Department of the Air Force Headquarters logo

PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Department of the Air Force Headquarters

Lackland AFB, TXFull-time$91–118K/yrPosted today

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At a glance

Compensation
$91–118K/yr
Location
Lackland AFB, TX
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

The Public Affairs Specialist provides public affairs advice, technical direction, and support to a Component-Numbered Air Force organization and its field offices. The role administers part of the public affairs program, advises on public reaction to proposed actions, and plans and evaluates communication strategies and materials. It also represents the organization with internal and external groups and supervises a limited number of employees.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Public AffairsCommunication PlanningOral CommunicationWritten CommunicationVisual CommunicationAnalytical MethodsInterpersonal RelationsData AnalysisMedia RelationsPersonnel ManagementAir Force and DoD OrganizationsSafety and Security Regulations

Qualifications

Specialized ExperienceSCI EligibilityNon-Disclosure AgreementDrug Testing

Full job description

Summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below for IMPORTANT additional information. The primary purpose of this position is to serve in a Component-Numbered Air Force position, providing public affairs (PA) advice, technical direction, and support to the organization and/or its field offices. Salary ranges include local market supplements.

Duties

Conducts public affairs functions for the organization, ensuring public affairs activities comply with legal and regulatory requirements and meet customer needs. Exercises supervisory personnel management responsibilities. Advises and provides counsel to employees regarding policies, procedures, and directives of management. Responds to information requests on assigned programs from the news media, specialized groups, and/or general public; local, state, and federal elected officials; special interest groups, community, and civic organization Performs special assignments and participates in special projects and initiatives with responsibility for researching, planning, executing, and/or evaluating complex public affairs operations, programs, and policies which affect a variety of functional areas. Represents the organization regarding a portion of the organization PA program with a variety of councils, boards, working groups, and panels inside and outside the agency, including Headquarters Air Force, DoD (Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Staff, unified combatant command and sister services), and other governmental, nongovernmental, public, civic, service, industry, business, educational, entertainment, think tank, and media organizations. Serves as an adviser in the assigned area of responsibility. Advises on the potential public reaction to proposed policies, plans, and actions; and plans, organizes, and evaluates communication strategies, goals and objectives, programs, products, and materials. Qualifications

This is a GG-12 position in the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). The GG-12 duties for the "Professional" work category are at the "Full Performance" work level and are equivalent to those at the GS-12 level. The selectee's salary will be set within the grade equivalent to a GS/GG grade based on the selectee's qualifications in relation to the job. In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions Administrative and Management Positions. EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must reflect the quality level of experience which demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance required for this position. Examples of creditable experience include knowledge of a wide variety of communication principles, methods, practices, and techniques; analytical methods; and interpersonal relations practices; skill in applying such knowledge in the modification of standard methods and adaptation of approaches in developing new information materials aimed at enhancing the understanding of groups or individuals of the significant issues of applicable programs; knowledge applicable to and skill in assessing public reaction and identifying extent of understanding achieved to evaluate effectiveness of information programs; knowledge and skill sufficient for developing new information materials including news releases, fact sheets, brochures, booklets, broadcast spots, etc., that increase communication with the agency's various publics; knowledge and skill sufficient for providing representatives of the print and broadcast media, trade associations, and industrial representatives with timely and accurate explanations of agency policies and regulations; and knowledge and skill sufficient for determining the appropriateness of elements of an internal information program recommended by higher headquarters and suggesting ways for improving future materials or adapting current materials to meet current needs more effectively. Note: Creditable experience may include previous military experience, experience gained in the private sector, or experience gained in another government agency. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Knowledge of a wide range of oral, written, and visual communication concepts, principles, policies, practices, methods, applications, techniques, standards, and trends; analytical methods; interpersonal relations practices applicable to researching, planning, developing, coordinating, and evaluating new information materials for information programs. Knowledge of the missions, roles, functions, organizational structures, relationships, and operational planning objectives of Air Force and DoD organizations. Knowledge of safety and security regulations, practices, and procedures. Skill in gathering, evaluating, and interpreting data to arrive at valid conclusions and offer meaningful recommendations. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Ability to manage a small staff and carry out all phases of personnel management responsibilities. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT CONTINUED: Position is designated special-sensitive and requires eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), other intelligence-related Special Sensitive information, or involvement in Top Secret Special Access Programs (SAP) to fully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. A non-disclosure agreement must be signed. Drug Testing: This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TOP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. Your responses to the questionnaire may be compared to the documents you submit. The documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job. Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further. Other Information

Summary Continued: Provides policy and program guidance to subordinate units and administers the activities within a portion of the PA program for the organization. Also serves as supervisor over a limited number of employees (at least one of which must be a civilian employee), duties which require less than 25% of the supervisor's time. Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information. 120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur. Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit. Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here. If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here. Selectees who physically reside permanently in the U.S., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Northern Mariana Islands, and the Possessions of the U.S., during the entire recruitment process (application, selection, and acceptance of a formal job offer) and selected for employment in the foreign area are eligible to receive certain foreign area benefits such as: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) or government quarters, Post Allowance, Home Leave, etc. (subject to approval) Selectees who physically reside outside the U.S., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or Northern Mariana Islands, and the Possessions of the U.S., during any step of the recruitment process (application, selection, and acceptance of a formal job offer) will have foreign area benefits eligibility be determined on a case by case basis.

How this job compares

Set against the 1,953 open Communications jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 6, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$91–118K/yr
  • Texas median$102–155K/yr38 salary ranges
  • US median$108–162K/yr1,007 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $104K, is 20% below the Texas median midpoint ($130K) — in the middle half of Communications salary ranges in Texas.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 169 open Communications jobs in Texas and 1,953 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Experience
Communications postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 3 to 8 years (1,224 postings).
Education
828 of the 1,953 open Communications jobs (42%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 6, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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