Public Affairs Specialist (Social Media)

Duties

As a Public Affairs Specialist (Social Media) at the GS-1035-13 some of your typical work assignments may include:

• Serves as a senior public affairs specialist and principal authority on social media strategies, working directly with the Office of the Secretary of War (Public Affairs) to develop and implement digital communication plans and campaigns that inform internal and external audiences about DoW missions, policies, programs, and activities.
• Plans and coordinates the dissemination of information through official social media channels, including Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram. Develops editorial calendars and creates, assigns, curates, edits, and publishes written and multimedia content to maintain and expand the Department's social media presence.
• Coordinates with OSW, Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, Military Services, and other public affairs stakeholders to develop consistent themes and messages supporting leadership priorities. Integrates social media tactics into comprehensive communication programs, including radio, television, and print, and exercises diplomacy to coordinate news and information coverage.
• Researches audience preferences, segmentation, and public sentiment; captures and analyzes social media metrics to assess communication effectiveness. Prepares progress reports and advises management on changes to messaging, emphasis, and coverage, including expanding or discontinuing efforts to achieve communication objectives.
• Evaluates emerging trends, technologies, and outreach practices to identify communication opportunities and implement new tools supporting DoW public affairs objectives. Addresses barriers to adoption and shares lessons learned, analytics, and best practices across departmental components, Military Services, and other government agencies.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Work Schedule: Full Time
• Overtime: Occasionally
• Tour of Duty: Flexible
• Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
• Financial Disclosure: Required/Not Required
• Telework Eligibility: This position is Situational telework ONLY
• Applicants who advance to the interview stage of the hiring process will be required to perform a practical application exercise prior to the interview. This practical application exercise will be scored as a portion of the overall interview score.
• Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• Employee required to work Expanded Flexible Hours, which includes weekends and holidays.
• You must qualify for and use a government travel card for official travel.
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test screening, and periodic testing thereafter if required.
• Temporary duty travel is 20% of the time.

Qualifications

To qualify for a Public Affairs Specialist (Social Media), your resume and supporting documentation must support:

A. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position and is directly in or related to this position. To qualify at the GS-13 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military or private sector. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements including time-in-grade (General Schedule (GS) positions only), time-after-competitive appointment, minimum qualifications, and any other regulatory requirements by the cut-off/closing date of the announcement. Creditable specialized experience includes:

• Developing and executing internal and external communication plans and digital media campaigns across multiple platforms to increase audience awareness, understanding, and engagement with organizational issues, policies, and initiatives.
• Managing organizational social media channels, including developing editorial calendars and researching, writing, editing, and publishing written and multimedia content that communicates complex information in accessible and transparent ways.
• Analyzing social media metrics, audience consumption patterns, mobile trends, and public sentiment to evaluate campaign effectiveness and recommend strategies that strengthen engagement with core audiences and enhance public discourse.
• Evaluating and applying existing and emerging communication tools and technologies to advance public affairs objectives, including distinguishing sustainable outreach opportunities from short-lived trends and addressing barriers to implementation.
• Coordinating with senior officials, public affairs personnel, and organizational stakeholders to develop consistent messaging, reconcile competing communication requirements, and integrate social media campaigns into comprehensive communication programs.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

Additional information

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: 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; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information: .

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see )

The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.
NOTE: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy.

Selective Service Requirement: Please visit for more information.

For more information, please visit

Other Notes:

Re-employed Annuitant: This position Does/Does not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at:

This position is subject to an initial drug screening, and random testing thereafter. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's inability successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or FJO being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment.
You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position.

Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level).