Duties

Summary

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is a small independent Federal agency (created by the ICC Termination Act of 1995) with broad economic regulatory authority over railroads and more limited regulatory responsibilities over certain water carriers, non-energy pipelines, trucking companies, and intercity bus companies. This position is that of a Public Affairs Specialist located in the Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and Compliance (OPAGAC).

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The individual selected for this position will be responsible for:

-The dissemination of public information to all media, the Congress, governmental entities, stakeholders, and public and private sector groups.

-Serving as media adviser to executive management and create and implement policies and procedures and communication plans for public affairs activities;

-Drafting content and upload information to the website, and maintain and keep up-to-date agency communications.

-Writing press releases, op-eds and other forms of communications.

-Overseeing the creation and implementation of a social media policy on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and GovLoop.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

All qualification requirements must be met by 09/24/2019. Your application package will not receive consideration if it lacks any of the required documents under the "Required Documents" tab.

Probationary Period: One-year probationary period may be required.

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/

Background Suitability Investigation: Continued employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background investigation and the granting of a Federal suitability or security clearance. If selected, you may be offered tentative employment until the background investigation has been fully adjudicated.

For Merit Promotion candidates: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must meet the Time-in-Grade Requirement, which is 52 weeks of Federal Service at the next lower grade (GS-13 for GS-14).

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must demonstrate the possession of the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position.

In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one full year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the federal service with experience performing ALL of the following on a recurring basis: serving as media adviser to executive management; creating and implementing policies and procedures for public affairs activities; draft content and upload information to the web site, and maintain and keep up-to-date agency announcements; handling reporter inquiries and serving as on-the-record spokesman for an organization; writing press releases, op-eds and other articles for publication, and overseeing the creation and approval of a social media policy implemented company-wide on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and GovLoop.

For this position: Candidates who have experience disseminating information to the media regarding rail transportation issues are highly desirable.

The ideal candidate is able to perform her/his duties independently and has demonstrated experience in reporting on differing viewpoints from various transportation industry media outlets, railroads, railroad shippers, trade associations, and other relevant industry stakeholders. Candidates must be able to formulate effective responses and communication plans that will meet the Board's needs of interacting with such entities.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid time off*, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the 3-tier Federal Retirement System. The STB also has work/life-balance flexibilities that may be right for you. We offer:

Flexible Work Schedule options: Two flexible work schedules, the Flexitour Option and the Compressed Work Schedule. Employees on the Flexitour may schedule fixed arrival and departure times around established core hours and work 8 hours plus a 30-minute unpaid lunch period. Employees on the Compressed Work Schedule may work 8 9-hour work days and one 8-hour day (plus the 30-minute unpaid lunch period) in each biweekly pay period and receive one scheduled day off; OR may work 4 10-hour days with one week day off each week;

Limited Telework opportunities upon supervisor approval and in accordance with the Employee Work Schedule policy;

Employee Assistance Program: The program provides employees with free confidential assistance for help with personal issues that may be affecting work life. The program also provides consultation to supervisors who are trying to best help an employee with performance and/or attendance problems. More information on the Employee Assistance Program can be found on the Federal Occupational Health website;

*Annual and Sick Leave (paid time off): Employees of the STB accrue both annual and sick leave depending on years of service with the Federal government. Annual leave may be used for vacation or other personal reasons. Sick leave may be used when you are ill, when you have a doctor, dental, or optical appointment, or when you need to provide care to an ill family member. More information can be found on OPM's website;

Fitness Center: STB employees, at no cost, have access to the fitness center conveniently located in the building featuring state of the art weight training and cardiovascular equipment;

Extensive Training programs and tools supportive of enhancing organization effectiveness and employee development;

A monthly transit subsidy for a portion of your commuting costs to help defray the commuting costs of employees who use mass transportation, including commuter bus, Metrorail or Metrobus, or commuter rail systems; and

Student loan repayment or recruitment bonus, when applicable.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants will be evaluated on their resume and supporting documentation to ensure they meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using an Assessment Questionnaire that is based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job:

-Knowledge of current public affairs practices and trends.
-Skill in website content development and maintenance, and social media.
-Writing
-Oral Communication

Category Rating Procedures: If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies.

Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies.

Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify.

Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are best qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Candidate who apply under Noncompetitive and Special Hiring Authorities procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume, supporting documentation submitted and their responses to the assessment questionnaire.

To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (see required documents tab) and be rated well-qualified on the assessment. Preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10573282 .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

Please be advised, the following documents are required even if you are already a current Federal or STB employee:

1. Resume that includes the experience you wish to be considered for the review of your qualifications, the dates of employment with month and year, and hours worked per week (if part time). Resumes that do not contain all of the necessary information to determine qualifications may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position.
Your latest resume submission is the one that will be used to determine your qualifications.

2. Responses to questionnaire.

3. Supporting documents verifying your eligibility or any preference eligibility along with your application package.

These documents may include, but are not limited to:

Veterans documentation: All veterans MUST submit a DD-214, MEMBER 4 copy, if you are currently on active duty, you must submit an official statement of service from your command or other official documentation that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions, etc;

Preference eligible documentation: If claiming 10-point preference you must also submit a SF-15 and any other proof that you are eligible for 10-point preference if a job offer is extended to you, final VA letter including percentage (please do not include letter from VA noting specific private medical information;

SF-50 documenting current or previous federal service employment, separate SF-50 documenting appropriate Time in Grade (if applicable), etc; and

ICTAP documentation: RIF separation notice along with last performance rating or appraisal.