Public Affairs Specialist
What you'd do
This position is located in a Forest Service Research Station Headquarters Office and serves as the Staff Director over the Communication Group. For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Frank McCormick at [email protected].
Major duties
Directs the public affairs program and communication staff for the Station. Provides expert advice about the effects and relationship between the Station’s programs and the social, economic, and political environment of the Station and in matters relating to communication with the public. Plans, directs, and conducts liaison programs with local, state, regional, and national media, regional and national interest groups, congressional staff and members, other government agencies, non-governmental organizations and the general public. Serves as one of the Station’s s principal spokespersons to the regional, national, and international news media for questions relating to Station and national research activities. Participates with the Station Director, Assistant Station Directors, and Program Managers as a member of the Station Leadership Team in the formulation, establishment, and monitoring of policies and programs that are Station wide in scope. Develops long and short-range plans and objectives that meet the needs of the Research Station for public affairs. Represents the Station Director in meetings and conferences with officials. Performs supervisory duties 20% or less of the time.
What you need to qualify
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. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-13 level: Applicants must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as all of the following: Developing new methods and techniques in communicating natural resource or science based information with an agency's various publics and groups. Developing communications strategies and materials for natural resource or science based information using various tools and techniques, including press releases, opinion editorials, campaigns, multimedia presentations and social media content Researching and analyzing controversial agency programs, assessed public reaction and developed appropriate communication strategies, information materials, campaigns, and programs. 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.
Before you apply
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