The incumbent will serve as a Public Affairs Specialist with responsibility for developing, coordinating, and carrying out a sound public information program to communicate agency policies, programs, services, and activities throughout the state. The position in the State Office will provide supervision and leadership for program activities and manage resources by preparing schedules for staff activities.

Duties

Plan an effective public information program throughout the state and works with program managers and other members providing information on Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) by making recommendations on key issues and concerns. Establishes and maintains working relations with representatives of state and federal agencies and public organizations in sharing, developing, and producing conservation information. Provides guidance for developing brochures, bulletins, charts, photographs, and other materials to promote NRCS programs; and edits news articles prepared by Field Office personnel for inclusion in state and other magazines. Organizes and coordinates public participation activities with appropriate staff for conservation programs and designs strategies and procedures to obtain input and opinions from a variety of audiences which are used in policy decisions. Works within a team concept to develop and implement ways to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of the products and/or services provided to internal and external customers. Provides overall leadership of program activities, making work assignments, evaluating performance, interviewing candidates and making selections, determines training needs.

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.
• 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.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in grade: (e.g. one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level). Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-12 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. For this position, examples of specialized experience are defined as: Planning and implementing policies and/or procedures to regulate information provided during press releases or other public media communications; Developing communication plans or materials to communicate organizational activities via public events; Responding to requests for information from the media; Maintaining working relationships with internal and external customers. Note: There is no education substitution for the GS-12 level. For more information on the qualifications for this position, click here: Public Affairs Series 1035 (opm.gov) 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 you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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. Applicants must, therefore, only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation via this link. All education claimed by applicants will be verified accordingly. Important: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Click on this link for more information.

Contacts

• Address Natural Resources Conservation Service 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Bruce Anderson
• Phone: 816-823-1538
• Email: [email protected]