Public Affairs Specialist

Summary

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

Duties

Serves as a Public Affairs Specialist for the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), reporting to the Chief, Public Information Office, and working closely with the Director, and members of the BOP's Executive Staff to ensure a smooth flow of accurate and timely information to and from: the Director's Office; between the various components of the BOP; and with outside agencies, the media, and the public. Assists in coordinating public information activity with Department of Justice Public Affairs staff. Acts as a spokesperson for the Director and that of the BOP, in all matters relating to the agency, its programs, policies, and position on a vast array of topics. Serves as a contact between the BOP and members of the news media and the public. Requirements

Career Transition Programs (CTAP or ICTAP): These programs apply to Federal and/or DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1. Meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2. Be rated well-qualified for the position, scoring at least half of the total possible points for the vacancy KSAs or competencies; and 3. Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility: A copy of the agency notice (i.e., separation notice or agency RIF letter), Most recent performance appraisal, and Most recent SF-50 showing current/former position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location. See USAJOBS' Career Transition Programs for more information. EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: U.S Department of Justice - Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Key Requirements: U.S. Citizenship is Required. See Special Conditions of Employment Section. Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements: Education: GS-13 and GS-14:There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position. Experience: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level. To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to perform successfully the duties of the position, and must typically be in or related to the position to be filled. Some examples of this qualifying experience are: GS-13: Experience serving as a spokesperson or point of contact with news media and the public on complex, sensitive, or controversial matters, developing and implementing communication strategies to respond to inquiries and preparing press releases, briefing materials, or talking points for senior leadership on organizational policies, programs, and positions. Experience coordinating public information activities across multiple organizational components or facilities to ensure consistent messaging and compliance with organizational policy, maintaining regular contact with field offices to provide guidance on responding to public inquiries, and disseminating information through various communication channels including publications, reports, and electronic media. Experience planning, managing, and directing audio and video production, print layout, graphic design, or social media content for a large organization, exercising independent judgment in conceptualizing videos and event productions and managing integrated procurement and production programs for complex communication missions. Experience monitoring and analyzing news sources, media coverage, and public communications to identify issues affecting the organization, providing daily briefings to senior executives on relevant topics and initiating or developing appropriate responses to selected issues for executive approval and dissemination. GS-14: Experience serving as an authorized spokesperson for an organization's Director or senior executive leadership on all matters relating to agency programs, policies, and positions across a vast array of topics, working directly with executive leadership to ensure accurate and timely dissemination of information and coordinating public information activities with Department-level or other external agency public affairs staff. Experience independently planning, developing, and implementing comprehensive communication strategies to respond to highly controversial, complex, and sensitive inquiries that could significantly impact organizational operations and mission, developing and coordinating strategies designed to obtain public support and effectively communicate leadership positions and serving as liaison with news media representatives developing major news stories about the organization. Experience exercising broad authority and independent judgment in planning, directing, and managing sophisticated visual information activities including audio and video production, print layout, graphic design, and social media content for an entire agency or large organization, establishing priorities and allocating resources for agency-wide communication programs and managing integrated procurement and video production programs for extremely complex missions. Experience serving as a management official with significant authority to make determinations that further program objectives; exercising independent judgment and discretion on a regular basis with primary duties having significant effect on the formulation or execution of management policies or programs and identifying operational or program issues and initiating corrective action or recommending solutions with limited review or revision. AND Selective Factor: GS-13 and GS-14: Applicants applying for this position MUST also possess the following Selective Factor. In the event that you do not possess the Selective Factor, you will be found ineligible for the position. Two (2) years of experience in audio/video productions and post production proficiencies, graphic design, and social media content strategies. If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as number of hours worked per week) spent in the activities. Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.

Education

ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here. Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork 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. You will be evaluated based on your assessment score and the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation. Applicants who receive a score of 85 or higher will be reviewed first, and reviews will continue until 10 qualified applicants have been identified. Applicants who receive a score of 75 or below will not be reviewed. Your resume and supporting documents will be compared against your responses to the online assessment to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed in this announcement. If the information in your application materials does not support your assessment responses, your score may be adjusted and/or you may be removed from consideration. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. There are several parts of the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application: Your resume, which is part of your USAJOBS profile; Your responses to the eligibility questions; Your responses to the online assessment; Your supporting documentation, if required. Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements for consideration. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement. If you applied to more than one grade level, BE ADVISED that you may be selected at ANY grade level for which you applied and are found qualified (i.e., if the job is announced at the 9/11 grade levels and you apply for the GS/GL-9 and the GS-11, and you are found qualified at BOTH grade levels, you may be selected at either grade level). Due Weight for Performance: Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. Please submit: a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation; and a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13058100 Benefits

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. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information) Other Information

The representative rate for this position is $158,306 per annum ($75.85 per hour) Note: This vacancy announcement has been set to receive the first 50 applications. Therefore on the day of the 50th application is received, this announcement will close at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. Special Conditions of Employment Section: The incumbent is subject to geographic relocation to meet the needs of the agency. Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a urinalysis, physical, and background investigation. All applicants are subject to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit checks. The addresses listed on the USAJOBS account/resume must be the primary residence at the time of application. You may be required to provide proof of residence. Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate. Although competitive and non-competitive applications are being accepted, the selecting official may elect to have only one group reviewed. This is a secondary/non-law enforcement coverage position. Individuals that DO NOT have three years of law enforcement coverage gained in a primary law enforcement position by the closing date of the vacancy announcement are ineligible for secondary law enforcement position(s) and coverage but may still be considered for a non-law enforcement position. Individuals selected who are under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and who have not had three years "primary" law enforcement retirement coverage, will not be covered by law enforcement retirement while in this position. To regain coverage, individuals must return to a position with "primary" coverage. Current Federal Law Enforcement Employees: Completion of the mandatory courses "Introduction to Correctional Techniques (ICT) Phase I and Phase 2 II" is a condition of employment for this secondary law enforcement position. Employees who have not yet completed ICT Phase I and II will be required to do so after entering the position. This requirement does not apply to non-law-enforcement positions. Eligibility for secondary law enforcement coverage is determined in accordance with applicable regulations. Coverage may be attained through any qualifying federal law enforcement officer service that meets the definitions in 5 U.S.C. 8401(17) and satisfies the conditions in 5 CFR 842.803.