Public Affairs Specialist Job in San Diego, CA

Vacancy No. DEST-12604641-24-JR Department International Boundary and Water Commission: United States and Mexico
Salary $99,044.00 to $153,113.00 Grade 12 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/7/2024 Close Date 11/18/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
San Diego, CA


Summary

Serves in the Public Affairs Office, Executive Office of the Commissioner, U.S. Section, International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) responsible for the identification, development, and implementation of media, community relations, and public information functions which communicate policy, programs, initiatives, and activities with focus on the San Diego, Nogales, and Yuma Field offices, including two international Wastewater Treatment Plants and the International Outfall Interceptor.

Duties

  • Serves as an Official Spokesperson and point of contact for local, national, and international media.
  • Drafts news releases and contingency press guidance, consults with Subject Matter Experts and Agency Executive Staff on sensitive or complex matters.
  • Creates and posts social media content and reviews and edits draft social media posts submitted by other staff.
  • Coordinates agency special events such as groundbreaking ceremonies and Citizen Forum meetings.
  • Arranges for and makes informational presentations to the community and representatives of other governmental entities.
  • Monitors inquiry traffic and ensures that responses are timely and in accordance with established policy.
  • Develops informational literature usable by the USIBWC in its public affairs activities.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or Naturalized U.S. Citizen.
  • You must maintain direct deposit of your federal pay.
  • You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
  • You must possess and maintain a valid U.S. Motor Vehicle Driver License, without impeding restrictions, and issued by a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory.
  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You must be able to lift and carry items weighing up to 15 pounds unassisted such as office items and supplies; and sustain periods of bending, stooping, and reaching.
  • You must obtain and maintain a favorable background investigation.
  • You may be required to work overtime.
  • You may be required to travel with overnight stay up to 25% of the time.
  • You may be required to travel to Mexico to carry out official agency business.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications for Public Affairs Specialist.

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described below. 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). Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience.

GG-13 Specialized Experience: The definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level in the federal service (GS/GG-12) or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Examples of Specialized Experience: communicating principles, methods, practices, and analytical methods to identify public affairs interests of an organization; managing a formal public outreach program; establishing and nurturing effective communication with a wide variety of stakeholders; applying knowledge of social media etiquette, activities, and platforms in order to develop and maintain an organizations social media plan and presence; drafting news releases and contingency press guidance; creating and posting social media content and reviewing and editing draft social media posts submitted by other staff; developing informational literature used by an organization or agency in its public affairs activities; designing brochures, presentations, newsletters, exhibits, displays using graphic design software; obtaining and analyzing a constant flow of information; mastering written and spoken communication to effectively interact with stakeholders, agency staff, and government officials; writing communications sufficient to compose technical reports and correspondence; speaking publicly, in-person and online, to deliver well thought out and prepared presentations and participate in interviews; photographing events, personnel, activities, and projects; and researching documents, historical files, and communications such as text and email to gather qualitative and quantitative information.

GG-12 Specialized Experience: The definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level in the federal service (GS/GG-11) or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Examples of Specialized Experience are similar to those listed above for the GG-13 but with less responsibilities and closer supervision.

Special Factors. The following factors are agency unique for the Delegated Examining Office (DEO) to use in its evaluation. A Special Placement Factor (SPF) is a specific qualification an applicant MUST possess to successfully perform in a position. A Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) is a specific qualification an applicant MAY possess that would enhance performance in a position.

QRF: Possess the ability to converse in Spanish sufficient to communicate with representatives of the Mexican government, members of the public, and representatives of the news media.
QRF: Posses the ability to read and interpret Spanish sufficient to understand written articles in the Spanish language.
QRF: Skill in graphics design to generate newsletters and informational brochures.
QRF: Possess knowledge of wastewater treatment processes and facilities sufficient to adequately describe, both written and verbally, the processes and issues in response to inquires.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications

Part-Time or Unpaid Experience: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the number of hours per week spent in such employment.

Time in Grade (TIG): Current and former Federal employees must have a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level to be eligible under Merit Promotion procedures. An SF-50 must be provided that verifies eligibility as stated in the Area of Consideration section.
Additional qualification information can be found from the following Office of Personnel Management web site: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1100/contracting-series-1102/

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this Public Affairs Specialist, GG-1035-12/13 position, you must meet the specialized experience qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Education

Some federal positions allow you to substitute education for experience, for this Public Affairs Specialist, GG-1035-12/13 position, you must meet the specialized experience qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.

Additional information

  • If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (member-4 copy preferred) or other proof of eligibility that shows the dates you were on active duty and your character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are claiming Disabled Veterans' preference you must also submit documentation of disability (i.e. VA Disability Verification Letter) and the SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference." For more information on veterans' preference see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/
  • The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be rated in well-qualified by scoring 85 or higher on the assessment for this vacancy. Additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/
  • The hiring agency may use this announcement to fill similar positions that become vacant in the near future.
  • If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, your resume may be reviewed. Your resume and supporting documentation are used to determine if you are qualified for this job. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. If reviewed, your qualifications will be evaluated on the following knowledge, skills, abilities or competencies:

  • External and Internal Outreach
  • Media Relations
  • Written Communications

Required Documents

Your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire; and additional supporting document(s) that may be required for a qualifications determination or to prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, as described below, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package, and you will not be considered any further.

All applicants are required to submit the following documents:

  • Resume: Your resume MUST state complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending dates of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total hours worked per week). If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package will be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position.
  • Completed on-line occupational questionnaire.
  • Driver License: A valid driver license, without impeding restrictions, and issued by a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory. You MUST submit a copy of your driver license or you will be rated ineligible.
  • Proof of eligibility for merit promotion as described under the Area of Consideration section (if applicable): Current or former federal civilian employees MUST submit an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, indicating the title, series, grade, appointing authority, and tenure to verify eligibility for merit promotion appointment. If you fail to submit a copy of your SF-50, your application will not be considered through merit promotion.
  • Veterans' Preference Documentation (if applicable): All Veterans: DD-214 (Member 4 copy is preferred), which includes character of service, or for Active Duty Service Members a certification which includes service dates, type of separation, and character of service. A "certification" is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.
  • Disabled Veterans (if applicable): VA Disability Letter (with percentage of disability) OR document of disability determination from a branch of the armed forces which reflects a compensable service-connected disability rating.
  • Derived Preference (if applicable): The spouse, widow/widower, or mother of a veteran may be eligible to claim veterans' preference when the veteran is unable to use it. To do so, you must submit an SF-15 www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf and the documentation required by that form. Veterans' Preference: For more information and/or to determine if you are eligible for Veterans' Preference, please visit www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx (for veterans) or www.fedshirevets.gov/job/familypref/index.aspx (for family members). Below is a website for veterans to gain access to their DD-214 online: www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/ and the documentation required by that form.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/18/2024 to receive consideration.

  • To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
  • Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
  • To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be marked incomplete.https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12604641

Agency contact information

USIBWC HRO
Address
United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission
4191 N. Mesa Street
El Paso, TX 79902
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. Based upon your score, you may be referred to the hiring official. If your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly by that office for a possible interview.
You will receive status notifications through Application Manager or via email within 4-6 weeks.


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


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