Duties

Summary

Serves as a Senior Public Affairs Specialist in the Office of the Inspector General. Will be responsible for planning, developing, coordinating, and implementing media and public outreach policy and programs of the OIG, and maintaining liaison with media outlets and journalists on issues of concern to the OIG stakeholders including the public, SSA, the Congress, and other government agencies, and other related duties as assigned.
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Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and direction in the planning, reviewing, and executing of current and proposed media relations policies, programs, procedures, and operations.
• Establishes and maintains relations with representatives of national, regional, and local media outlets?-including print and online newspapers and magazines, radio programs, social media and television networks--as well as other Federal agency .
• Undertakes public and media outreach initiatives that further the OIG?s goals and objectives in educating stakeholders about issues of importance.
• Plans and directs the OIG?s social media and website content to inform stakeholders about the OIG?s work and deliver key messages.
• Represents the OIG in formal interviews and informal discussions with news media, and in meetings with nonprofit and private-sector entities, and other Federal agency
• Works with media relations officials to ensure that the OIG work is appropriately publicized and accurately represented in public outreach efforts.
• Keeps the OIG Chief Strategy Officer, either directly or through the Deputy Chief Strategy Office, and other senior OIG officials, as appropriate, apprised of the status and potential impact of media coverage related to the OIG work and SSA work.
• Responsible for monitoring and tracking the OIG media coverage, as appropriate, and developing and implementing changes to increase the OIG audience in disseminating messages about its work and other issues of public concern
• Conducts special studies and projects on OIG programs involving review, evaluation, and recommendation for improvement in existing policies, practices, and processes.

Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
• Background and/or security investigation required
• Job offers are contingent on background / security investigation results
• Selectees may be required to serve a 1 year probationary period
• Relocation expenses will not be paid
• All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement

Qualifications

Your resume must provide sufficient experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and proficiency of any required competencies to perform the specific position for which you are applying. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your experience, education, knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies as they relate to this position. Your resume and supporting documents must specifically address the evaluation criteria for the position. Describe duties you perform (not just knowledge, skills and abilities) as they relate to the specialized experience required for this position. Be clear, accurate and specific when describing your experience; e.g., list all positions separately, include full start and stop dates for each position, your work schedule (number of hours per week), your grade (if your position is federal), and a comprehensive description of the relevant duties you performed in each position.

This information is instrumental in determining the highest quality candidates to be referred to the Selecting Official. Please submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position. If your application materials do not demonstrate the knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, and/or education needed for this position, your application will be ineligible for consideration.

To qualify for the Senior Public Affairs Specialist, the applicant must demonstrate the following competencies:

• Ability to research and analyze complex problems and communicate information, ideas, and recommendations effectively both orally and in writing
• Knowledge of and ability to apply public affairs and media relations principles
• Ability to establish, develop, and maintain personal contacts and working relationships

In addition, to qualify for the GS-14, the applicant must have 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-13 level, or equivalent, which is in or related to the work of the position to be filled, that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience involves working in the field of journalism; drafting, monitoring, and distributing press materials; communicating with members of the media; responding to press inquiries; and, informing appropriate public outlets of policies, programs, or activities.

This specialized experience is REQUIRED and must be explicitly documented/described in your resume or you will be disqualified from further consideration. Please describe duties you perform (not just knowledge, skills and abilities) as they relate to the specialized experience required for this position.

Education

Additional information

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 www.sss.gov .

Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

The evaluation you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire, which is designed to capture the desired competencies for this position. These competencies include:

• Ability to research and analyze complex problems and communicate information, ideas, and recommendations effectively both orally and in writing
• Knowledge of and ability to apply public affairs and media relations principles
  
• Ability to establish, develop, and maintain personal contacts and working relationships
  

Please make sure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. The questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. To preview the questions, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11110493

Your application will be evaluated under the Category Rating method, based on your responses to the Assessment Questions. If you meet the basic requirements for the position, your application will be evaluated and placed into one of three categories:

1 - Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements.
2 - Well Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a satisfactory level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.
3 - Best Qualified Category - Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and demonstrate a high level of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

Candidates eligible for veterans' preference will be placed ahead of other candidates in the appropriate category for which they have been rated. Additionally, preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and who meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements will automatically be placed in the Best Qualified Category.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Top Secret

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Trust determination process
National security

Required Documents

You must submit supporting documentation by the closing date of the vacancy announcement to claim certain types of preference.

INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP): ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. To receive selection priority, candidates must meet the requirements for the Well Qualified category as described in the vacancy announcement. Candidates must also provide:

• proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation Notice of Personnel Action, (SF-50); and
• proof of your most recent performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent.

For more information visit http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

VETERANS' PREFERENCE: If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your military discharge certificate (DD 214 member 4 copy) or an official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty. To be acceptable, the document must show Character of Service. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on a service-connected disability, you must also submit the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference (SF 15) . Applicants claiming derived preference must submit the SF-15 and the required documentation specified on the reverse of the SF 15. Preference will be granted based on the documents received. For more information visit the Vet Guide .

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO VETERANS : The Office of Personnel Management has published the end date for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as August 31, 2010. To receive veterans' preference for service during the Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom era, you must have served for more than 180 days between September 11, 2001 and August 31, 2010 OR be in receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal. The updated CFR language is available here . Other qualifying eligibility for preference (e.g., disability) remains unchanged.

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.