This position serves as the State Public Affairs Director. The incumbent provides the State Conservationist with advice in formulating policies and programs to ensure participation in agency programs by the public and to-address emerging natural resource and conservation issues; plans, organizes, and evaluates communication strategies; and supervises the activities of the public affairs staff.

Duties

Plans, initiates, and implements comprehensive public affairs campaigns to enhance the understanding of and ensure participation in the agency's programs by specialized and general publics. Organizes campaigns and coordinates with other cooperating agencies and organizations to ensure timely and effective use of facilities, funds and skills. Formulates and recommends communications strategies. Identifies appropriate communications strategies to address the issues and develops communications strategies to deal with the controversial aspects of the issues including agency and associated partners and clients' communication needs. Evaluates communications obstacles and problems, and recommends cohesive, cost-effective strategies for strategically placing the issue in front of the public. Represents the agency with public affairs directors of other government agencies and major regional and statewide conservation, civic, environmental, and education organizations. Serves as media spokesperson and plans and conducts new conferences and one-on-one news media briefing on major agency announcements as well as background briefings on controversial or new policy and programs. Serves as a member of State Conservationist's leadership team, participates in conducting program appraisals and other performance reviews of area affairs related management functions. Develops and implements training programs for personnel in the planning and implementation of a balanced information and educational relation program. Plans, coordinates, and implements internal communications programs. Coordinates and supervises activities of the public affairs staff. Manages the public affairs staff to achieve program objectives.

Requirements

• Federal employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of their duty location. If selected, you will be required to submit documentation of COVID-19 vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before appointment, if after November 22.
• The agency will provide additional information regarding what COVID-19 vaccination information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.
• 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.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period unless prior service is creditable. New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required training program before the end of their probationary period.
• 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.
• Position has a Confidential Financial Disclosure (Form OGE-450) requirement. If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience, as defined below. Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-13 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as being responsible for developing communications products and strategies within an agency/organization. Examples of this experience include: Planning and implementing information campaigns, developing news releases, facts sheets, web content, social media and other written materials designed to increase outreach and participation; Analyzing public affairs activities, providing advice to agency program managers in communication with a variety of specialized audiences; Developing, implementing and evaluating an agency's program of informational issuances; Devising new methods and techniques to communicate agency program provisions and goals; Establishing and maintaining effective cooperative relationships with agency and media representatives. Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-13 level. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Group-Standards 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.

Education

If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name & the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

Contacts

• Address Natural Resources Conservation Service 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: David Baird
• Phone: 000-000-0000
• Email: [email protected]