Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist Job in Atlanta, GA

Vacancy No. IMP-25-FOCE-12732728 Department Small Business Administration
Salary $111,442.00 to $144,876.00 Grade 13 to 13
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 5/9/2025 Close Date 5/15/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Atlanta, GA


Summary

You will serve as a Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist for the Small Business Administration (SBA), Field Operations Center East - FOCE in Atlanta, Georgia. This position provides first level supervision to the Public Affairs staff and act as an advisor to the Public Affairs Manager on all public communications and intergovernmental issues.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Eligibles; OR Current SBA Permanent Career and Career-Conditional Employees in the local commuting area.

Duties


As a Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist at the GS-1035-13, some of your typical work assignments may include:

- Provides leadership support to the Public Affairs Manager to ensure effective planning, operation, and evaluation of an active well-balanced public affairs program for the Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience (DR&R)'s internal and external customers (media, the public, business, and civic organizations, etc.) and Federal, state, and local government offices concerning the SBA Disaster Assistance Program.
- Ensures that the Center's plan, mission, vision, and values are communicated to the team and integrated into the team's strategies goals objectives, and work plans.
- Plans the work to be accomplished by subordinates; sets and adjusts short term priorities; prepares schedules for completion of work; assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees.
- Plans and produces digital and social media web content projects for publication and dissemination through multiple channels.
- Provides information in the form of press releases, formal and informal presentations at public gatherings, private meetings, responses to Congressional inquiries, public service announcements, and other written and oral communications.
- Acts as a spokesperson for DR&R and supports the Center Director and other Supervisory Public Affairs Specialists with making public appearances, preparing presentations, talking points or speeches as necessary.
- Answers media questions and responds to requests for interviews and written data and information.
- Monitors newspaper, radio, and television coverage of the disaster program and provides supplemental information to correct any irregular or inaccurate media information.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • This is a Temporary Promotion position, not to exceed 1 year may become permanent without further competition
  • If 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.
  • A valid driver's license may be required.
  • By applying for this position with SBA's Field Operations Center East - FOCE, 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 position is not included in a bargaining unit.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. citizenship is required.
  • You must be able to obtain and maintain a Government travel credit card.
  • You will be subject to a background and suitability investigation.
  • You must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date, if applicable.
  • A one-year supervisory probationary period may be required.
  • You may be required to complete a one-year probationary period for non-supervisors if you fail to complete the one-year supervisory probationary period.
  • This position is not included in a bargaining unit.

Qualifications

Experience:
To receive credit, you must indicate the month and year as well as the average hours worked per week for each employer. Average work hours must be stated on the resume to quantify each period of work experience or that experience will not be credited toward meeting the specialized experience requirement.

You must address the specific specialized experience required for each grade level of this position on your resume or application or you will be rated "Ineligible" for that grade level.

GS-13: To qualify you must have at least 1 full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the GS-12 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:
  • Implement organizational mission, team strategies, goals, and work plans; and
  • Assess and lead a diverse team, establish work assignments, and manage workload balance; and
  • Explain an organization's programs, policies, and procedures (1) either to the public as a member of the media (print, radio and/or television), or (2) to the media (print, radio and/or television) as a representative of an organization (e.g., Media experience must have communicated directly to the public by written or broadcast reporting); and
  • Oversee and monitor a social media engagement program to include the management and/or use of social media platforms, the posting of content, engaging in on-line conversations, chats, webinars, and live events, while ensuring agency and federal guideline compliance; and
  • Create engaging content using video editing software (such as Adobe Premiere Pro, iMovie, and Final cut Pro), understands social media metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of campaigns and adjust strategies.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on OPM's Qualifications web site:
Public Affairs Series 1035

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.

TIME-IN-GRADE: If you are a current career or career-conditional federal employee applying for promotion under Merit Promotion you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks in positions at the next level lower than the position being filled.

All qualification requirements must be met by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on 05/15/2025.

Education

Education may not be substituted for experience for this position.

Additional information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.phptitle=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

Career Transition Assistance Programs: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) is a program that helps "surplus" or "displaced" federal employees improve their chances of finding a new job in their current agency (intra-agency, i.e. SBA employees only). Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. For additional information visit www.sss.gov.

Telework may be available. For information on Telework visit: http://www.telework.gov/

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.

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies:

  • Communications and Media
  • Leadership
  • Managing Human Resources
  • Organizational Awareness
  • Public Service Motivation


Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Required Documents

Required Documents To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:1. Your Resume showing hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed.2. Completed Questionnaire

3. Other supporting documents, such as:
  • Veterans' documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 or other Member Copy showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
  • Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)
  • If you are a current or former Federal employee, submit a copy of your official SF-50 or other official "Notification of Personnel Action" document that shows the following information to verify your eligibility for consideration as a status applicant:
    • your appointment in the competitive or excepted service
    • tenure
    • grade, step and salary
    • highest grade held or full performance level of current or prior position (as applicable).

DO NOT SEND YOUR RESUME OR ANY APPLICATION DOCUMENTS TO THE AGENCY CONTACT.

Your latest resume submitted for this position will be used for qualification determinations and supersedes previous submissions.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:
1. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): If you are claiming CTAP eligibility, provide a copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal (which must show at least a "fully successful" rating or equivalent), and proof of eligibility, i.e., a RIF separation notice or Certification of Expected Separation, and SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. In addition to meeting all qualification requirements and selective placement factors (if applicable), CTAP eligibles must meet the Well-Qualified criteria with a score of 85 or above based on the competencies listed above for the position in order to be given priority consideration. Information about CTAP eligibility is also on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at: CTAP http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.
2. If you are a veteran applying under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) Appointing Authority or for any other Appointment based on your military service, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 copy showing type of discharge/character of service or other proof of creditable service.
3. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 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.

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 05/15/2025 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.
  • After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you both on screen and via email notification.
  • If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Click here for Computer System Requirements.
  • Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account.
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Agency contact information

Winston Canady
Address
Field Operations Center East - FOCE
101 Marietta Street NW, Suite 700
Atlanta, GA 30303
US

Next steps

Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.

To be considered for the position, you must meet all qualifications, including meeting or exceeding the cut score on the required assessments.

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.

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.


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


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