Job details

PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Duties

THIS IS A T5 EXCEPTED SERVICE, TEMPORARY POSITION NOT TO EXCEED 30-SEP-2023

Selectee may be non-competitively extended up to 4 years if/when funding becomes available.

The primary purpose of the PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST, GS-1035-11, is to assist the state's Public Affairs (PA) Officer at the strategic and operational level, with particular emphasis on developing segments of more complicated or sensitive communications campaigns and executing the National Guard Bureau's (NGB's) communication objectives.

Prepare materials that explain or describe the mission of the National Guard, National Guard accomplishments, policies, programs or actions taken to ensure the NG's compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements. Prepares or assembles information kits, edits informational materials drafted by subordinate public affairs specialists, releases photographs and/or feature stories to the news media, coordinates media interviews with NG subject matter experts and arranges photographic and electronic media coverage of newsworthy NG events.
Maintains close working relationships with officials of various civic, media and community groups and Department of Defense personnel, as well as state and national government officials outside of the National Guard.
Creates new or adapts or modifies accepted communication campaign formats to reach a target audience with a specific message.
Collects solicited and unsolicited responses to assess campaign effectiveness in reaching the target audience. Identifies issues of concern, develops alternatives and after discussing these with the appropriate administrative personal, implements the most appropriate option.

The position resides within the infrastructure and support functions of the state National Guard; the incumbent is not subject to mobilization, nor is the work described part of the military mission; and the incumbent does not perform a key advisory or essential administrative role that is inherently military. In addition, the position must meet one of the following: It does not have a comparable military function; the position is required in full-time (civilian) role when the organization, or similar military position, is mobilized to perform continuing post-mobilization functions; or the position requires a skill or competency that necessitates technical expertise or professional qualifications that cannot be readily found in the military structure of the state military force.

May make additional selections within 90 days of eligible(s) issuance.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Recruitment/Relocation
Recruitment/Relocation Incentive IS NOT authorized.

PCS
Relocation Costs IS NOT authorized based on determination that Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move is not in the Government best interest.

Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
U.S. citizenship is required.
Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation.
Must maintain proper security clearance.

Security Clearance: at a minimum a National Agency Check is required prior to position assignment.

Qualifications

PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST, GS-1035-11: Must have at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-09 level, or equivalent pay band in other pay systems in the Federal government. This experience may also have been obtained in the private sector, but must demonstrate that it is comparable to the GS grade indicated. Specialized experience may have been demonstrated by performing duties such as: Experience assisting he Public Affairs Officer in the formulation of long-range plans and policies to enhance public understanding, support and acceptance of Public Affairs programs and/or activities statewide; Experience researching and developing informational materials and complete communication campaigns for release to audiences through electronic and newspaper media; Experience responding to media requests for information of both a routine and controversial nature.

Your resume must have complete information: Please ensure your resume accurately reflects the duties and responsibilities under each position you have held with each employer. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. It is your responsibility to make sure your resume states complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending dates of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total hours worked per week). If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a creditable qualification determination, your application package may be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position.

Part-time or unpaid experience: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the number of hours per week spent in such employment.

Qualifications must be met by the closing date: You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by 06/12/2023

Education

Substitution of Education for Specialized Experience: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work required.
Must Upload Transcripts

When there is a positive education or certification requirement, or you are using education to qualify as a substitution for experience, copies of transcripts (unofficial) and/or certificates are required at the time of application to verify that you meet the educational/certification requirement or substitution. Failure to provide transcripts and/or certificates at the time of application will result in automatic disqualification.

Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

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 (https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

This is an Excepted Service position. Applicants who currently hold a Competitive Service status and is offered a position with the California National Guard, will lose their Competitive Service status to become Excepted Service. Competitive Service applicants who are Career and have completed the three year service requirement permanent tenure (Block 24 reflects "1") are eligible for lifetime reinstatement rights. Competitive Service applicants who are Career Conditional and have not completed the three year service requirement (Block 24 reflects "2") are eligible for three year reinstatement rights.

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.

Category Rating: Your application will be evaluated and rated under Category Rating selection procedures. Once the application process is complete, a review of your qualifications will be conducted to determine if you are qualified for this job. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The quality categories are:

1. Highly Qualified: Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements for this position.
2. Well Qualified: Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements for this position.
3. Qualified: Candidates in this category meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements for this position.
Your rating will be based on both your entire application package as well as the responses to the assessment questionnaire. Please note that if, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your category rating can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

All applicants' qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities):
Communication Counsel, Communications and Media, Creative Thinking, and Decision Making

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Please note that if, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may lose consideration for this position.

If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.

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 which includes:

1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.

2. Schedule A Eligibility Letter and the SF 256 (SF 256 is optional) if you are applying as an individual with a disability under the Schedule A special hiring authority.

3. Your SF-15 or supporting documentation (if applicable).

4. Other supporting documents: applicable documents required for qualification, education, or certification as stated above.

Veterans Information: Veterans' preference must be validated by formal submissions including all necessary supporting documentation. You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. Acceptable documentation may be:
- A copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions
- A "certification" or memorandum that is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification or memorandum is signed.
- A letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility (You can request this by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center, or online.)
NOTE: Failure to provide supporting documentations for veteran's preference claims will result in automatic ineligibility to receive preference.

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 and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.

A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. No changes to the application may be made after the close date of the announcement.

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 (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), 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: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

Agency contact information

For More Information
Phone

(000) 000-0000
Email

NG.CA.CAARNG.LIST.J1-HRO-RECRUITFEDJOBS-USAS@MAIL.MIL
Address

CA JFHQ Joint Staff
9800 Goethe Rd
Sacramento, CA 95826
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. 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.

If you do not receive an email that your application has been received, make sure the application was correctly submitted.

False Statements - If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.
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 which includes:

1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.

2. Schedule A Eligibility Letter and the SF 256 (SF 256 is optional) if you are applying as an individual with a disability under the Schedule A special hiring authority.

3. Your SF-15 or supporting documentation (if applicable).

4. Other supporting documents: applicable documents required for qualification, education, or certification as stated above.

Veterans Information: Veterans' preference must be validated by formal submissions including all necessary supporting documentation. You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. Acceptable documentation may be:

A copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions
A "certification" or memorandum that is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification or memorandum is signed.
A letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility (You can request this by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center, or online.)

NOTE: Failure to provide supporting documentations for veteran's preference claims will result in automatic ineligibility to receive preference.

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

Federal employees - Excepted service

Current excepted service federal employees.

Individuals with disabilities

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Veterans

Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens.

By Army National Guard

National Guard Soldiers serve both community and country. Our versatility enables us to respond to domestic emergencies, overseas combat missions, counterdrug efforts, reconstruction missions and more. The Guard always responds with speed, strengt...

FUNDING

INDUSTRY

TEAM SIZE

LOCATION

Hybrid, based in Arlington, VA

DATE POSTED

June 9, 2023