Summary
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is urgently hiring Public Affairs Specialist to support disaster recovery for Hurricane Helene and wildfires out west. Your work will aid recovery and economic stability in affected areas. We seek dedicated individuals who can start immediately and travel to disaster zones. Successful candidates will undergo accelerated onboarding to begin ASAP.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
United States Citizens
Duties
As an Public Affairs Specialist at the GS-1035-9/11, some of your typical work assignments may include:
- Assists with planning, organizing, and preparing press releases, photos, flyers, presentations, etc. directed to specific targeted audiences within the public, the media or government.
- Participates in the coordination of social media campaigns and strategies for driving engagement and building brand awareness.
- Participates in creating correspondence for ODR&R/Center management addressed to public officials and private organizations about individual loan cases or the disaster program.
- Monitors newspaper, radio, television and internet coverage of the disaster program and provides supplemental information to correct any irregular or inaccurate media information.
- Uses advanced computer skills, including skill in using automated functions such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access databases and desktop publishing to serve as a disaster program information link providing explanations and written materials as necessary.
- Acts as a spokesperson for ODR&R by making public appearances, preparing presentations, talking points or speeches as necessary to convey information about the disaster program, objectives and ongoing activities.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- This is a temporary appointment in the Excepted service with an intermittent (on call) work schedule. This means that employees are in a pay and duty status only when activated to respond to workload needs, especially in response to heightened disaster activity. When no longer needed, employees return to a non-pay status until the next event necessitates additional staff.
- You are required to travel to a disaster site, you may encounter hazardous working and/or living conditions, for example, no water or electricity and/or minimal lodging facilities.
- Your primary residence is considered your official duty station.
- However, depending on the workload and/or level of disaster activity, your work schedule may be changed to full-time. Subsequently, if the workload decreases, your work schedule may be changed back to intermittent.
- Mandatory Overtime: In order to respond quickly and efficiently to disaster survivors, substantial compensated overtime hours may be required while on assignment (up to seven days a week and twelve to fourteen hours a day).
- A valid driver's license may be required.
- By applying for this position with SBA's US Small Business Administration , you can enjoy challenging but satisfying work and join a highly motivated and diverse team that helps families and businesses rebuild their lives after a disaster.
- Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur within 180 days from the closing date.
- This is not a bargaining unit position.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be able to obtain and maintain a Government travel credit card. (Remove if not applicable).
- Favorable background investigation and credit check are required.
- Mandatory Overtime: In order to respond quickly and efficiently to disaster survivors, substantial compensated overtime hours may be required while on assignment (up to seven days a week and ten to fourteen hours a day).
- This position is not included in a bargaining unit.
- A valid driver's license may be required.
- U.S. citizenship is required.
- Favorable background investigation is required.
- Must complete a one-year Trial Period.
Qualifications
Generally, time in Non-Pay status is not creditable towards the specialized experience requirement listed below.
You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
You may qualify based on experience, education or a combination of both.
Experience: To receive credit, you must indicate the month and year as well as the average hours worked per week for each employer or that experience will not be credited for meeting the specialized experience requirement.
GS-09: To qualify you must have at least 1 full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-07 level in the Federal service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skill, and ability to perform successfully in this position. This experience may have been gained in a Non-Federal service position. In addition, this Specialized Experience must demonstrate the following:
- Assisting with preparing, disseminating and coordination of new releases and articles using digital and social media; AND,
- Attending and communicating program information at local events, (such as press conferences, town hall meetings, or meetings with other targeted audiences); AND,
- Experience utilizing mobile and desktop productivity applications such as web browsers, email, spreadsheets, and word processing.
GS-11: To qualify you must have at least 1 full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-09 level in the Federal service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skill, and ability to perform successfully in this position. This experience may have been gained in a Non-Federal service position. In addition, this Specialized Experience must demonstrate the following:
- Acting as a spokesperson by making public appearances, preparing presentations, and/or preparing talking points or speeches, etc. AND,
- Attending and communicating program information at local events, such as press conferences and town hall meetings or other targeted audiences; AND
- Preparing, disseminating, and coordinating news releases and articles at local events, (such as press conferences, town hall meetings, or meetings with other targeted audiences); And
- Utilizing video editing equipment and or software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, iMovie, or Final Cut Pro; AND,
- Experience utilizing mobile and desktop productivity applications such as web browsers, email, spreadsheets, and word processing.
Education
If qualifying based on education, you must submit transcripts by the closing date of this announcement or you will not be found eligible.
GS-09: Must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree in a related field or 2 full years of related progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B or J.D degree, if related.
GS-11: Must have a doctorate or equivalent graduate degree in a related field or 3 full years of related progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M degree, if related.
OR
A combination of experience and education as indicated above.
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.
Applications will be reviewed for qualifications. You will be contacted directly if selected.
Required Documents
Required Documents
Toapply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your Resume showing average hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. Completed Questionnaire
3. Other supporting documents, such as:
- College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education.
- Unofficial transcripts may be submitted during the application process; however, official transcripts will be required if selected.
- Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 or other DD-214 copy showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form completed and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
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. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 10/15/2024 to receive consideration.
- To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
- You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.
- You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
- To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application.
Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
Next steps
SUITABILITY, CLEARANCE & REQUIREMENTS: A background investigation may be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email.
SBA uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
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