Public Affairs Specialist

Summary

As a Public Affairs Specialist with the Office of Communications you will serve as creative and technical producer, writer and editor for multimedia materials.

Duties

Serve as a resource for public outreach and marketing OPM to its customers, stakeholders, employees and the general public, with emphasis on maintaining effective relationships with the media and engaging the public as well as working on specialty media events sponsored by and showcasing OPM. Analyze inquiries from the news media and drafts responses under deadline pressure through correspondence, direct interviews and briefings. Draft a variety of communication products such as news releases, radio, television, video and pod cast scripts, talking points, feature articles, news conferences, testimony, exhibits, brochures, pamphlets, etc. for management's review. Draft informational materials to a variety of outlets to enhance the understanding of particular issues, policies and practices advocated by the OPM Director and the OC Director.

Requiremennts

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation May be required to successfully complete a probationary period This position is eligible for inclusion in the bargaining unit. The union that represents employees in this position is the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 32.

Qualifications

Applicants must have one of the following: One year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the private or public sector) performing ALL of the following tasks: 1) working with the press to provide information on the record ; 2) analyzing inquiries from news media to develop responses under deadline pressure through correspondence, direct interviews, or briefings and; 3) developing new information material such as news releases, fact sheets, brochures, booklets, or broadcasts spots that increase communication with the agency's various public. Have a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., that demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work. Examples are Public Relations, Journalism, Communications, English, Business Administration or other similar degrees. Have an equivalent combination of specialized experience and graduate level education described above. To calculate, first take the number of semester hours or equivalent earned towards a graduate degree, in excess of 18 semester hours, and divide by 18. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. To meet eligibility requirements, you must have obtained a qualifying Bachelor's or Master's from a qualifying educational institution, within the previous two years. ATTENTION VETERANS: A veteran, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 2108, who due to military service obligation, was precluded from applying for a college graduate position during any portion of the two-year eligibility period shall have a full two-year period of eligibility upon his or her release or discharge from active duty. In no event, however, may the individual's eligibility period extend beyond six years from the date on which the individual completed the requirements of an academic course of study. You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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.

At OPM, we are champions of talent for the Federal Government. We lead Federal agencies in workforce policies, programs, and benefits in service to the American people. We will create a new vision of work, together, positioning the Federal Government as a model employer for past and present employees through innovation, inclusivity, and leadership. We will build a rewarding culture that empowers the workforce to solve some of our nation's toughest challenges. For information on OPM's goals and objectives, please refer to our Strategic Plan.