Public Affairs Specialist

Clarification from the agency

• Federal employees serving on career or career-conditional appointments • Former federal employees with reinstatement eligibility • Individuals with disabilities, peace corps, former overseas employees, military spouses, 30% disabled veterans, and those eligible under other special hiring authorities • Persons eligible under Interchange Agreements • Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA)

Serving as a Public Affairs Specialist GS-1035-9/11/12 makes you a valuable member of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) team and mission. This position is located in the Director's Office (DO), within the Office of Public Affairs (OPA), and located in Glynco, GA.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as public affairs specialist, ensuring that publicity and marketing programs enhance FLETC's
image in government and business arenas.


Typical duties include:

• Advises FLETC personnel and others directly involved with activity operations on handling problems and incidents related to the organization's programs.
• Communicates with a broad spectrum of individuals nationwide to coordinate, negotiate, and execute marketing strategies, including senior law enforcement, training, and legal officials in the Federal, state and local governments, vendor and contractrepresentatives, media marketing personnel, and all levels of management at various agencies in government and the private sector.
• Planning, coordinating, and conducting tours of the FLETC facilities.
• Drafting articles, press releases, and speeches for the FLETC Director and other senior level officials for specialized trade publics.
• Assists with the implementation of professional marketing strategies to market FLETC training programs.
• Using and maintaining FLETC Official Social Media platforms to communicate FLETC mission and training to stakeholders.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with print and broadcast media representatives in disseminating information or answering inquiries about the FLETC's operations or activities.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• Current and former federal employees within the General Schedule (GS) must meet the time-in-grade requirements outlined in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement.
• Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).
• Must possess and maintain a valid state issued driver's license to conduct official government business.
• You will be required to establish direct deposit for payroll purposes.
• This position is eligible for situational telework-only based on agency policy. This is not a remote position.
• Occasional travel may be required
• Overtime may be required.
• Weekends and federal holidays may be required.
• This position is Emergency Essential and required to sustain FLETC’s operations under all conditions, e.g., in the event of a localized emergency situation, such as inclement weather, interruptions to power, or dismissal.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license to conduct official government business.

Qualifications

A resume must be no more than two pages. If an applicant's resume exceeds two pages, the USAJOBS database will not allow the application to be submitted. For additional assistance, please visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements

Specialized Experience and/or Education: You qualify for the GS-09 grade level if you possess one of the following:

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the federal service using a variety of messaging campaigns to collect, assemble, prepare, and disseminate information to convey agency policies, programs, and actions to internal and external audiences; OR
• Successful completion of a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if directly to the work of the position to be filled; OR
• An equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education. Only graduate education beyond the first 18 semester hours will be combined with the specialized experience.

Specialized Experience and/or Education: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess one of the following:

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the federal service planning and implementing communications strategies that convey organizational policies, programs, and actions to internal and external audiences; OR
• Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if directly to the work of the position to be filled; OR
• An equivalent combination of graduate education and specialized experience. Only graduate education in excess of the first 36 semester hours may be combined with the specialized experience.

If qualifying for this position based on education, you must submit college transcripts; copies are acceptable.

Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the federal service, evaluating a public affairs program's effectiveness; writing comprehensive materials for an organization to increase understanding by the general public; and maintaining working relationships with members of the news media, and internal and external personnel.

NOTE: There is no education substitution for the GS-12 grade level. The specialized experience is required in order to be considered for the position.

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Time-in-grade: Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade, or a combination of the next lower grade level and an equivalent band in the federal service by the closing of this announcement.

Note: Current or former Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment ("position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1"), tenure group (block 24 should show a 1 or 2), grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job). If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION AS A STATUS CANDIDATE.

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

Re-employed annuitants' annual salaries will be reduced by the amount of their retirement annuity and by further cost of living increases. FERS retirees receiving a FERS annuity supplement must also be aware that, like social security benefits, their FERS annuity supplement is subject to an earnings test and may be reduced if the salary earned is more than the social security exempt amount of earnings. Additional information is available on OPM's website or by contacting OPM.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP/ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

A resume must be no more than two pages. If an applicant's resume exceeds two pages, the USAJOBS database will not allow the application to be submitted.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. If met, we will use multiple assessments to determine the degree to which your experience, education, and training demonstrate the following competencies needed to perform this job:

To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process, including the application, Subject Matter Experts (SME) Structured Resume Review and Writing Sample.

SME Resume review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., links embedded in your resume will not be opened). Applicants passing the resume review will move on to the next phase of the assessment process.

Writing Sample: In the event you pass the SME Structured Resume Review, you will be contacted to submit a writing sample, instructions will be givin at that time via email. DO NOT SUBMIT your own writing sample as it will not be reviewed.

Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12994311

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be removed from consideration or your score may be lowered.

Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3).

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must be 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. (Note: Veteran's preference does not apply under Merit Promotion procedures. View VEOA information on Feds Hire Vets.)

After FLETC completes its hiring, the resumes of the remaining candidates referred for selection consideration may be shared with other DHS Components. During the application process, you may choose to opt-in if you would like your name, application material, and assessment results to be shared. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements

1. Your resume (click the link for information on what to include). If you are a current or former Federal employee, your resume must indicate the GS or pay band level for each position held. Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
2. Your responses to the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12994311
3. Are you a current or former federal employee? Submit your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current grade; your highest grade held; your current promotion potential and proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an interchange agreement. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases and accessions.
4. Are you qualifying based on education?Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution listing the college/university, degree confirmation date(s) and applicable courses. Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.
5. Are you a veteran? You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. The member 4 copy of your DD214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," is preferable. If claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification. This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions. View more veterans' information.
6. Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP/ICTAP)? Submit the following:
   • A copy of your agency notice,
   • A copy of your most recent performance rating, and
   • A copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
7. Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
   • Position title,
   • Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee),
   • Agency,
   • Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
8. Are you applying under special hiring authorities as a military spouse? Provide a copy of your:
   • Marriage certificate, and
   • Your spouse's PCS orders or a completed SF-15 with supporting documentation.
9. Are you applying under Schedule A hiring authority for persons with severe disabilities? Provide evidence of your intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability obtained from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine); a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., state or private); or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefit. Information on documentation can be found here.
10. If you are referred, you may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards.

Next steps