Public Affairs Specialist (Web Content Manager)

Summary

Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual and Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program are available. This position is located in the Communications Division of the Office of Public Affairs and Training (OPAT) for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The primary mission of OPAT is to effectively communicate with the public, media, other Government agencies, and public and internal audiences about food safety issues and FSIS programs and activities.

Duties

• Participate in strategic planning to improve website and digital communication effort.
• Advise stakeholders on the best web/digital practices, industry standards, and Federal/Departmental policies.
• Recommend and develop communication programs, tools, and techniques for Agency audiences.
• Coordinate with managers and staff to ensure technical and strategic accuracy of communications.
• Formulate and manage information from internal/external sources including websites and social media.
• Formulate and manage information from internal/external sources including reports and one pager.
• Manage organization full web presence (such as internal/external sites, apps, and digital platforms).
• Plan, produce, and edit content for websites and apps.
• Plan, coordinate, and evaluate short-range and long-range web coverage.
• Maintain and enforce agency web/digital SOPs, policies, and best practices.
• Serve as project lead on external applications.
• Apply expertise in accessibility, usability, information architecture, redesign, QC/QA, testing, HTML, and content management.
• Manage day-to-day site maintenance and content updates.
• Serve as a technical liaison with internal and external stakeholders.
• Write, edit, and summarize technical information.
• Plan/implement communication projects across diverse audiences.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. To qualify for the GS-9: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service. Experience must demonstrate the following types of skills and abilities that directly prepare the applicant to perform the duties in the position description. Applicant must show 3 of the following 5: Working within a content management system (Drupal preferred) to make website changes and simple updates for review and approval. Using software and templated designs to communicate information, create engaging content, and propose solutions for digital and online communications products. Providing quality customer service and developing effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Assessing website and digital strategy, including using metrics and trend analysis to recommend changes or propose improvements. Applying a broad set of communication principles, audience identification, and strategy to help improve digital products and website content. OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree in a related field. OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a related field. OR LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR Combination of education and experience - Your total must equal 100% of the requirement, i.e. if you meet 50% of the education requirement, you must have 50% of the specialized experience requirement. Only education above and beyond the first year of graduate level education will count. To qualify for the GS-11: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service. Experience must demonstrate the following types of skills and abilities that directly prepare the applicant to perform the duties in the position description. Applicant must show 5 of the following 7: Using a content management system (Drupal preferred) to create new pages, propose information architecture changes, as well as update and publish routine content changes with minimal review. Understanding of basic HTML, CSS, and scripting, as well as 508 compliance/accessibility and user experience principles used in modern websites. Using software to communicate information, create engaging content, and propose solutions for digital and online communications products, proposing new templates or adjustments to templates when needed. Providing quality customer service and maintaining effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Developing assessment criteria for measuring the effectiveness of website and digital strategy, including using metrics and trend analysis to make changes or propose broader improvements. Preparing drafts, content solutions, and strategies for client approval. Applying a broad set of communication principles, audience identification, and strategy to improve digital products and website content. OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a related field. OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a related field. OR LL.M., if related. OR Combination of education and experience - Your total must equal 100% of the requirement, i.e. if you meet 50% of the education requirement, you must have 50% of the specialized experience requirement. Only education above and beyond the first two years of graduate level education will count. To qualify for the GS-12: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Experience must demonstrate the following types of skills and abilities that directly prepare the applicant to perform the duties in the position description. Applicant must show 7 of the following 9: Administering a content management system (Drupal preferred) and using it to review others' work, create new pages or site sections, implement information architecture changes, as well as update and publish routine and complex content changes with minimal oversight. Mastery of HTML, CSS, and scripting, as well as 508 compliance/accessibility and user experience principles used in modern websites. Managing customer engagement and subscription tools and using them to communicate information, create engaging content, and implement solutions for digital and online communications products, developing new templates or adjusting templates when needed. Representing business needs to technical teams to ensure solutions meet requirements. Providing quality customer service and maintaining effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Responsibility for project components that contribute to larger efforts. Implementing effective website and digital strategy, including using metrics and trend analysis to make changes or advocate for broader improvements. Presenting drafts, content solutions, and strategies for client review and approval. Applying a broad set of communication principles, audience identification, and strategy to improve digital products and website content. To qualify for the GS-13: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Experience must demonstrate the following types of skills and abilities that directly prepare the applicant to perform the duties in the position description. Applicant must show 8 of the following 10: Administering a content management system (Drupal preferred), including developing roles and workflows, and working to ensure system security. Expertly using an enterprise-level content management system to review others' work, create new pages or site sections, implement information architecture changes, as well as update and publish routine and complex content changes with minimal oversight. Mastery of HTML, CSS, and scripting, as well as 508 compliance/accessibility and user experience principles used in modern websites. Administering customer engagement and subscription tools and using them to communicate information, create engaging content, and implement solutions for digital and online communications products, developing new templates or adjusting templates when needed. Representing business needs to technical teams to ensure solutions meet requirements, performing quality assurance and user acceptance testing for technical solutions before implementation. Managing multiple projects and successfully meeting deadlines and objectives. Providing quality customer service and maintaining effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Implementing effective website and digital strategy, including using metrics and trend analysis to make changes or advocate for broader improvements. Presenting drafts, content solutions, and strategies for client review and approval and leading project meetings. Applying a broad set of communication principles, audience identification, and strategy to improve digital products and website

Education

Education may be substituted for experience at the GS-09 and GS-11 level only, as defined above in the qualifications section. The is no minimum education requirement for this position. How You Will Be Evaluated

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent to which they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies: Attention to Detail Communications and Media Customer Service External Awareness Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Multimedia Technologies Oral Communication Organizational Awareness Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Technical Competence Writing Written Communication 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. Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) your 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. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. NOTE: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to and including removal from the Federal service. Clicking the link below will present a preview of the application form; i.e. the online questionnaire. The application form link below will only provide a preview and does not initiate the application process. To initiate the online application process, click the "Apply" button to the right. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13083346 Other Information

Selectees may be eligible for Creditable Service for Annual Leave Accrual (CSALA) Selectees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program PSLF Program. If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. 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.