Branch Chief, Strategic Communications
What you'd do
The Office of Public Affairs is seeking a Supervisory Communications Specialist (Branch Chief, Strategic Communications). As Branch Chief, Strategic Communications, you will supervise staff to execute internal and external communications and media relations for the agency.
Major duties
In this role as a Branch Chief, you will be responsible for: Supporting OPA senior staff in executing goals and objectives relative to OPA's strategic initiatives. Engaging with agency-wide subject matter experts to communicate information on the agency's key priorities, programs, and operational initiatives; remediate risks; respond to issues; and identify opportunities for improvement. Managing the execution of media relations initiatives, including overseeing the release of public announcements and staff engagement with members of the press. Establishing best practices, business processes, and standard operating procedures for efficient communications workflows, projects, initiatives, and effective customer service. Performing a broad range of supervisory duties and tasks, including evaluating employee performance; making recommendations for appointment and promotion; identifying development and training needs of employees; approving time and attendance; resource management; monitoring team workload and productivity; and other related supervisory functions.
What you need to qualify
Applicants are responsible for confirming all required materials are submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Please check the How You Will Be Evaluated and Required Documents sections carefully, as missing documents will render the application incomplete and ineligible for review. Qualifying experience may be obtained in the private or public sector. 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. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: SK-15: Applicant must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/SK-13 level. Specialized experience includes: Managing day-to-day communications workflows, projects, or initiatives; AND Executing and contributing to media relations initiatives, including overseeing the release of public announcements and engaging with members of the press; AND Managing short- and long-range projects, including developing timelines, coordinating resources, tracking deliverables, or monitoring progress toward milestones; AND Implementing strategic priorities and operational direction established by senior leadership. ACCOMPLISHMENT RECORD COMPETENCIES: Your Accomplishment Record narratives should address the following competencies. See the How You Will Be Evaluated section below for more information: Competency 1: Program Management: Ability to develop and execute programs to deliver results that efficiently and effectively meet Agency's mission, strategic plan, and goals, with little or no guidance. Competency 2: Strategic Execution: Understand and implement Agency's and Division/Office's policies and goals, with regard to personnel or programs in their purview, anticipating, identifying, and addressing the impact of internal and external environmental factors, linking them to capabilities and potential of the organization. Competency 3: Influencing/Negotiating: Ability to change or transform opinions and behaviors, gaining buy-in, in order to achieve desired organizational outcomes. Competency 4: Problem Solving and Decision Making: Ability to identify and solve important problems relevant to program areas through sound and timely decision making, even in less than ideal situations, with little or no guidance.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.