This position is located in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Maryland State Office in Beltsville, MD. The incumbent supports the Maryland NRCS Public Affairs program by working closely with the State Public Specialist and State Outreach Coordinator. Responsible for developing and implementing communications plans for internal and external audiences and support the outreach activities of staff location in 23 field offices across the state.

Duties

Works with State Public Affairs Specialist in planning and coordinating an effective public information program throughout the state. Assists the State Outreach Coordinator in organizing public events and activities to promote conservation activities and programs. Utilizes traditional and non-traditional communication methods to inform customers about programs, technical assistance, and conservation accomplishments, including the Drupal web platform, GovDelivery, and social media. Assists in communication with NRCS partners to coordinate conservation messaging, clarifying the NRCS role in partnership programs and events, and assisting to amplify and communicate partner roles in NRCS success stories. Writes, assembles, edits, and reviews stories and activities for inclusion in the State Newsletter that represent NRCS activities throughout the state. Assists with planning, design, and preparation of fact sheets, postcards, flyers, mailers, and other visual materials for identified target audiences.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. If selected you will be sent instructions on obtaining fingerprints. Please note we are not able to reimburse any fees incurred for fingerprints.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• Must possess and maintain a valid state motor vehicle operator's license for the type of vehicle(s) operated to perform the duties of this position.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level(s) in which you are applying: GS-09 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Composing written materials such as magazine articles and newsletter content for use by staff; Collaborating with staff, community leaders, or other stakeholders to promote organizational activities; Speaking publicly to give presentations, assist with workshops and participate in meetings; and Assisting with developing public relations campaigns to involve community members and staff in program activities. OR Education: Must have a Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in Public Affairs, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, or other directly related degree. (You MUST submit transcripts.) OR Combination: Combination of the above described education and specialized experience such that they total 100% when combined. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. (Note: Only graduate level education beyond the first year or 18 semester hours may be combined with specialized experience. You must submit transcripts.) GS-11 Specialized Experience: One or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Composing written materials such as magazine articles, television scripts, newsletter content for use by staff and media outlets; Collaborating with staff, media representatives, community leaders, or other stakeholders to promote organizational activities; Speaking publicly to give presentations, deliver trainings, or lead workshops and meetings; and Developing public relations campaigns to involve community members and staff in program activities. OR Education: Must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in Public Affairs, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, or other directly related degree. (You MUST submit transcripts.) OR Combination: Combination of the specialized experience and graduate education described above that when combined totals 100 percent. First, determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determine your education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then add the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Only graduate education in excess of two years (36 semester hours) may be used to qualify applicants for positions at the GS-11. (You MUST submit transcripts.) Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The OPM Qualification Standards for this position can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series

Education

You must submit a copy of your college transcripts or a list of college courses with credit hours, dates completed, and grades received to verify all education requirements (i.e. substitution of education and/or basic education requirement). If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement. You must document all requirements on every vacancy; we cannot use previous determinations as a basis for rating. All required information must be received by the closing date of this announcement, and non-submission of all required documents/documentation will result in non-consideration. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. This information must be received by the closing date of this announcement. Non-submission of these documents will result in non-consideration. 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.

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: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Contacts

• Address Natural Resources Conservation Service 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Midwest Services Branch
• Phone: 8164265706
• Email: [email protected]