Senior Communications Specialist (Stakeholder Relations) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. OCAC-25-02-DE Department Federal Housing Finance Agency
Salary $106,298.00 to $204,696.00 Grade 12 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/31/2024 Close Date 11/13/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

The employee will serve as a Senior Communications Specialist (Stakeholder Relations) and will act as a primary liaison to third party stakeholder groups with a focus on community engagement, including companies, nonprofits, trade associations, think tanks, and other externally organized entities.

Duties

Position Overview

The incumbent will report to the Head of Stakeholder Relations who oversees outreach with third party stakeholder groups, as well as support the Director of the Office of Congressional Affairs and Communications who oversees the entire office. The ideal candidate has a passion for relationship-development as well as a familiarity with the policymaking economy, as this role also supports and reinforces media communications, internal communications, government relations, and other public affairs functions. The expectation is that the candidate becomes highly proficient on a wide range of Agency policy communications strategies. The incumbent will be expected to be entrepreneurial in their approach to stakeholder engagement and routinely monitor, engage and track stakeholder activities, as well as prepare briefings and materials for the FHFA Director and senior leaders in advance of public engagements or key stakeholder meetings.

Major Duties & Responsibilities

The Senior Communications Specialist (Stakeholder Relations) duties listed below are at the EL-13 grade level. Depending on the grade level selected, the incumbent will perform the following duties with varying levels of supervision and difficulty:

  • Craft, lead, and manage an effective engagement and relationship management strategy with key stakeholder groups and entities as identified by the head of stakeholder engagement and/or Director of OCAC.
  • Identify and attend stakeholder meetings, briefings, and events in consultation with the head of stakeholder engagement/Director of OCAC to represent the agency and motivate relationship building.
  • Assist the stakeholder relations branch with other special programs and events, including planning, execution, and management of events and other special programs.
  • Track, document and analyze stakeholder opinion through news, public comments, and any public activities with media, congress, or other relevant stakeholders as they arise.
  • Assist in developing short and long-term plans and established priorities.
  • Coordinate execution of communications plans and efforts.
  • Maintain high-level knowledge of organization to help advance overall office results.
  • Draft, edit and/or review briefing materials for meetings, events, and media engagement for Agency officials as identified by OCAC management.
  • Cultivate proficiency in Agency subject matter areas and coordinate with internal subject matter experts.
  • Coordinate with Agency subject matter experts with advanced technical knowledge of housing finance, banking, and finance issues, including both the primary and secondary mortgage markets, as well as familiarity with laws and regulations affecting the secondary mortgage market to guide staff under supervision.
  • Understand the technical and policy goals of the Agency to formulate strategies and plans for engagement with internal and external stakeholders, as well as the general public.
  • Coordinate with the Director of OCAC and OCAC leadership on development and communication of the Agency's message to stakeholders.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • This position is eligible for inclusion in the bargaining unit. The union that represents employees in this position is the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Chapter 343.
  • FHFA participates in e-Verify. All New hires must complete the I-9 Employment Verification form either on or before their first day of employment. If a discrepancy arises, you must take affirmative steps to resolve the matter.
  • 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.
  • This position may be required to complete a financial disclosure report. All EL-15 and Executives (LL) are required to complete an annual financial disclosure report.
  • This is NOT a remote position; you MUST live within or be willing to relocate within a commutable distance of the duty location.

Qualifications

You may qualify for your desired series and grade level if you meet the following qualification requirements:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualification EL-12: Applicants must have 52 weeks (one-year) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level as described below.

Experience: I qualify for the EL/GS-12 because I have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the EL/GS-11 or equivalent demonstrating work experience with the statements described below.

Examples of specialized experience include:
  • Drafting briefings, messaging, and other communications for stakeholder audiences.
  • Planning and executing strategic stakeholder engagement plans that result in positive responses from intended audiences, including identifying, initiating, and managing external relationships with third party groups.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of communication plans and recommending improvements to communication strategies.
  • Gathering and analyzing complex technical information and organizing it into useful public information materials.
Minimum Qualification EL-13: Applicants must have 52 weeks (one-year) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level as described below.

Experience: I qualify for the EL/GS-13 because I have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the EL/GS-12 or equivalent demonstrating work experience with the statements described below.

Examples of specialized experience include:
  • Developing, editing, and/or reviewing a variety of internal briefing documents and external communications for meetings, events, or other engagements for a stakeholder audience.
  • Coordinating stakeholder outreach efforts to ensure effective representation of an organization's policies, programs, or interests.
  • Monitoring global, national, political, and economic developments that are relevant to or may impact the organizations priorities or objectives.
  • Effectively gathering, analyzing, and communicating complex technical information and organizing it into useful public information materials.
  • Analyzing and strategizing the effectiveness of strategic stakeholder engagement plans to advise leadership on communications strategies aimed at delivering information to internal and external audiences.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

An Overview of FHFA's Benefits for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 provides a summary of benefits for the current fiscal year.

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans.

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.

FHFA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, disability (physical or mental), age (40 years of age or over), genetic information, parental status, marital status, prior protected EEO activity, political affiliation, or other non-merit factors.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:FHFA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, except when doing so would pose an undue hardship on the Agency. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify FHFA. The Agency's decision on granting a reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Ethics: FHFA employees are subject to government-wide ethical standards of conduct, financial disclosure requirements, and post-employment prohibitions. In addition, certain FHFA employees are prohibited from accepting compensation from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for a two-year period after terminating employment with FHFA. Furthermore, to avoid financial conflicts-of interest or the appearance of conflicts-of-interest, FHFA employees may need to divest or sell certain assets they, their spouse, or minor children own or control, including securities issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the Federal Home Loan Banks. Employees who work on Federal Home Loan Bank issues may need to sell or divest financial interests with any of the Federal Home Loan Bank members, which may include stock in bank holding companies, insurance companies, and other financial services firms. Questions regarding these requirements and prohibitions should be directed to the Office of General Counsel at (202) 649-3088.

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.

Applicants for this position who meet the qualification requirements will be rated according to Category Rating Procedures. Candidates with Veteran's preference, who meet the specialized experience, selective placement factor, and/or education requirements for this vacancy, will be given priority consideration over non-preference candidates.Candidates will undergo a multi-tiered evaluation process, including a subject-matter-expert (SME) review to determine if you possess the competencies and skills required for the position. Candidates successfully achieving the competency/skill review will be evaluated for eligibilities and minimum qualification requirements by human resources. All applicants will be rated on the following competencies for this announcement:

Competencies:

  • Communication
  • Message Development & Delivery
  • Partnering
  • Political Savvy


We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process. To preview the assessment questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12591005

Based on your veteran's status and responses to the job specific questioner you will be assigned to a pre-defined quality category. There will be three quality categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified and Qualified. Generally, only candidates in the top-quality category will be referred to the hiring manager for selection.

Best Qualified - Applicants who have experience that is almost identical to those required by the position. (95)

Well Qualified - Applicants who have experience that is very similar to those required by the position. (85)

Qualified - Applicants who meet minimum qualification requirements, but do not identify any additional qualifying experience or skill. (70)

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher).

All of the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application forms, by checking references or through other means, such as the interview process. This verification could occur at any stage of the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for rating you ineligible.

In accordance with the Fair Chance Act, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) may not request, in oral or written form, that an applicant for an appointment to (FHFA) disclose criminal history record information before the appointing authority extends a tentative offer to the applicant. Allegations of FHFA violations of this Act may be submitted to fairchanceactcomplaints@fhfa.gov or to Fair Chance Act Complaints, Office of Human Resources Management, Employee Relations Branch, FHFA 400 7th Street, SW Washington DC 20219 within 30 days from the agency employee's alleged non-compliance with the law.

Required Documents

FHFA's application process has been specifically developed to ensure that we only ask you for the information we absolutely need to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility. All applicants are required to submit the following supportive documents:

1. Your Resume: If you have not written a federal resume before, you may want to watch this Resume Writing Tutorial video on the USAJOBS YouTube channel, or read through a helpful Resume Writing FAQ on the USAJOBS Help Site to learn what details you should, and should not, include in your resume. A CV (curriculum vitae) may not contain enough information to meet these resume requirements.

  • Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name of each employer.
  • For all types of work experience, you should indicate the start and end date (include month and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that your worked.
  • Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
2. Required, if applicable: This position may require a minimum level of education or a combination of education and experience. Please submit your transcripts (official or unofficial) along with your application. Failure to provide transcripts, when required, will result in removal from the hiring process. Note: If you are selected for a position, an official transcript will be required before onboarding.

3. Required, if applicable: CTAP/ICTAP documentation (a copy of a separation notice or other proof of eligibility for priority selection; a copy of an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing current position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location; AND a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.)

4. Required, if applicable: Veteran's Preference Documentation (DD-214, Member Copy 4 or other documentation containing dates of service and character of discharge. Disabled veterans and other applicants eligible for 10-point Veteran's Preference please include: documentation to validate your claim - VA letter, SF-15, etc.).

5. Other Supporting Documents:
  • Cover letter, optional
  • SF-50, optional
  • Schedule A Letter, optional
Important Notes:
  • Utilize the preview feature of USA Jobs to view your documents and ensure the formatting remains and all documents are legible.
  • Additional materials will not be accepted after the announcement closes (e.g. updated grades, updated resume, etc.).
  • Your full name must be clearly visible on all documents.
  • Do not submit encrypted documents.
  • Tips: Encrypted documents do not transmit properly through USA Jobs. We recommend, you save the document as a new PDF, or Print to PDF to ensure the document comes through properly and is displayed properly using the USA Jobs preview feature.
  • If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you need to list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualification.

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

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 11/13/2024 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 update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.

If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact Ryan Stanger at ryan.stanger@fhfa.gov or 000-000-0000 to obtain an alternative application.

Agency contact information

Ryan Stanger
Address
FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20219
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

After all application packages have been received, we will review your materials to ensure you meet the qualification requirements for the position. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the qualifications on the information provided in their resume and the completed Occupational Questionnaire. Applicants deemed best qualified may be contacted for an interview. We anticipate making a final job offer for this position within 45 days after the application deadline. All candidates will be notified of the final disposition.

There is currently one vacancy available for this announcement. However, should additional vacancies become available within three months from the closing date of this announcement, eligible applicants for this position may be referred for consideration for the additional position(s).

FHFA may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. This announcement may be used to fill like positions in other organizations within the Federal Housing Finance Agency. FHFA benefits remain the same.


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


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