Duties

Summary

The incumbent will be responsible for drafting and editing speeches for the USTDA leadership, developing marketing materials, presentations and briefs; drafts and reviews news releases, success stories, fact sheets, background papers and talking points; developing and implementing outreach and communications strategies; supporting the development of content for the Agency's website; and initiating and co-hosting events with Agency stakeholders.

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Responsibilities

• Develops factually accurate and thoroughly researched communication tools, such as press releases, report summaries, blog posts, speeches, fact sheets, policy documents, briefing papers, website and social media content, and official correspondence.
• Responds verbally or in writing to public requests for information.
• Designs and oversees the production of USTDA documents, brochures, publications, webpage content, newsletters, press releases, public presentations, and blog postings.
• Drafts and/or edits speeches, talking points, correspondence and briefing materials for senior Agency officials.
• Collects information on industries/businesses and sectors that feeds into the Agency's communications strategy and public affairs campaigns.
• Writes and/or provides substantive contributions to major USTDA informational publications, including the Annual Report, budget requests to OMB and letters to Members of Congress.
• Plans and develops USTDA-led events, often in collaboration with Agency program staff, involving U.S. industry and host-country partners, such as workshops, conferences and reverse trade missions.
• Monitors domestic and international publications and compiles weekly press articles about or of interest to USTDA.

Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by background investigation.
• Direct Deposit of pay is required.
• Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.
• Status candidates must meet time-in-grade (see Qualifications).
• Background and security investigation for Secret Clearance.

Qualifications

USTDA is seeking an international communications professional with experience in the development and execution of communication strategies and materials, the ability to distill complex policies/issues through clear messaging, and demonstrated experience writing speeches and other targeted materials in the areas of international trade and/or development.

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described by the closing date of this announcement. Education may only be substituted for specialized experience at some grade levels in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management's Qualification Standards Handbook. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order to be credited toward qualifications.

At the GS-09 level, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. Education may be substituted for specialized experience at this level. Refer to the Education section of this announcement.

Examples of specialized experience for the GS-09 include:

• Experience assisting in the research and development of communication tools, such as press releases, report summaries, blog posts, speeches, fact sheets, policy documents, briefing papers, website and social media content, and official correspondence.
• Experience coordinating activities, programs, special events, public affairs campaigns with internal and external contacts.
• Experience responding verbally and/or in writing to public inquiries.

At the GS-11 level, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. Education may be substituted for specialized experience at this level. Refer to the Education section of this announcement.

Examples of specialized experience for the GS-11 include:

• Experience designing and overseeing the production public affairs documents, brochures, publications, webpage content, newsletters, press releases, public presentations, and blog postings.
• Conducting research and compiling information related to the work of the organization.

At the GS-12 level, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, particularly as related to public affairs experience in the area of international trade and/or development. Education MAY NOT be substituted for specialized experience at this level.

Examples of specialized experience for the GS-12 include:

• Experience planning public affairs events integrating media relations, social media, Congressional relations, internal information, and report preparation.
• Supporting public affairs tactics, techniques, and procedures to support and amplify senior leaders' priorities, mission and organizational objectives.

At the GS-13 level, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, particularly as related to public affairs experience in the area of international trade and/or development. Education MAY NOT be substituted for specialized experience at this level.

Examples of specialized experience for the GS-13 include:

• Writing speeches, drafting briefing materials, reports, and other official documents on behalf of the organization and leadership.
• Executing comprehensive public affairs strategies integrating media relations, social media, community/Congressional relations, internal information, and report preparation.
• Implementing public affairs tactics, techniques, and procedures to support and amplify senior leaders' priorities, mission and organizational objectives.
• Experience evaluating the effectiveness of communication strategies and objectives.
• Making recommendations to senior officials on communication strategies and public affairs campaigns.

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

TIME-IN-GRADE: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).

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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

If qualifying based on EDUCATION you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

Only education from institutions which are accredited or preaccredited/candidate for accreditation may be used to meet education requirements.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Note: Applicants who claim education substitution for specialized experience must provide transcripts as verification of their education at the time of application. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted with your application; however, official transcripts will be required upon selection.

GS-09 education substitution:

• A masters degree 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., if related in one of the following fields: Communications, Cultural & Media Studies, Journalism, or a closely related field. This education was obtained at an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college or university, OR
• A combination of experience as described under Qualifications and education as described above, where the total percentage is equal to 100%. For example, 6 months of experience (50%) plus 1 full year of graduate education (50%) equals 100%.

GS-11 education substitution:

• A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M., if related in one of the following fields: Communications, Cultural & Media Studies, Journalism, or a closely related field. This education was obtained at an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college or university, OR
• A combination of experience as described under Qualifications and education as described above, where the total percentage is equal to 100%. For example, 6 months of experience (50%) plus 2.5 years of progressively higher graduate education, with at least 6 months beyond the level of a masters degree (50%) equals 100%.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp) .

Appointment Authorities: For more information on appointment authority eligibility requirements:
Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A
Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
Other Special Appointment Authorities
OPM Interchange Agreement and Other Miscellaneous Authorities

Telework Suitability:
The duties of this position are suitable for occasional telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act.

Stipulations of Employment:

Selection may require completion of a 1-year probationary period.

Applicants must be eligible to obtain and keep a Secret security clearance. Appointment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

Work Schedule:

This position allows for a flexible work schedule.

Miscellaneous:

TDA uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify .

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: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information

This position is being advertised concurrently with vacancy announcement #TDA-21-DE-10945714WO using Delegated Examining (DE) procedures. If interested, refer to that announcement to determine if you meet DE requirements and can apply to that announcement. NOTE: You must apply separately to each announcement in order to be considered under both.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days.

If selection is made below the full performance level, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed.

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, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

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

• Communications and Media
• External Awareness
• Leadership
• Oral Communication
• Organizational Awareness
• Technical Competency ? Writing / Editing

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Secret

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your Resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment mm/yy and duties performed.
2. SF-50 or DD-214

• Current/Former Career/Career-Conditional Eligible: Your most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) showing that you are/were in the competitive service, as well as the highest grade (or promotion potential) held, on a permanent basis

3. Other supporting documents:

• College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education
• SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities
• Non-competitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable
• Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal)
• Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
• Cover letter, optional

It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted prior to the closing date of the announcement.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.