PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST (T32) Job in Rapid City, SD

Vacancy No. SD-12730508-AF-25-061 Department Air National Guard Units
Salary $105,383.00 to $137,000.00 Grade 13 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 4/25/2025 Close Date 5/30/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Rapid City, SD


Summary

This National Guard position is for a PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST, Position Description Number NGD1169000 and is part of the JFHQ. This position is advertised with four separate announcements: Army National Guard and Air National Guard GS-12 and GS-13. Only one vacancy will be filled.

AREAS OF CONSIDERATION:
- Current onboard technicians of the South Dakota Air National Guard

Duties

As a PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST, GS-1035-13, you will:

This position is located in the Joint Force Headquarters - State, Personal Staff, Public Affairs Office. As the state's Public Affairs Officer (PAO), the incumbent is responsible for all Army and Air National Guard public, community and media relations within the state and for providing supervision and direction to the staff of the Joint Force Headquarters - State (JFHQ-State), Public Affairs Office, as well as field and unit public affairs specialists and Mobile Public Affairs Detachments (MPADs) personnel covering the region.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • National Guard Membership is required.
  • Males born after 31 December 1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation.
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
  • Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
  • This position is covered by the Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Amendment (30 Sep 96) of the Gun Control Act (Lautenberg Amendment) of 1968. An individual convicted of a qualifying crime of domestic violence may not perform the duties of this position.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance of the position.
  • Ability to establish effective professional working relationships with coworkers and customers, contributing to a cooperative working environment and successful accomplishment of the mission.
  • Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day.
  • The duties and responsibilities of your job may significantly impact the environment.
  • You are responsible to maintain awareness of your environmental responsibilities as dictated by legal and regulatory requirements, your organization, and its changing mission.

Qualifications

NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED: This is an excepted service position that requires membership in a compatible military assignment in the National Guard. Selectee will be required to wear the military uniform. Acceptance of an excepted service position constitutes concurrence with these requirements as a condition of employment.

COMPATIBLE MILITARY ASSIGNMENT: Compatibility based on UMD placement. Military grade inversion within the full-time work force is not permitted. The military grade of the full time supervisor must equal or exceed the military grade of personnel supervised.

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 12 months experience in the KSAs listed below. 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.

Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities (KSAs): Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a separate sheet(s) addressing the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) and how they relate to work experience, education or training.

-Comprehensive knowledge of the principals, methods, practices and techniques of communication to function as the JFHQ-State technical authority on all public affairs and community relations programs, problems and issues.
- Knowledge of the missions, goals, policies and issues impacting the Department of Defense, U.S. Army, Air Force, and the National Guard Bureau (NGB), and how these will influence the state's NG. Knowledge must be extensive on the many controversial and complex issues that regularly affect the National Guard.
- Skill in conveying complex information on Army and Air National Guard activities that affect state and national interests and may have international involvement and implications.
- Knowledge and skill to analyze public reaction and perceptions to National Guard programs and policies and provides recommendations to the TAG or the NGB that may significantly modify major programs or policies.
- Skill in integrating diverse points of view in communications plan which establish and maintain mutual understanding with various publics and state and federal agencies.
- Skill in developing written materials to convey information concerning complex programs and functions to publics having diverse levels of understanding of the National Guard's programs and activities.
- Skill in responding orally to criticism of the National Guard's functions or performance, to logically and effectively explain complex programs, functions and activities and gain understanding and support of the organization's efforts by concerned publics.
- Knowledge of event planning and coordination to manage and advise staff on special event productions that may include the senior military officials, Governors, members of Congress, legislators and other state and local officials.

Additional information

BENEFITS:

The federal government offers a number of exceptional benefits to its employees which may include Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Insurance, Annual Leave, Life Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance, and Retirement Program. For additional information about current federal benefits visit web site http://www.opm.gov

Equal Employment:

The South Dakota National Guard is an equal opportunity employer and cannot discriminate against an employee or applicant with respect to the terms, conditions or privileges of employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (includes gender or sexual harassment), sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability (including pregnancy), marital status or political affiliation. Applicants or employees may contact the South Dakota National Guard Equal Employment Office at 605-737-6635 if they believe they have been the victim of unlawful discrimination.

If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency (https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).

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.

EVALUATION METHODS:

Each applicant considered to possess the minimum qualification requirements will be further evaluated in accordance with the procedures outlined in SDNG Technician Pamphlet 335-T and subsequent MOAs.

Required Documents

1. To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

a. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.) of employment and duties performed. YOUR RESUME MUST HAVE COMPLETE INFORMATION. Timeframes of experience in Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) will be addressed within the resume (including frequency, e.g., generated metric statistics daily, weekly, monthly, etc.). Please ensure your resume accurately reflects the duties and responsibilities under each position you have held with each employer. Please include applicable military assignments in the same format stated above. In describing your experience, as it applies to the position you are applying for, please be clear and specific. It is your responsibility to make sure your resume states complete information for each job entry. If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package may be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position.

2. Other supporting documents:

a. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) - Applicants are STRONGLY encouraged to submit a separate sheet(s) addressing the KSAs and how they relate to work experience, education or training.

b. Transcripts, to receive credit for education you must submit transcripts to verify the courses completed.

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

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

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 resume 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/.

Agency contact information

Angela Sharpe
Phone
(605) 737-6659
Fax
(605) 737-6504
Email
angela.j.sharpe.civ@army.mil
Address
SD ANG HQ
1201 W Algonquin St
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
US

Next steps

Once you successfully complete the application process, you will receive a notification of receipt. Your application package will be reviewed to ensure you meet the basic eligibility and qualification requirements, and you will receive a notification. A review will be made of your online questionnaire and the documentation you submitted to support your responses. A list of qualified applicants will be created and sent to the selecting official. All applicant reviewed and/or referred will receive a notification letter. The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews. Once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of decision.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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