Communication Specialist

Clarification from the agency

Current permanent federal employees with competitive status, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, Farm Service Agency permanent county employees, Military Spouses, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP, People with disabilities, VEOA and Reinstatement eligibles.

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Deliver and support internal and external communications and public outreach, coordinating and managing the implementation of all communications elements using both internal and external resources.
• Express facts and ideas both in writing and orally in a clear, concise, and organized manner that meets established standards for format and style and is appropriate for the intended audience.
• Ensure that announcements, invitations to bid, requests for information, requests for proposals, and related contractual documents in the administration of contracts are distributed and posted.
• Prepare personnel to speak effectively on program matters with the public, industry, and other interested groups.
• Oversee the communication of the necessary memoranda, dockets, and purchase plans, and ensures clearance with appropriate officials.
• Coordinate with the Food and Drug Administration, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Food and Nutrition Service, and other Federal, State, and local government agencies to resolve complaints.
• Coordinates with the AMS FOIA Office and Subject Matter experts to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male 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. Refer to the Next Steps section for more information.
• Direct Deposit: 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.

FOR THE GS-09 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Prepares clear, concise, accurate, and professionally written correspondence in response to inquiries from internal and external stakeholders.
• Responds to written and oral requests for information and guidance from the public, industry, and other interested groups.
• Prepares marketing and communications materials in support of program activities, including newsletters, talking points, and website content.

OR: Master's or equivalent graduate degree in Communications, Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field. OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B. or J.D., if related.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Prepares written correspondence, marketing materials, and oral presentations in response to inquiries from internal and external stakeholders.
• Responds to written and oral requests for information and guidance from a wide range of audiences, including responding to inquiries on matters that are sensitive, confidential, and require input from senior agency officials.
• Implements communication plans to support programmatic goals.

OR: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in Communications, Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field. OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates:

• Prepares, reviews, edits, and approves effective responses to inquiries from the public, industry, and other interested groups, including written correspondence and oral presentations.
• Develops and implements communication plans to support programmatic goals, which include talking points, website content, and social media.
• Responds to Freedom of Information Act requests and inquiries from the Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office, in collaboration and consultation with program staff and leadership.

Note: There is no education substitution for this grade level.

TRANSCRIPTS are required if:

• You are qualifying for the position based on education.
• You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education.
• This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-09/11 GRADE LEVELS: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level.

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

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 your experience, education, training, responses to the application questionnaire and the responses to all assessments required for this position demonstrated in your application package to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies listed below:

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. 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 up to including removal from the Federal service. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Additional Information - USA Hire Online Assessment
All applicants are required to complete the online USA Hire assessment to be considered for the position for this vacancy. Applicants will not be given the opportunity to complete the online USA Hire assessment outside of the assigned assessment window for this vacancy. The assessment window closes 48 hours after the posted closing date and time of the announcement.

To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13074465

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure or downtime, 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) all supervisors' phone numbers & if they may be contacted; & 5) other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed two pages. Only one resume will be reviewed.
• If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient if it includes your name & all course information. If selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must have been obtained from an accredited institution. Education completed in a foreign institution must include an evaluation by an organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs that it was deemed equivalent to an accredited U.S. education program, see: Foreign Education Evaluation. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
• Current and former career/career-conditional Federal employees, including those who are claiming eligibility under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA):
  • Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service (block 24 must contain a 1 or 2 and block 34 must contain a 1), highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade. If your current grade is not your highest grade, submit an additional SF-50.
  • Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute. Screenshots or printouts of electronic systems, including eHR Apps (ePMA), will not be accepted unless it is of the actual appraisal form with the end-of-year rating summary.
  • Current permanent FSA County employees must submit most recent nonaward SF-50 showing your highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series & grade AND most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) per above.
• Veteran Hiring Authorities: VEOA: DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty that shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. Active duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions within 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. It must be on the letterhead of the military branch and include the dates of service. Veterans' preference must be verified prior to appointment. Visit Feds Hire Vets for more info.
• If claiming 10-point veterans' preference you must provide the DD214 or certification (see above) plus the documentation listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference. Failure to submit these documents could result in a finding that 10-point preference cannot be awarded.
• For information on eligibility and required supporting documentation for applying under the military spouses hiring authority explore Military Spouses on the USAJOBS website.
• Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act: Copy of SF-50s showing you served an eligible appointment for more than 24 mos w/o a break between appointments of 2+ years. Include initial hire action, extension, conversion and separation SF-50s for each period. Submit performance rating(s) for each period counted signed by supervisor(s). If no documentation, submit a statement from supervisor(s) indicating acceptable performance or provide a reason why it is not available and statement that performance for all periods was at an acceptable level.
• Schedule A, Persons with Disabilities Appointment: Letter from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office citing eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u).
• Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: 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), last performance appraisal, and the most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.
• If applying under a special hiring authority or an interchange agreement not listed, see the requirements for that authority and submit the required supporting documentation USAJOBS Hiring Path for Special Authorities or Special Hiring Authority.

Next steps