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Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist, ZA-1035-V (GS-15 equivalent)

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Closing date
Apr 13, 2021
Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Public Affairs Office.

Are you ready to explore your future with NIST?

Your application package may be shared with other selecting officials at NIST with opportunities like the one you are applying to. Additional selections may be made through this vacancy.

This announcement will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the date the first 150 applications are received or April 19, 2021, whichever comes first.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The individual selected for this position will lead and direct the functions, programs, and resources of the Public Affairs Office, including preparation, dissemination, and collection of information describing NIST programs and policies to policy officials, industry managers, other government agencies, the news media, professional societies, the general public, and NIST employees and associates. They will plan and implement agency-wide communications strategies, including for crisis management. Leads planning and implementation of internal organizational communications needed for engaging staff and fostering a one NIST culture.


Travel Required

Occasional travel - Travel as needed out to Boulder to meet with staff and to some conferences/meetings.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
05

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen
  • You must be registered for Selective Service if applicable (www.sss.gov)
  • You must be suitable for Federal Employment
  • Merit applicants must meet time-in-grade/band requirements, as applicable
  • If selected, you will need to submit a Financial Disclosure form


Applicants must meet requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement unless eligible for special hiring authority, reinstatement eligible, non-current Federal employee applying as a VEOA eligible which do not require time-in-grade/band.

At the time of application, and in order to be eligible for consideration, ALL candidates MUST provide 3 work samples that use journalistic lay language to describe key conclusions of complex research in physics, chemistry, biology, computer science or another science and technology field. These samples must include: 1) one personally created writing sample, 2) one originally written summary of no more than 600 words that describes a communications effort personally supervised and/or implemented by the applicant that successfully disseminated results from 2 scientific or technology research to a non-technical audience or audiences, and 3) one example showing in track changes the applicant's edits to the work of others.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT:

All applicants must possess one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 (ZA-IV for NIST) level. Specialized experience is defined as experience in original writing, editing, and strategic planning of organizational communications that translate science/technical research topics into lay language for non-technical audiences such as an organization's employees or external stakeholders. (This experience should include communications using a variety of different formats such as websites, social media, videos, speeches, emails, and digital signage.)


IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT 3 WRITING SAMPLES:

In order to be eligible for consideration, at the time of application ALL candidates MUST provide 3 work samples that use journalistic lay language to describe key conclusions of complex research in physics, chemistry, biology, computer science or another science and technology field. These samples must include: 1) one personally created writing sample, 2) one originally written summary of no more than 600 words that describes a communications effort personally supervised and/or implemented by the applicant that successfully disseminated results from 2 scientific or technology research to a non-technical audience or audiences, and 3) one example showing in track changes the applicant's edits to the work of others.

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.

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains Federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the OPM website located at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

Applicants may request reconsideration of their qualifications determination within three business days from the date their applicant status was changed. Applicants should email the Agency Contact listed in this vacancy announcement with their written request listing the announcement number; explaining why the original determination was improper; what factors were not considered; and, should provide any other pertinent information that would enable reevaluation.

Education

Additional information

A probationary period may be required.

In order to be eligible for consideration, ALL candidates MUST provide 3 work samples that use journalistic lay language to describe key conclusions of complex research in physics, chemistry, biology, computer science or another science and technology field. These samples must include: 1) one personally created writing sample, 2) one originally written summary of no more than 600 words that describes a communications effort personally supervised and/or implemented by the applicant that successfully disseminated results from 2 scientific or technology research to a non-technical audience or audiences, and 3) one example showing in track changes the applicant's edits to the work of others.

This position is covered by an Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS). This system replaces the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and grade with career paths and pay bands. For information regarding how the pay bands correspond to the General Schedule, click here.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the job opportunity announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions). Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered.

Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, salary, duties performed for each position, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level/pay band.

The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

* Written Communications

* Communications Strategies

* Oral Communications

* Management Skills

Applying under a Special Appointing Authority (i.e., VRA , 30% or more disabled veterans , Peace Corps, Schedule A/persons with disabilities ): if you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, you will be forwarded to the selecting official for consideration and may be contacted for an interview. If two or more VRA candidates apply and one or more is a preference eligible, Veterans' preference will be applied.

Applying as a Merit Candidates:
Your responses to the job questionnaire will serve as the basis for identifying best qualified candidates. Best qualified Merit and Veterans Employment Opportunity Act ( VEOA ) eligibles (i.e., candidates in the GOLD category) will be forwarded for consideration to the selecting official and may be contacted for an interview. Candidates must also meet time-in-grade/pay band requirements for consideration. Non-competitive consideration will be given to those Merit candidates that have held a position with the same promotion potential as the position advertised. Documentation (in the form of an SF-50) is required to show proof of promotion potential or highest grade held. In the merit promotion selection process, due weight will be given to incentive awards and performance appraisals.

Applying as an Agency Based candidate (i.e., outside the Federal government), your application package will be placed in one of three categories based on your responses to the assessment questions; Gold, Silver, or Bronze. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. If non-veterans can be referred, the Best qualified (i.e., candidates in the GOLD category) will be forwarded for consideration to the selecting official and may be contacted for an interview. More information about the three categories can be found at: Category Rating

Applying as a CTAP or ICTAP candidate: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information regarding CTAP and ICTAP appointments and eligibility can be found at - CTAP/ICTAP

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

The documents you are required to submit vary based on how you're applying (i.e., as a veteran or disabled veteran, current or former Federal employee, etc.). Please review the information on the following link to determine if there are any documents you need to provide - https://www.nist.gov/careers/information-new-employees/applying-jobs-required-forms

At the time of application, and in order to be eligible for consideration, ALL candidates MUST provide 3 work samples that use journalistic lay language to describe key conclusions of complex research in physics, chemistry, biology, computer science or another science and technology field. These samples must include: 1) one personally created writing sample, 2) one originally written summary of no more than 600 words that describes a communications effort personally supervised and/or implemented by the applicant that successfully disseminated results from 2 scientific or technology research to a non-technical audience or audiences, and 3) one example showing in track changes the applicant's edits to the work of others.

Failure to submit required documents, based upon how you apply, may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Official documents are not required at the time of application, copies are sufficient. If selected, official documentation must be submitted prior to appointment.

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.

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