This position is located in a State Office, Rural Development (RD), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The position is developmental, with duties designed for advancement to the full promotion level position of Public Affairs Specialist, GS-1035-12 This is NOT a remote position. You will be required to report to the Official Duty Location (ODS) located in Amherst, MA.

Duties

Serves as the State's Public Affairs Specialist and is designated as the primary contact in all exchanges with the media. Ensures that employees are appropriately involved in decision making activities; uses various tools and techniques to improve employee productivity and morale; monitors and evaluates how effectively information has been communicated. Represents the State in meetings and discussions involving individuals, groups, and organizations working in support of, or opposing, the policies, programs, and work of the State. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with print and broadcast media representatives, State Congressional Delegations and State and Local Governments by providing information about State RD programs and services.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
• Satisfactory Background investigation and/or fingerprint check
• Participants will serve a trial period for the duration of the excepted service appointment
• 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/
• A signed participant agreement is required for employment under the Pathways Program.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the announcement as defined below. To be eligible, applicants must meet one of the following requirements; Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) years; or Individuals who, due to military service obligation, were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described above shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon release or discharge from active duty. This eligibility period cannot extend more than 6 years from the date on which the requirements for the academic course of study were met. In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements above, applicants must possess the experience requirements as follows: For the GS-5 level: Applicants must have three (3) years of progressively responsible general experience, one year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-4, that provided experience in using various software such as Adobe Photoshop, Canvas (content creator); Microsoft office (power point, Publisher, Excel, Word), Social media strategies and content and maintaining web content. Experience includes using rules, procedures, and expertise to develop new approaches, methods, or procedures in regards to media relations, community engagement, and support; possess analytical skills such as gathering, evaluating, and interpreting complex data in all areas of the Public Affairs discipline; and drawing appropriate conclusions from conflicting data including determining what kinds of information are needed and ways of collecting data OR four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree. Equivalent combination of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. For the GS-7 level: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 level; or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates experience planning or directing the development of programs to maintain favorable public and stockholder views of an organization's agenda and accomplishments. Experience coaching staff in effective communication with the public. Experience studying an organization's objectives, promotional policies, and needs to build public relations strategies that influence public opinion and promote programs, ideas, and services; experience preparing and editing organizational publications (Gov Delivery), including employee newsletters or stockholders' reports, for internal and external audiences. OR Completion of one full year of graduate level education; OR Superior Academic Achievement (SAA). Equivalent combination of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. Superior Academic Achievement is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.1. Class standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, based on completed courses.2. Grade-point average - Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed bases on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-1035 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-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

Applicants must provide transcripts. Please see the Additional Information section below for detailed information that is required regarding transcripts.

Undergraduate Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree, in an accredited college or university, meets the GS-5 level requirements.

Graduate Education: Education at the graduate level in an accredited college or university of one full year meets the requirements at GS-7; such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement.

Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.

For certain positions covered by this standard, the work may be recognized as sufficiently technical or specialized that graduate study alone may not provide the knowledge and skills needed to perform the work. In such cases, agencies may use selective factors to screen out applicants without actual work experience.

Contacts

• Address Rural Development 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250 US
• Name: Stacy Randle
• Email: [email protected]