Summary
The Managing Director of the Office of Public Affairs is responsible for all strategic communications that are designed to ensure GAO's work is seen, understood, and valued in a rapidly changing information age. This person also directs all aspects of the agency's communications activities, experts, and data related to external public audiences.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
You must be a United States citizen
Duties
- Serves as the agency's spokesperson and top communications advisor to the Comptroller General of the United States to build relationships and alliances with influencers and organizations that can help advance GAO's mission.
- Directs the work of the Office of Public Affairs (OPA), which includes staff responsible for the agency's social media, video and audio production, media relations, website, and strategic external communications programs and products.
- Counsels Supreme Audit Institutions in other nations on communications strategies to enhance their own communications following GAO and industry-wide best practices.
- Serves as primary point-of-contact for major national and international web, print and broadcast journalists to promote coverage of GAO's non-partisan, fact-based reports and Congressional testimonies.
- Oversees the development and compliance with policies related to communications and media engagement to ensure GAO's media relations are non-partisan and unbiased.
- Oversees the development of public affairs and communication initiatives to promote awareness and understanding of GAO's products.
- Maintains strong awareness of relevant public policy debates and media trends, and align public affairs programs, accordingly.
- Represents GAO on various intra- and inter-governmental boards, task groups, and other standing and ad-hoc bodies to exchange information related to strategic communications initiatives.
- Uses managerial authority to direct the work of OPA; is held accountable for the success of OPA's line or staff functions; monitors and evaluates the progress of the organization toward meeting goals; makes adjustments in objectives, work plans, schedules, and commitment of resources; evaluates and provides input on the performance of employees; makes decisions on people-related matters such as selections, promotions, awards, and training; supports GAO's equal employment opportunity (EEO) goals, core values, and People Values by positive example and appropriate action.
- Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a United States citizen.
- You must be registered with the Selective Service, as applicable.
- If you are selected, you must complete a background investigation.
- If you are selected, you must submit a financial disclosure report.
- If you are selected, you must obtain and maintain a security clearance depending on the engagements, projects, and initiatives assigned to you.
- If you are selected, you must serve a 1-year Senior Executive Service probationary period unless you've already completed one.
Qualifications
You must meet the qualification requirements by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.
If you are a federal employee, the level of experience we are looking for is typically gained in GS-14, GS-15, Senior Executive Service, Senior Level, or equivalent-level positions.
Technical qualifications
- The technical qualifications describe the necessary professional and technical knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of this position.
- The technical qualifications for this position are:
- Experience leading or overseeing a team that uses strategic communications techniques and principles to maximize the impact of an organization's strategic communication efforts.
- Experience leading or overseeing a team that uses digital and other communication platforms to ensure effective and impactful communications.
- Experience leading or overseeing a team that implements communication initiatives to ensure the utilization of plain language and to enhance the user experience.
- Experience serving as organization's spokesperson, lead advisor to the head of an organization, or serving as the primary contact for major national media.
- Experience communicating and interacting with the media and members and committees of the Congress and their staffs in a public policy context.
Executive core qualifications (ECQs)
- The ECQs assess executive experience and potential. They measure whether you have the broad executive skills needed to succeed in a variety of Senior Executive Service positions.
- The ECQs for this position are:
- Leading Change: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.
- Leading People: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organizations vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
- Results Driven: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
- Business Acumen: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
- Building Coalitions: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.
NOTE: 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.
Education
This position does not have education requirements.
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.
Review our 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.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Basis for rating
- The experience listed in your resume and whether your experience and skills match what we're looking for.
- Answers to the online assessment
- Interview
Required Documents
All applicants must submit:
- Resume
- Emphasize your level of responsibility, scope and complexity of programs managed, program accomplishments, policy initiatives undertaken, and the results of your actions.
- Include start and end dates for each position (e.g., month and year; month, day, and year).
- Your resume must show evidence of progressively responsible leadership experience that is indicative of senior executive-level management capability and directly related to the executive core qualifications.
- Address the executive core qualifications (ECQs) listed in the Qualifications section in your resume. The Addressing Executive Qualifications in a Resume (Resume-Based Method) and Example of Resume sections of the Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications have useful information on how to write your executive qualifications in your resume.
- Online questionnaire
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
You must submit your complete application package by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement to be considered for this position.
To apply for this position, you must complete the application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section of the announcement.
How to apply online
- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
- Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
- To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
How to apply using an alternative application
- If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application. Please contact at to get instructions on how to apply using an alternative application.
Next steps
- You get a confirmation that we received your application
- Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email.
- We do an initial screening of the applications
- After the announcement closes, we will review your application package to determine if you are eligible, meet the qualifications requirements, and provided the required documents.
- We rate the applications
- If you reach this phase, a panel of executives will rate the breadth and depth of your executive qualifications.
- If you are rated high enough you may be referred for an interview.
- We conduct interviews
- If you reach this phase, a panel of executives will interview you.
- The panel will make a recommendation to the selecting official on who to select for the position.
- We contact your references
- We may contact your references. We use this step to get additional information on your skills, performance, knowledge, and work history from a source other than yourself. This will help us assess your potential for success in the position.
- We send you a tentative job offer
- If you're selected, we will make you a tentative job offer and begin negotiating your salary.
- We conduct a background investigation
- If you're not a current GAO employee, you will need to complete a background investigation. We use the background investigation to determine if you're suitable for federal employment.
- We send you a final job offer
- We will work with you and your hiring manager at GAO to set an onboarding date.
- After your onboarding date is approved, you will get your final job offer.
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