PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Clarification from the agency

1. Washington Air National Guard Permanent or Indefinite Employees. 2. Washington Air National Guard Traditional Guard members and Washington National Guard Active Guard Reserves. For Area 1, submit one SF-50 (or equivalent) to support your eligibility.

A GS-1035-11, PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST:

• Coordinates the planning and development of complex, high level public affairs assignments in support of commander's programs and priorities.
• Carries out public affairs tasks that support the wing commander's priorities through the integration of visual information, social media, community engagement, command information, communication planning, contingency/crisis response, media operations, environmental, security and policy review, and public affairs resource management activities.
• Responds to requests for information, materials and support; and plans and conducts community engagement activities with community officials and groups, including providing and/or clearing material concerning controversial unit activities such as hazardous operations,costly acquisitions, and equal opportunity issues upon request by media representatives.
• Maintains an active web/social media presence, provides visual information services for documentation and/or publicity purposes and plans and arranges news media coverage.
• Evaluates the propriety and advisability of agency support of/ participation in local activities, programs, and events. For approved events, coordinates support requests from community and community groups, schools,news media organizations, and others to include requests for interviews, speakers, tours, bands,honor guards, and aviation support and support of local observances and celebrations.
• Researches, drafts, coordinates, produces, and reviews public affairs products such as, web-based content, photographs, videos, news and feature articles, news releases, talking points, fact sheets, briefings, speeches and scripts, newsletters, and other materials.
• Modifies standard methods and adapts approaches in developing new information materials aimed at enhancing the understanding of groups or individuals of significant issues concerning agency programs.
• Identifies potential problems or areas of friction and advises management officials concerning the causes of the problems and suggested methods for resolving them.
• Confers with program specialists, action officers, and other subject matter experts to obtain the latest and most accurate information and imagery approved for public release.
• Maintains effective working relationships with officials of various senior wing leadership, civic,news media, community groups, Department of Defense personnel, as well as local, state and national government officials, and the general public.
• Attends meetings and maintains professional contacts.
• Explains public affairs policies and procedures and resolves most problems that arise.
• Determines appropriate recommendations for unresolved issues and performs follow up.
• Maintains effective relationships with DoD personnel, National, State and local officials, to include their respective State PAOs.
• Manages audio visual equipment for section.
• Appointed as the Wing Visual Information Manager per current DoD directives.
• Stays abreast of current visual information methodology and technological developments.
• Manages budget and procures new equipment and supplies.
• Plans,organizes, and carries out the visual information program.
• Provides photographic editing and processing, and video support, for alert missions to include mishaps.
• Designs, creates, and assembles materials for presentations, publications,and exhibits.
• Selects visual materials such as, photographs and graphics used in the communication of information.
• Designs the placement and appearance of visual materials; designs the placement of text in relation to art; decides type styles and typographical effects; and, plans effective use of color schemes, textures, and shapes in consideration of technical constraints to particular communication methods for example, printed distribution, exhibit, or oral presentation.
• Tailors products to best suit various public forums.
• Provides guidance and acts as a liaison to visiting non-military organizational photo crews, to include public news media photographers, who request to conduct photography activities.
• Creates new, adapts, or modifies accepted communication campaign formats to reach a target audience with a specific message.
• The selection of a communication campaign format is based on an analysis of targeted audience demographics and message content.
• After an informational campaign has been implemented, solicited and unsolicited response data is gathered to assess campaign effectiveness in reaching the target audience.
• Other duties as assigned.(temporary, minor, or incidental tasks)

Conditions of employment

MILITARY REQUIREMENTS:

Military Grades: E6 - E-8/TSgt - SMSgt

Desired Military Assignments: 3NXXX

- Applicants need not be assigned to the position or possess the AFSC to apply or be considered for selection. Selected applicant must be assigned to a compatible Military position and attain AFSC within 1 year of appointment action.

- May be required to successfully complete a trial period.

- Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.

- Males born after 31 December 1959 must be registered for Selective Service.

- Must maintain membership in the WA Air National Guard for continued employment.

- Must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance of the position within one year of appointment.

- Selectee is required to complete SE1-260 requirements within six months of employment. Selectee must complete the DoD Public Affairs Qualification Course within two years of employment; or, for on-board personnel, complete the course within two years from the appointment date to this position description.

- For positions requiring the operation of motor vehicles, candidates must have a valid state driver's license for the state in which they live or are principally employed.

Qualifications

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:

Experience, education or training in administrative, professional, investigative and/or technical work. Experience evaluating information and/or using analytical skills to disseminate effective communication. Experience in compiling reports, letters, memoranda, etc., and required person-to-person contacts to convey information. Experience using computers and automation systems.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
Must have at least 36 months experience, education, or training involving a thorough knowledge of writing and communication principles, methods and techniques that relate to public affairs of the military. Experience developing new information materials including news releases, fact sheets, brochures, booklets, broadcast spots, etc., that increase communication with the agency's audiences. Experience making on-the-spot presentations to audiences with opposing points of view or erroneous understanding of agency positions. Experience responding timely and appropriately to requests for information concerning agency programs and services.

-or-

1 year equivalent to at least GS-9

***Note: To qualify under the one-year Specialized Experience (SE) provision (when stated in the SE section), you must provide either:
Two SF-50s (or equivalent) showing you were in the same occupational series at the next lower grade for at least one full year. The two SF-50s must span that full one-year period, from the older SF-50 to the newer SF-50 and reflect employment with the same federal agency.
-or-
One SF-50 (or equivalent) if your resume shows at least one year of continuous employment in the position reflected on the SF-50 (or equivalent).

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. You may also be excluded from consideration if you indicate that you are unwilling to accept the lower grade and a determination is made that you are not qualified at the higher grade. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Verbiage displayed on your resume or application must contain your own words. You may refer to position descriptions, as well as the general and specialized experience located within the vacancy announcement, to assist with describing work experiences; however, resumes or applications received in verbatim will not be considered. In your resume you will need to address the general and specialized experience listed above. Please use as much detail as needed, giving dates (months and years) of the experience, position title and how the experience was gained. This information is needed to determine if you are qualified for the position.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics). NOTE: You do not have to respond to the KSA's separately but your resume should contain sufficient information to demonstrate possession of the KSA's.

• Knowledge of written and oral communication principles, practices, techniques, and methods.
• Knowledge of interpersonal relations practices.
• Knowledge of statistical methods for analyzing program data.
• Knowledge of public affairs program goals, objectives, and effectiveness/efficiency measures.
• Knowledge of wing-level ANG programs, activities, and associated issues.
• Working knowledge of public affairs programs, activities, and functions sufficient to inform and educate public or special interest groups.
• Skill in written and oral communication to develop clear, informative materials and resolve issues.
• Skill in applying general and specialized statistical methods to:
  • Analyze communication campaign survey data and assess effectiveness with target audiences.
  • Analyze public affairs program performance against established goals and objectives.
• Skill in research to locate and use archived, subject-specific print and broadcast media as historical background for current articles.
• Skill in interpersonal communication to build and maintain effective relationships with media representatives, community groups, and other internal/external audiences.
• Ability to apply communication principles and techniques to complete assignments.
• Ability to analyze and interpret program data using statistical methods.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in determining whether controversial information should be released for internal or external public use.
• Ability to maintain open lines of communication between the wing's ANG Public Affairs office and key audiences.
• Ability to modify standardized communication practices to clarify or articulate the ANG rationale on potentially controversial issues.

To apply for this position, you are required to submit a complete application package. If you fail to provide this documents/information, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and will not be considered any further. A complete application package includes: Resumes must be in your own words. Resumes that are verbatim, from this announcement, will not be considered.

1. Resume must NOT exceed two (2) pages, IAW Merit Hiring Plan and must include:
   • Contact information
     • Full Name
     • Email Address
     • Phone Number
   • Relevant work history that demonstrates specialized experience for the position you are applying to
     • Position Title
     • Organization/Department/Unit
     • Hours worked per week
     • Dates (format must include Month and Year) you were/are employed and physically performing the work.
       • Omit extended leave from your employment history. For example, if you hold a federal job but were on military leave for two years, do not list those two years under that position.
     • Duties performed
     • Series and grade for federal positions, if held
   • Resumes exceeding 2 pages will not be considered. For more guidance please see new resume guidance.
   • If your resume includes the below listed content, it will not be used to make an eligibility/qualification determination, and you will not be considered for this vacancy.
     • Classified or government sensitive information
     • Social Security Number (SSN)
     • Photos of yourself
     • Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
2. Mil Form 174 Mil Form 174 is required. Applications without the Mil Form 174 will not be considered
   • If you do not have prior military service, please indicate so on the form. (This position requires Military membership in the Washington State Air National Guard).
3. Other support documentation (optional or required based on the vacancy announcement)
   • Cover Letter
   • DD-214
   • SF-50 (latest non-award SF-50)
   • Transcript (s)

***For current Guard/Reserve members, please document your military work experience as follows: (You may adjust the format, so that you do not exceed the two (2) page resume limit, as long as your resume clearly reflects your military employment history.)

List month joined (to/from) based on your enlistment contract (DD4) or (Oath) for Officers. If you have gaps in service, list them separately.
Example:04 Sep 2019 to 03 Sep 2023
Washington Air National Guard
Traditional Member
20 hours per month
POSITIONS TITLE MOS/AFSC
Personnel Superintendent 3S091
Duties

Military Orders During this period: (list multiple periods if everything else is the same: Order Type, Duties, & Purpose)
04 Nov 2019 to 03 Dec 2019, 40 hours per week
15 Mar 2020 to 14 May 2020, 40 hours per week
Type of Order: ADOS/AT/ST/AGR
Order Purpose:
Duties:

***If there are multiple purposes on a single order (ie. BMT then Tech Training/AIT), list specific periods. Example: Order cover 02 Sep 2020 to 12 Mar 2021:

List 02 Sep 2020 to 01 Nov 2020 as BMT and 02 Nov 2020 to 12 Mar 2021 as Tech Training/AIT

For access to Required Documents please refer to: http://mil.wa.gov/federal-human-resources

Next steps