Position is telework eligible consistent with telework policy. The Department of Education, Office of Communications and Outreach (OCO) is responsible for overall leadership for the Department in its communications and outreach activities.  OCO has multiple vacancies and is seeking communicators interested in growing their career in the public affairs field, including media relations, social media and website content development, stakeholder outreach, and communications program implementation

Duties

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 50 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 50th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.  

Requirements

• Relocation will not be paid.
• Subject to the completion of a one year trial period.
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must sign a Pathways Programs Participant Agreement.
• Must complete a Background Investigation and Fingerprint check.

Qualifications

YOU MUST FIRST MEET THE RECENT GRADUATE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. YOU MAY THEN QUALIFY FOR THE POSITION BASED ON EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH AS DETAILED BELOW. THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET PRIOR TO APPOINTMENT/ENTER ON DUTY DATE. Minimum Qualification Requirements For GS-07 You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-07, if you possess the specialize experience, education, or a combination of the two. Specialized Experience for the GS-7 One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-05 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments: 1.   Experience in planning, organizing, and conducting elements of information that relays the agency mission to the public. 2.   Experience determining effective communication techniques to reach target audiences. 3.   Experience working on an element of a public affairs campaign. OREDUCATION (see EDUCATION SECTION of the vacancy announcement) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) For GS-7 The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement). 1.    Knowledge of organization and administrative principles, concepts, and methodologies sufficient to carry out segments of projects. 2.    Ability to apply well-established program operations, techniques and methods. 3.    Skill in oral and written communications sufficient to explain information, findings and recommendations. Minimum Qualification Requirements For GS-09 You may meet the minimum qualifications for the GS-09, if you possess the specialize experience, education, or a combination of the two. Specialized Experience for the GS-09 One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-07 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments: 1.   Experience in collaborating with others to produce effective public affairs information and campaigns for a variety of audiences. 2.   Experience in planning, organizing, and conducting elements of information creation and dissemination that relays the agency mission to the public and builds informed public support for various programs. 3.   Experience presenting information to explain programs, projects, or activities to internal and external audiences. OREDUCATION (see EDUCATION SECTION of the vacancy announcement) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) For GS-09 The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement). 1.   Skill in developing written communication materials that convey information concerning a range of subjects related to the organization's programs for a variety of mediums (social media, web, email, etc.) 2.   Knowledge of communication principles, methods and techniques. 3.   Skill in analyzing programs and identifying the characteristics of target audiences.

Education

A Recent Graduate must have completed a qualifying associate, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution. 

You may meet the minimum qualifications of this position by meeting the following education options.

Minimum Qualification Requirements For GS-7

Completion of one full academic year of graduate level education. 

OR 

Completion of a bachelor’s degree with Superior Academic Achievement. 

OR 

You must have one year of specialized experience performing at least two (2) of the three (3) following duties or work assignments equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal government

Minimum Qualification Requirements For GS-9

Two years of graduate education (beyond a bachelor’s degree).

OR 

A master's degree or equivalent degree

OR 

LL.B. or J.D., if related

OR 

A combination of specialized experience and education that when taken as a percentage of the required education and experience total 100% or more.

Superior Academic Achievement is based on one of the three following criteria:

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 (GPA): Applicants must have a grade-point average of:
      a.) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (“B” or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
      b.) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (“B+” or better) 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.

Grade-point averages will be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9.

3) Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society: Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed below. These honor societies are listed by the Association of College Honor Societies.  

Foreign Education:

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must submit a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.  For further information, please click Foreign Education.

Contacts

• Address EDUCATION-OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, District of Columbia 20202 United States
• Name: Kristin Isam
• Phone: 202-453-7990
• Email: [email protected]