PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level or higher in the Federal service which has equipped me with the particular knowledge, skill, and ability to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: using rules, procedures, and practices within the Public Affairs discipline with the ability to apply this expertise to develop new approaches, methods, or procedures in regards to media relations, community engagement, command information and senior leader support; Possess analytical skills to include: gathering, evaluating, and interpreting complex data in all areas of the Public Affairs discipline; and drawing appropriate conclusions from conflicting data including determining what kinds of information are needed and ways of collecting data. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the GS-07 grade/level position or equivalent in the federal service. NOTE: You must submit a copy of transcripts. OR Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. NOTE: You must submit a copy of official transcripts. OR LL.M., if related. NOTE: You must submit a copy of transcripts. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. NOTE: You must submit a copy of transcripts. FEDERALTIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-09 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Knowledge of concepts, principles, and practices of public affairs programs and written and oral communication principles, methods, and techniques to conduct and coordinate public affairs activities to develop intercommunication between the Command, its subordinate units and a variety of audiences. Knowledge of overall operations, policies and relationships of personnel, contingency planning and requirements, resources management and their relationship to public affairs activities and operations. Knowledge of military and civilian personnel programs and practices and the ability to apply this knowledge to position management, training, and career progression within Public Affairs organizations. Skill in gathering. evaluating, and interpreting data to identify potential problems, arrive at valid conclusions, and offer meaningful recommendations and/or resolutions. Skill in working with people to maintain effective working relationships with groups interested in or affected by public affairs programs or policies, and producing written information conveying complex information to varied audiences with different levels of understanding. Ability to plan and develop news stories, features, and technical articles as well as the design and layout of final products. Ability to present information orally in a logical, clear, and concise manner to audiences with differing levels of comprehension. OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS: This is an Air Reserve Technician (ART position, the incumbent is required to meet and maintain Air Force Reserve requirements. The incumbent’s regular assignments are ART duties; however, the incumbent may be assigned some non-ART duties, generally not to exceed 30 percent of total responsibilities. Performs periodic weekly 24-hour alert duty as the public affairs on-call representative to answer news media and other inquiries after duty hours. May be the Public Affairs point of contact during deployment with news media representatives to a forward operating location in the event of hostilities or a Command deployment. Work schedule will be aligned to allow incumbent to fully participate in unit training assemblies (UTA). Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military and/or commercial aircraft. Incumbent may be required to work an uncommon tour of duty. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. This is an Air Reserve Technician (ART) position. ARTs are eligible for 15 days active duty tour each year for which military leave is granted with full civilian pay. Air Reserve units and members; are subject to immediate call to active duty in mobilization to meet a national emergency. For additional information regarding ART positions and/or military qualifications, please call 1-800-257-1212. Retired military are usually ineligible for membership in the AF Reserve. Retired military that have active AF Reserve assignments may apply provided they show assignment (position) on the application. A military service member’s statement of service/certification will be accepted IF a terminal leave form or DD214 cannot be provided. The statement/certification should indicate member’s separation from active duty is within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters and must indicate when your terminal leave will begin, your rank, dates of active duty service, the type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable). Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if member is on terminal leave. Individuals selected for ART positions must meet both civilian qualifications and uniformed military requirements. In addition to meeting civilian qualifications, applicants must obtain military membership in the Air Force Reserve, wear the uniform, maintain job-specific military specialty requirements, and meet other military qualifications such as age, height, weight, and physical fitness standards. For more information click here and speak with an Air Force Reserve Recruiter.
This is an Air Reserve Technician (ART) position. ARTs are part of the regular career civil service and enjoy all the benefits granted to Federal employees in the competitive civil service. Click on “Learn more about this agency” button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.