This position is located at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), within NRCS at the State Office or designated location within the state. This position is a Public Affairs Specialist located in a designated Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Office in the planning and carrying out information and public affairs activities in the assigned work area.

Duties

Assist with information, awareness, outreach, and strategic communication and marketing programs across the zone to communicate policies, programs, services and activities. Assists with planning, design, and preparation of effective exhibits, posters, visual material for display; Assists with outreach material including fact sheets, postcards, flyers, mailers, and other visual materials for identified target audiences. Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with other federal, state and local agencies, and private organizations on conservation across private lands. Support projects led by senior staff requiring cross-team interaction within the organization. Utilizes traditional and non-traditional means inform current and potential customers about programs, technical assistance, and conservation accomplishments.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Satisfactory 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 trial 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 https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• This position requires the incumbent to possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. For GS-05 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 level or higher in the Federal service (or private sector equivalent), demonstrating knowledge and skill in writing articles, feature stories, news releases; prepare and assists with reports, briefing packets and power point presentations and assisting with the planning, design and preparation of visual information material related to a program. OR Education Substitution: Possess a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor degree. OR Possess a combination of education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. For GS-07 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: you must possess at least one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level or higher in the Federal service (or private sector equivalent), demonstrating knowledge of writing and developing articles, feature stories, news releases, and photography; composing reports, talking points, briefing packets and power point presentations and assisting with the planning, design and preparation of visual information material related to a program. OR Superior academic achievement in a bachelor's degree a curriculum directly related to the work of the position. To qualify for superior academic achievement, you must have ONE of the following: (1) standing in the upper third of your college class or major subdivision at the time you apply; (2) grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; (3) B+ (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent for all courses completed in a related discipline, either (a) at the time of application or (b) during the last 2 years of your undergraduate curriculum; OR (4) election to membership in one of the national honorary scholastic societies that meets the requirements of the Association of College Honor Society; OR Education Substitution: One (1) year of graduate-level education in public affairs or a course of study directly related to the position. OR Possess a combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. For GS-09 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-09 grade level, you must possess at least one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level or higher in the Federal service (or private sector equivalent), demonstrating knowledge of writing and developing articles, feature stories, news releases, and photography; composing reports, talking points, briefing packets and power point presentations and assisting with the planning, design and preparation of visual information material related to a program. OR Substitution of Education in Lieu of Specialized Experience: Possess two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or masters or equivalent graduate degree in public affairs or a course of study directly related to the position. OR Possess a combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. Specialized Experience for the GS-11: To qualify for the GS-11 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or higher in Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. This experience must include performing work advising management on the formulation and articulation of agency policy and designing, executing, and evaluating the information programs that communicate agency policies, programs, and actions to various audiences. Examples of specialized experience include: Writing and disseminating, to local and national print broadcast media representatives or social media platforms, news releases and feature articles; Organizing and coordinating social media, print and broadcast media interviews with staff members, and oversees all arrangements with the media involving agency activities; Establishing and maintaining working relationships with local groups and representatives, national organizations, and the general public; Planning, executing, and evaluating the effectiveness of information and communication strategies to ensure organizational goals are met; Identifying agency communication outreach needs and priorities; Developing information and/or policy formulation materials (i.e., pertinent public affairs policies, programs, services, and activities) that inform the public and management of agency activities; and Advising management officials on potential public reactions to proposed programs and policies. OR Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience for the GS-11 level: 3 year(s) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D. equivalent graduate degree in Public Affairs, Business Administration, Management, English, Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, etc. or a course of study directly related to the position. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of graduate-level education and experience, as described above, may be used to qualify for this position. This combination must have equipped you with the necessary knowledge and/or experience to successfully perform the duties of this position. Combinations of experience and education must total at least 100% as outlined in OPM Qualifications policy. To view the position's Qualification Requirements of the associated occupational series as outlined in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, General Schedule Qualifications Standards. See the link below: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=0400-ndx 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

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. If you have not yet conferred your degree or certificate, but will within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement, a letter from the school documenting current standing, degree being obtained and expected graduation date must be submitted with your application. 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. Official transcript will be required prior to entering on duty. 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: Chanael Laster
• Phone: 817-509-3001
• Email: [email protected]