Public Affairs Specialist

PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST Location Camp Murray, WA : Duties A GS-1035-9, PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST:
Develops news releases and feature articles describing Guard sponsored activities or events, presentation ceremonies, etc. Distributes these to local and national print and broadcast media representatives. Responds orally and in writing to requests for information from Guard members, member associations, external audiences or special interest groups. Determines the sensitivity of data requested and if data is determined to be sensitive or controversial. Coordinates data release with a senior Public Affairs (PA) Specialist. Evaluates local media programming on NG events, activities or communication campaigns to identify potential public relation issues with message content or format. Once identified, advises management on potential causes of the problem and forwards suggestions for resolving them. Gathers data on public reaction to communication campaigns for analyses and evaluation. When the evaluation is completed, draws the appropriate conclusions and from these develops and submits recommendations to the PAO for improving the campaign's appeal to the general public or target audience. Prepares and disseminates news releases and feature articles to the media for print. Selects and incorporates photographs, film footage, etc., into the release or article to visually enhance the message with viewers. Consults with the pertinent program specialist to obtain the latest information for use in news releases, radio spots, print articles, meetings and electronic broadcasts. Develops semi-technical written materials to educate a specific audience on the nature and purpose of the NG's programs, policies and practices. Develops positive working relationships with state and local government personnel, community or special interest groups or individuals desiring input on state level NG policy, practices or programs. Other duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of Employment Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation. May be required to successfully complete a probationary period. Participation in direct deposit is mandatory. U.S. Citizenship is required. A resume and supporting documents must be submitted (see "How to Apply"). This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program. Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain a clearance within one year of appointment. Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day. May be required to travel in military and/or commercial vehicles to perform temporary duty assignments Designated as Essential Personnel and may be subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state emergency or disaster declaration, designation will not exceed 14 calendar days per year unless otherwise approved in advance by the TAG. Qualifications GENERAL EXPERIENCE : Experience, education or training in administrative, professional, investigative and/or technical work. Experience evaluating information and/or using analytical skills to disseminate effective communication. Experience in compiling reports, letters, memoranda, etc., and required person-to-person contacts to convey information. Experience using computers and automation systems. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE : Must have at least 24 months experience, education, or training involving knowledge of writing, communication principles, methods and techniques that relate to the public affairs of an agency. Experience in applying and adapting knowledge of strictly controlled situations of an agency. Experience writing articles on routine events of non-controversial subjects. Experience responding timely and appropriately to requests for information concerning agency programs and services. Experience participating in meetings with specialized groups to listen to and understand feedback on agency programs that are of particular interest to public. or 1 year equivalent to at least GS-7. Education Education Requirements: 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 You must provide transcripts or other documentation to support your Educational claims. To receive credit for Education, you must provide documentation of proof that you meet the Education requirements for this position. Substitution of Education for Specialized Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify for GS-9. Additional information If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 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 ( EQUAL OPPORTUNITY : The WA National Guard is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. If you are unable to upload a document online please send the document via email to our WA HRO Distro Box. 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.
Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. You may also be excluded from consideration if you indicate that you are unwilling to accept the lower grade and a determination is made that you are not qualified at the higher grade. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Verbiage displayed on your resume or application must contain your own words. You may refer to position descriptions, as well as the general and specialized experience located within the vacancy announcement, to assist with describing work experiences; however, resumes or applications received in verbatim will not be considered. In your resume you will need to address the general and specialized experience listed above. Please use as much detail as needed, giving dates (months and years) of the experience, position title and how the experience was gained. This information is needed to determine if you are qualified for the position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics). NOTE: You do not have to respond to the KSA's separately but your resume should contain sufficient information to demonstrate possession of the KSA's. Knowledge of public affairs concepts, principles, practices, and techniques including internal, community, and media relations to establish, implement, and maintain a proactive program. Knowledge of written and oral communication principles, methods, and techniques to conduct and coordinate public affairs activities to include producing written information for and making oral presentations to a variety of audiences with different levels of understanding. Knowledge of the principles and methods of newspaper publishing, including editing, layout, and makeup and skill in planning, developing and editing news stories. Skill in gathering, evaluation, and interpreting data to arrive at valid conclusion and offer meaningful recommendations and skill in establishing effective working relationships with people sharing similar goals and interests. 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.
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.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package that includes: 1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week , dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.) of employment and duties performed. 2. Other supporting documents : ***Please note that if you are claiming Military Spouse Preference, you MUST include a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Acceptable documentation of your preference eligibility includes at a minimum: A copy of the PCS orders Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist Your marriage certificate or license (if you are not on the PCS Orders). ***Please note that if you are claiming Veteran's Preference, you MUST provide supporting documentation to receive preference.*** DD-214 VA Letter Completed SF15, etc. If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To view the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link: A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement 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 verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account ( all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit:
Agency contact information WA HRO Staffing Section Phone Email Address Command Group Bldg 1 Historic DR Camp Murray, WA 98430 US Next steps Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. You are encouraged to reach out to our office to verify that all required application materials have successfully been uploaded prior to the announcement closing. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Reasonable accommodation policy Financial suitability Selective Service New employee probationary period Signature and false statements Privacy Act Social security number request Required Documents To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package that includes: 1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week , dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.) of employment and duties performed. 2. Other supporting documents : ***Please note that if you are claiming Military Spouse Preference, you MUST include a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Acceptable documentation of your preference eligibility includes at a minimum: A copy of the PCS orders Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist Your marriage certificate or license (if you are not on the PCS Orders). ***Please note that if you are claiming Veteran's Preference, you MUST provide supporting documentation to receive preference.*** DD-214 VA Letter Completed SF15, etc. If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Help This job is open to The public U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency CAT 7: U.S. Citizens