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Public Affairs Specialist - Office of Communications and Bureau of Health Workforce

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Rockville, Maryland
Closing date
Sep 24, 2019
Duties

Summary

This recruitment will be used to fill positions located in the Health Resources and Services Administration's Office of Communications (OC) and Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW). The duty location for these positions is Rockville, MD.

**Applicants please note: Additional selections may be made across the Department of Health and Human Services through this vacancy announcement.**
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

OC - The Office of Communications provides leadership, communications, and public affairs expertise to the agency; (1) supervises, conducts and coordinates all communications and public affairs activities for the agency; (2) serves as the focal point for coordination among the Agency's communications activities with a variety of stakeholders that may include other HHS offices and Agencies, along with other key stakeholder groups; (3) develops and implements national communications initiatives to inform and educate the public, current grantees and future grantee applicants, current grantee and loan and scholarship recipients, along with policy makers and the media; (4) oversees and manages HRSA website and digital channels along with the HRSA intranet website; (5) provides speech writing, webcasting and audio visual support to the Administrator and the Agency; (5) provides communications and public affairs expertise to HRSA senior leadership and staff that aligns with direction established by the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs; and (7) serves as communications and public affairs advisers and officers to the Agency, and works to build and maintain productive relationships with communications media.

BHW- Improves the health of the Nation's underserved communities and vulnerable populations by developing, implementing, evaluating, and refining programs that strengthen the nation's health care workforce. This Bureau supports a diverse, culturally competent workforce by addressing components including: education and training; recruitment and retention; financial support for students, faculty, and practitioners; supporting institutions; data analysis; and evaluation and coordination of global health workforce activities. BHW also supports the development of a skilled health workforce serving in areas of the nation with the greatest need.

As a Public Affairs Specialist for HRSA's Office of Communications or Bureau of Health Workforce, you design comprehensive, nationwide communications strategies and plans.

Your major duties and responsibilities include:
  • Providing support to leadership for rollout activities and media events, such as department and agency rollouts, supporting events in the regional offices or grantee sites, and other national communications initiatives.
  • Coordinating news media interviews for leadership and staff and provide supporting materials.
  • Developing clear and consistent communications products which that may include key messages, talking points, press releases, blog posts, fact sheets, intranet news stories, writing remarks for HRSA leadership, and other communications.
  • Analyzing metrics to inform decision making and reach target audiences in a variety of settings.


Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel up to 5% or less for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U. S. Citizenship is required.
  • All qualifications and time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Federal applicants must submit an SF-50 to show status and time-in-grade.
  • Males ages 18 through 25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • PHS Commissioned Corps applicants must submit current personnel orders.
  • A one year probationary period may be required.
  • Position is in the Bargaining Unit.
  • Recruitment incentives are not authorized.
  • Student loan repayment incentive is not authorized.
  • Background investigation is required.


Qualifications

THESE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE: 09/25/2019

Do not cut and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

In order to qualify for this position at the GS-13 level, your resume must clearly demonstrate that you have one full year of specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS-12 level in the federal service. Examples of qualifying experience include the following types of tasks performed on a regular and recurring basis: Coordinating and drafting organizational responses to news media requests to promote priorities and outcomes; writing and executing regional and/or national communications plans and strategies; developing public affairs products to support regional and/or national communications rollouts.

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; community; student; social). If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited.

Current status candidates must meet Time-in-Grade (TIG) by the closing date of this announcement. To allow us to verify that you meet TIG requirements, provide any of the following SF-50s:
  • Competitive or Career-ladder promotion to your highest grade (this does not include 120 day temporary promotions)
  • With-In-Grade (WGI) increase at your highest grade (this does not include quality step increases (QSIs)
  • Competitive career/career-conditional appointment to your highest grade.
  • SF-50 at your highest grade held, that is at least one year older than the announcement closing date of 09/25/2019.
Please Note: An SF50 dated 1/22/2019 will not be considered as proof of time-in-grade.

Not sure which SF-50 to submit? Check out our video... Go here to watch the video on the SF50s to submit in your application package .

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

HHS is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status or other differences.

Click here for information on " Federal hiring for individuals with disabilities ".
  • Security and Background Requirements: If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees . Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.
  • E-Verify: HRSA participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their social security numbers.
  • Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • Creditable Service: A newly appointed or reappointed employee may receive service credit for annual leave for prior work experience directly related to the duties of the position being filled. The use of this service credit is at the discretion of the selecting official and must be finalized prior to selectee's entrance on duty. For more information, please click here .
  • If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 Copy), or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. Click here for more information on veterans' preference .

    Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): Click here

    HRSA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. Telework eligibility may be discussed during the interview process.

    How You Will Be Evaluated

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

    Once the application process is complete, a review of resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

    Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

    Applicants will be evaluated on the following competencies:

    PUBLIC AFFAIRS - Knowledge of public affairs concepts, practices, methods, and techniques to identify communications needs, plan, develop, and evaluate communications strategies to inform the public of the Agency's policies, programs, services and activities.

    MESSAGE DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY - Uses writing skills and editorial judgment to strategically develop messages for various audiences and delivers them by evaluating the most appropriate media channel(s) for the target audience's particular needs.

    DATA GATHERING AND ANALYSIS - Seeks or collects and synthesizes information from a variety of stakeholders and sources in an objective, unbiased manner to reach a conclusion, goal, or judgment, and to enable strategic and leadership decision making.

    TO PREVIEW THE OCCUPATIONAL ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE, please click on the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10601582

    Background checks and security clearance

    Security clearance
    Other

    Drug test required
    No

    Required Documents

    This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact either HRSA's Office of Human Resources at (301) 443-3780 or by email: askhr@hrsa.gov or HRSA's Reasonable Accommodation programs at (301) 443-2538 or by email: RA-Request@hrsa.gov . You must contact the Reasonable Accommodations Program prior to the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 7:30AM to 4:00PM EST (except Federal holidays).

    Submission of a resume alone is not a complete application. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete online Application Package that includes:
  • A current Resume - For resume writing guidance, please visit USAJOBS Resources Center or view their video tutorial . If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose then you must describe your job-related qualifications that include beginning and ending dates (month/year) for paid and non-paid work experience, including the average number of hours worked per week for each job title listed. You must also ensure that the duties performed are clearly matched to each period of employment. If we cannot determine that you have performed qualifying duties for at least one year, then you may be rated ineligible.
  • A complete Assessment Questionnaire
  • Other supporting documents to be submitted with application:
    • Veterans' Preference Documentation, if applicable, a DD-214 Member 4 copy, which shows type of discharge. If still active, provide an official Statement of Service. Any other documentation such as VA letter documenting disability, SF-15, and any other required supporting documentation based your veterans' preference claim.
    • SF-50: Federal applicants must submit an SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) that shows status and time-in-grade, and its full performance level. If you are an HHS employee you may obtain a copy of your SF-50 from eOPF. If you have separated from Federal Government employment, you may obtain a copy of your SF-50 via: National Personnel Records Center, Annex, 1411 Boulder Boulevard, Valmeyer, IL, 62295; FAX (618) 935-3014 ; Email CPR ; or visit the National Archives Website .
    • Personnel Orders: PHS Commissioned Corps Officers must submit a copy of latest personnel orders in lieu of SF-50.
    • Peace Corps volunteers must submit a copy of your "Description of Service (DOS)" in lieu of the SF-50. If you do not have one you should email the Peace Corps Office of Volunteer and PSC Financial Services at certify@peacecorps.gov .
    • If you are currently serving in a pay banded position, please include a copy of your pay band chart with your application.
    • College transcripts (if the position has a positive education requirement, or you are qualifying on the basis of education).

    For Résumé and Application Tips visit the USAJOBS Resource Center .

    The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/25/2019.

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