must be at the same grade or equivalent level, tenure, and work schedule as the position held currently or upon separation.

If meeting this requirement, applicant must submit a copy of the "Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification checklist" and copies of the appropriate documentation, such as the received notification letter that states they are no longer eligible for membership due to a service-connected disability.