New job Public Affairs Specialist in Montana

Public Affairs Specialist

Company : US Forest Service
Salary : $64,649 - $100,739 a year
Location : Montana

Full Description

Duties

Summary

This position is located on the Flathead National Forest, Region One.

This Public Affairs Specialist performs a wide variety of activities in planning and implementing a comprehensive public affairs program for the Forest.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Kurtis Steele at 406-253-4819 or [email protected].


Responsibilities

  • Duties listed are the full performance level.
  • Uses a variety of communications methods and techniques (i.e., written, oral, and visual) in devising the appropriate communication method for each public affairs initiative.
  • Represents the Station in meetings and discussions involving individuals, groups, and organizations working in support of, or opposing, the policies, programs, and work of the Station/Forest.
  • Makes public statements as necessary within the framework of establishes policy guidelines.
  • Plans, directs, and implements a comprehensive public affairs program for the unit.
  • Organizes, coordinates and implements effective employee and public meetings, workshops, field trips, or other forums designed to foster employee and public participation.
  • Plans and implements the communications initiatives to address critical science issues; explain Forest Service policies, programs, and activities, inform National Forest users; and communications with the publics, news media and elected officials.
  • Provides input into the long-range planning, development and coordination of the overall public affairs program for the Station/Forest.
  • Analyzes public reaction and recommends changes to improve understanding.
  • Recommends methods of minimizing misconceptions and improving understanding of Station direction.
  • Participates in the evaluation of the effectiveness of Station science delivery programs and implements improvements.
  • Write, edit and supervise the layout of publications and other informational materials to ensure they conform to Agency and government guidelines.
  • Write informational materials such as articles for release to the media, news releases and advisories for public information dissemination and fact sheets.
  • Writes, edits, and prepares news releases and programs for press, radio, and television, and social media.
  • Uses a variety of communications methods and techniques (i.e., written, oral, and visual) in devising the appropriate communication method for each public affairs initiative.
  • Foster an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.
  • Promote an inclusive work environment that is free from all types of discrimination.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to fostering and promoting an equitable, inclusive, and safe work environment.
  • Performs 25% or less supervisory duties.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required for meetings and/or trainings.

Supervisory status

Yes

Promotion Potential

12

  • Job family (Series)

    1035 Public Affairs

  • Requirements

    Requirements

    Conditions of Employment

    • Must be a U.S. Citizen or 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.
    • 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 e-verify.gov

    Qualifications

    In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

    Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

    Specialized Experience Requirement:

    For the GS-11 grade level: Applicants must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes two or more of the following: Responded in oral and written form, to requests for information by determining the nature of the data required and collecting and assembling the material using the appropriate format and style based on needs and organization practices; Assisted in evaluation and analysis of public comments on management issues; identified areas to be addressed, characteristics and needs of the target audience, and communication techniques most appropriate; Developed recommended approaches and drafted material for supervisor's approval; Developed and presented informational audio-visual material using new technologies and social media;
    OR
    A Ph.D. or equivalent Doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related;
    OR
    An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a Master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.).

    For the GS-12 grade level: Applicants must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes two or more of the following:. Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships at multiple levels within an organization in order to develop and disseminate coordinated messages that accurately address organizational programs; Preparing written materials to promote the organization's position on a variety of sensitive, controversial and/or complex issues; Developed and presented informational audio-visual material using new technologies and social media; Designing and tailoring meetings and public involvement strategies to audiences that involved a degree of controversy.

    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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

    TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

    Education

    This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

    Additional information

    Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): 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).

    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. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status such as leave without pay is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.

    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 30 percent disabled veterans, certain military spouses, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website

    PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied or guaranteed.

    This is not a bargaining unit designated position.

    Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

    Government Housing is not available.


    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.

    We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.

    The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/

    How You Will Be Evaluated

    You 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 competencies listed below:

    • Communications and Media
    • Planning and Evaluating
    • Problem Solving
    • Workforce Environment
    • Writing


    Your 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.

    If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

    Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. 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.

    To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11140273

    Background checks and security clearance

    Security clearance

    Not Required

    Drug test required

    No

    Position sensitivity and risk

    Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

    Trust determination process

    Credentialing, Suitability/Fitness

  • Required Documents

    Required Documents

    The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in mail service, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
    • Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) supervisor's phone number and whether or not the supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications.
    • If education is required or you are using education to qualify, you must submit: a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however, if you are selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
    In addition to the above, you must submit the documents below if you claim the following:
    • Current and former Federal employees: 1) Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing that you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND 2) Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan.
    • Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
    • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Eligible Applicants: please review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide on the Forest Service website.
    • Current permanent FSA County employees: most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action, (SF-50 or equivalent) showing your highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) per above.
    • VEOA, and 30% Disabled Veterans: please review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide on the Forest Service website.
    • If claiming eligibility under a special hiring authority not listed above, please review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide on the Forest Service website.

  • Benefits

    Benefits

    A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

    Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.


Help

This 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 employees of a land or base management agency.

  • Military spouses

  • Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista

  • Special authorities

    Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.

  • Veterans

Clarification from the agency

Current permanent federal employees with competitive status, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP and VEOA eligibles, Farm Service Agency permanent county employees, 30 percent or More Disabled Veterans, Certain Former Overseas and Foreign Service Employees, Military Spouses, Interchange Agreement and Other Miscellaneous Authorities, People with Disabilities, Peace Corps and VISTA, Reinstatement, Public Land Corps, and Resource Assistant Program eligible candidates.


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