QUALIFICATIONS

Please limit your resume to 5 pages. If more than 5 pages are submitted, only the first 5 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:

• Performing public affairs program initiatives;
• Conducting and coordinating public affairs activities to develop intercommunication between the agency and a variety of audiences; and
• Assisting in gathering data to identify potential problems then arrive at valid conclusions and offer meaningful recommendations and/or resolutions.

You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:

• Performing senior level public affairs program initiatives for public view and informational purposes;
• Conducting and coordinating complex public affairs activities to develop intercommunication between the agency and a variety of audiences; and
• Researching and analyzing data to identify potential problems, arrive at valid conclusions, and offer meaningful recommendations and/or resolutions to leadership.

As part of the application and evaluation process, after initial eligibility reviews have been conducted, qualifying applicants will be invited to participate in a structured interview. The interview process and scheduling will take place at the convenience of the selection panel. Invitations for interviews will be extended via email. As a part of the interview process, you may be asked to provide a sample of your writing, such as a press release or news/journalistic article. If you would like to include it now, please upload the sample under other (writing sample) documents. Interviews may be conducted in person, telephonically, or in a virtual environment and passing scores are required to be considered for selection. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. QUALIFICATION CLAIMS WILL BE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.
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.
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

EDUCATION

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

DUTIES

As a Public Affairs Specialist, GS-13 you will perform the following duties:

• Researches, analyzes, and applies appropriate public affairs protocol according to established instruction, directives and policy guidance, and procedures, ensuring activities comply with agency requirements;
• Plans and executes a public affairs program that supports directors’ priorities through the integration of media relations and social media;
• Represents the organization with a variety of installation and local governmental and media service;
• Researches, interprets, drafts, coordinates, produces, and reviews public affairs products such as news releases, talking points, fact sheets, news and feature articles, web-based content, briefings, speeches, and scripts; and
• Prepares newsletters, photographs, videos, pod casts, and other materials that effectively communicate agency activities, programs, and policies to a variety of internal and external audiences.

You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:

• Performing public affairs program initiatives;
• Conducting and coordinating public affairs activities to develop intercommunication between the agency and a variety of audiences; and
• Assisting in gathering data to identify potential problems then arrive at valid conclusions and offer meaningful recommendations and/or resolutions

You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level or equivalent performing duties such as:

• Performing senior level public affairs program initiatives for public view and informational purposes;
• Conducting and coordinating complex public affairs activities to develop intercommunication between the agency and a variety of audiences; and
• Researching and analyzing data to identify potential problems, arrive at valid conclusions, and offer meaningful recommendations and/or resolutions to leadership