Public Affairs Specialist

Summary This position is located in the Small Business Administration, Field Operations Center West - FOCW in Citrus Heights, California. The employee serves as a Public Affairs Specialist and supports the delivery of SBA communication strategies and activities in a fast moving, multi-channel environment including social and rich media. Responsibilities As a Public Affairs Specialist at theGS- 1035-12, some of your typical work assignments may include: Plans, organizes, and prepares press releases, photos, flyers, presentation, etc. Coordinates and evaluates written and oral DR&R communications directed to specific targeted audiences within the public, the media or government, according to guidelines established by the SBA Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL) and the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs (OCLA) and the DR&R Office of Preparedness, Communication and Coordination (PCC). Gathering and analyzing financial information to provide responses to Congressional inquiries, media and or state and local elected officials. Reviews and analyzes loan cases in order to explain the specific bases for the loan making decisions. Serves as a disaster program information link to members of Congress and their offices, and state and local public and elected officials. Provides timely information to appropriate government officials through the course of a disaster declaration. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications GS-12: One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, obtained in either the private or public sector: Experience serving as a public information liaison or spokesperson for a program (particularly in disaster, emergency management, or recovery contexts), including acting as an information link to members of Congress and their offices, federal/state/local government officials, media, and other stakeholders; responding to inquiries; providing timely information during disaster declarations; and preparing written materials such as press releases, correspondence, fact sheets, brochures, and presentations; AND Experience planning, organizing, and preparing a variety of written and oral communications and outreach materials, including press releases, articles, success stories, photos, flyers, talking points, speeches, and presentations, for dissemination to media outlets, government stakeholders, the public, and targeted audiences to promote program awareness, understanding, and support; AND Experience monitoring media coverage, identifying and correcting inaccuracies or misinformation, soliciting positive coverage through outreach and success stories, advising management on public information and intergovernmental issues, and engaging in outreach activities to build relationships, foster support, and effectively communicate organizational programs, policies, and objectives. These qualifications must be clearly referenced in your resume. There is no education substitution for this grade level. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on OPM's Qualifications web site: General Schedule Qualification Standards 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. Generally, time in non-pay status as a federal employee is not creditable towards the specialized experience requirement listed above. All qualification requirements must be met by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on 09/02/2026. Education Education may not be substituted for experience for this position. Additional Information Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations 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. 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 Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments Career and InterAgency Career Transition Assistance Programs: Are programs that applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) is a program that helps "surplus" or "displaced" federal employees improve their chances of finding a new job in their current agency (intra-agency, i.e. SBA employees only). Inter-Agency Career Transition Assistance (ICTAP) is a program that helps "surplus" or "displaced" federal employees improve their chances of finding a new job at another agency (inter-agency; i.e. not applying to their current or former agency). You are eligible for CTAP/ICTAP if: 1. You are a current federal employee who meets the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee meaning you have received official notice that your job is no longer needed or that you will lose your job by Reduction-in-Force (RIF). 2. Your agency, or the agency to which you are applying, is accepting applications from within or outside of the permanent workforce. 3. The position to which you are applying MUST BE in the Local Commuting Area of the position of record from which you are being displaced. 4. You meet the qualifications and other requirements of the job for which you are applying. This includes being rated as well-qualified for the position (score of 85 or better based on your responses to the competencies and associated questions listed within the assessment).