Public Affairs Specialist

Summary
This position is located with the Eastern Region 9, Regional Office, Public and Government Relations Staff in Milwaukee, WI
Incumbent performs a variety of activities in planning and implementing a comprehensive Public Affairs program.
For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Chamise Kramer at chamise.kramer@usda.gov
This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
• Veterans

Clarification from the agency
This position is open to career transition assistance plan (CTAP), Reemployed Priority List (RPL), and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) eligible candidates who meet the eligibility requirements for priority consideration. VEOA eligible candidates may also apply.
Videos
Duties

• Advise program officials regarding the content and presentation of information materials submitted for dissemination.
• Develop recommended communication approaches based on the needs of the target audience.
• Prepare information releases and programs for the press, radio, schools, and television to disseminate information about the programs, and activities on the unit.
• Prepare information releases and programs for the press, radio, schools, and television to disseminate information about the programs, and activities on the unit.
• Assist in analysis of public comments on management issues.
• Assist feature writers, reporters, and photographers on assignments to help them write stories on organization's programs and activities.
• Present speeches for special interests groups, schools, and the general public.
• Respond, in oral and written form, to requests for information.

Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov

Qualifications
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.
Specialized Experience Requirement:
GS-9: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as three or more of the following: Prepared and presented speeches for special interests groups, schools, and the general public; and/or answered routine requests for information about a large organization's programs; and/or developed written materials, feature stories, news releases and magazine articles to disseminate organizational activities for internal and external use; and/or advised management on the probable public reaction to specific proposals, policies and actions.
OR
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 related;
OR
an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work
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 REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP), USDA REEMPLOYMENT PRIORITY LIST (RPL), AND INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP) ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES who meet the eligibility requirements for priority consideration. The following link provides information for determining if you meet these criteria: Career Transition Guidelines.
VEOA candidates may also apply. Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).
Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov
This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.
The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional information is available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-and-leave-flexibilities-for-recruitment-and-retention/
This is a bargaining unit position and is represented by either NFFE, AFGE, or NAGE.
Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.
Government Housing will not be available.

• 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.
  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.
You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:

• Communications and Media
• Oral Communication
• Technical Competence

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Referral to the hiring manager will be based on the following:
CTAP/ICTAP applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be well qualified. Well qualified is defined as receiving a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100 based on responses to the occupational questionnaire.
RPL applicants who meet the basic minimum qualifications and have a rating of at least minimally successful on the most recent performance appraisal.
VEOA applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified. Best qualified is defined as receiving a rating of at least 91 out of a possible 100 based on responses to the occupational questionnaire.
Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

• 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.
  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.
• Required Documents
  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
  The following documents are required for your application to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in mail service, your system failure or downtime, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
  
  1. Resume must include: 1) personal information; 2) education; 3) work experience including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; and title, series and grade if applicable; 4) supervisor's phone number, e-mail address for each work period listed, and whether we may contact for reference checks; and 5) other qualifications; and
  2. College Transcripts if education is required for meeting basic qualifications and/or used as a substitute for specialized experience. An unofficial copy is sufficient; however, if selected, an official transcript will be required prior to entering on duty; and
  3. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal AND most recent performance evaluation AND SF-50 documenting separation or the most recent SF-50 if pending separation showing position title, series, grade and duty location; or
  4. Worker's Compensation Separation: Agency certification of inability to place employee AND Notification of Separation OR Separation SF-50; or
  5. Disability Annuity Termination: Notification from OPM of disability annuity termination AND Separation SF-50; or
  6. Military Reserve or National Guard Technician Special Disability Retirement Annuity under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456: Certification of special disability retirement annuity from the military or National Guard Bureau AND Separation SF-50.
  
  VEOA Required Documentation:
  
  1. Resume must include: 1) personal information; 2) education; 3) work experience including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; and title, series and grade if applicable; 4) supervisor's phone number, e-mail address for each work period listed, and whether we may contact for reference checks; and 5) other qualifications; and
  2. College Transcripts if education is required for meeting basic qualifications and/or used as a substitute for specialized experience (an unofficial copy is sufficient; however, if selected, an official transcript will be required prior to entering on duty); and
  3. DD-214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty showing dates of service and type of discharge or if a current active duty member, certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after date the certification is signed; and
  4. VA letter that shows percent of disability if claiming 10 pt. preference for a service connected disability.
• How to Apply
  Please view Tips for Applicants - a guide to the Forest Service application process.
  Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
  Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement in order to be entered into the system prior to its closing.
  This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; contact the Agency Contact to request this.
  To begin, click "Apply Online" and follow the instructions to complete the Assessment Questionnaire and attach your resume and all required documents.
  NOTE: Please...