What General Information Do I Need To Know About This Position? This is a term appointment not to exceed 13 months with possible extensions up to a total of 4 years without further competition. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status in the Federal service. Salary: $63,526 (Step 01) to $82,580 (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.

Duties

As a Public Affairs Specialist within the Forest & Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, some of your specific duties will include: Writing and content development for External and Internal Audiences. Develops content including web pages, videos, newsletters, posters, interpretive displays, digital presentations, talking points, briefing papers, blog posts and other content. Website, Web Analytics, Newsletter, and Social Media Communication. Maintains the center's public website by updating a variety of content. Works under the guidance of OCAP Digital Services team to ensure that approved best practices ae being followed in the development of web content. Works with the center's science leadership team and OCAP to plan appropriate communication tactics. Analyzes stakeholder needs through the monitoring and tracking of new content through the center's SharePoint system, staying current on center and Bureau initiatives, attending project reviews, and maintaining contact with project and program area chiefs. Multimedia Production and Support. Creates videos for web pages and other science communication requirements in accordance with COAP, USGS web, audiovisual, and visual identity policy requirements. Captures high-quality still and video photography and edits footage to create videos that help illustrate the center's programs, projects, and initiatives. Stakeholder Engagement. Participates with center management to develop and implement a stakeholder engagement plan that works with key stakeholders to share information and increase understanding, and collaborates on outreach opportunities, as appropriate. Develops and maintains a list of key stakeholders, shares information with those audiences on key USGS scientific studies, and works with stakeholders to amplify and share USGS science, as appropriate. Coordinates educational outreach and partnership programs, ensuring the representation of a Bureau perspective for professional conferences, scheduling scientists to speak to student and teachers about the center's science, curating content and organizing educational outreach events. Physical Demands: The work is usually sedentary and requires prolonged sitting at computer terminals. Occasional moderate lifting and carrying equipment is required. Occasional visits to monitoring and research sites may be required, to understand and document the work done by scientists and technicians and may require walking on diverse terrain or riding on a boat. There may be periods of considerable stress related to meeting established deadlines. Work Environment: The work is normally performed in an office setting that is adequately heated, lighted, and ventilated. Guiding or accompanying media or officials on field trips is occasionally required in conjunction with requests by or in coordination with OCAP. Such trips are usually associated with field conditions, including mud, water, and col/heat. Other work locations may also include conference rooms, schools, and offices of other agencies or groups.

Requirements

Qualifications

For GS-09: Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-09 level: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education (36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours or the equivalent) leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D. in a field of study which provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. **OR One year of appropriate specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service that is in or related to public affairs and that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of such experience could include writing news releases on routine matters; providing information to the public on agency programs; assisting higher level specialists with the preparation of news releases, fact sheets, and brochures; assisting with the organization and support of special events. These work experiences would have involved following established methods and procedures, or detailed instructions; using some judgment in applying analytical techniques, and would have required a good general working knowledge of communication and public relations principles and methods. **OR A combination of successfully completed progressive graduate level education as described above that is beyond the first year of graduate study and specialized experience, as described above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE) You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

• 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.
• Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/about/organization/science-support/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs .

Contacts

• Address FOREST AND RANGELAND ECOSYS SCI CTR 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Mail Stop 600 Reston, VA 20192 US
• Name: Beverly Ledbetter
• Phone: 916-278-9396
• Email: [email protected]