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Posted: March 31, 2026 (2 days ago)

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

U.S. Northern Command

Department of the Air Force

Fresh

Location

Salary

$109,246 - $142,022

per year

Closes

April 2, 2026

GS-12 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $74,441 - $96,770

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-11. Advanced degree + significant experience.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves managing public relations and media operations for the U.S.

Northern Command, focusing on social media, online strategies, and communication programs to engage internal and external audiences.

The role supports military exercises and real-world events, requiring readiness for travel and deployments to non-combat areas.

It's ideal for someone with strong communication skills, experience in public affairs, and the ability to handle high-pressure situations in a military environment.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience at GS-12 level or equivalent, including mastery of communication principles and media relations
  • Broad knowledge of social media tactics, techniques, and procedures for internal/external communications
  • Skill in planning and executing media coverage for prominent events, public information, and contingency operations
  • Ability to perform Battle Roster functions during exercises and real-world events, potentially requiring additional duty hours
  • Willingness to deploy to non-combat locations or in-place for contingency operations, including medical evaluations
  • Readiness for short-notice travel (TDY) within and outside the U.S., possibly under hazardous field conditions
  • U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain a security clearance; may require an official passport

Full Job Description

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.

The primary purpose of this position is to: Serves as a NORAD and USNORTHCOM Senior Public Affairs Specialist, Current/Media Operations with broad knowledge of social media and online presence tactics, techniques and procedures for internal and external communications strategies, including public relations and communication programs.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT CONTINUED: May be required to perform Battle Roster functions during Exercises and Real-World events.

Battle Roster functions may include but are not limited to the Joint Operations Center (JOC), Future Operations Center (FOC), Future Plans Center (FPC), Joint Logistics Operations Center (JLOC), N&NC Deployment and Distribution Operations Center (NDDOC), Joint Intelligence Operations Center-North (JIOC-N), Joint Cyber Center (JCC), and other tasks as assigned.

These duties may require additional duty hours and/or a physical/medical assessment to deploy to alternate duty locations (non-combat) or in place.

The physical/medical assessment is not a pre-employment requirement. This position may be required to deploy to non-combat locations or in-place in support of contingency operations.

Incumbent may be required to undergo a medical evaluation prior to deploying to assess the risk of injury or illness, or if any existing condition is likely to significantly worsen in the deployed environment.

The incumbent must report any significant health conditions and changes in health status and/or medication requirements to their supervisor. This is not a pre-employment requirement.

Work may require short notice travel away from the normal duty station to locations within and outside of the continental United States on military or commercial aircraft in accordance with Joint Travel Regulations in performance of temporary duty (TDY) or deployments (under 30 days) to non-combat locations.

Training may be required to prepare the incumbent for extended TDY under field conditions, which may expose incumbent to hazardous conditions and potentially life-threatening conditions.

Special dietary or religious requirements may not be accommodated during TDY or training exercises. Incumbent may be required to obtain an official passport.

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions, Public Affairs, Series 1035.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-12, or equivalent in other pay systems.

Examples of specialized experience includes Mastery of communication principles, methods, practices, and techniques; analytical methods that enables the incumbent to serve as the technical authority on specific matters within the organization.

Skill in applying principles and methods in managing a public affairs program involving media relations, planning and execution of media coverage for nationally prominent events, public information, visual information, communication planning / research / analysis, standardization and evaluation, emerging technology/social media, security and policy review, public affairs resource management, or contingency planning and operations; including the application in developing and applying new approaches to the most difficult and complex public affairs problems of the Air Force by developing or evaluating information programs enhancing understanding among publics opposed or indifferent to agency programs.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in­-grade requirements to be considered eligible.

One year at the GS-12 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.

NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: 1.

Extensive knowledge of a full range of oral, written and visual communication concepts, principles, policies, practices, methods, applications, techniques, standards, and trends applicable to researching, planning, developing, coordinating, guiding, and evaluating broad public affairs and visual information programs; to develop new approaches to extremely difficult issues; and prioritizing requirements, strategies, and assets to perform the mission.

2.

In-depth knowledge of the missions, roles, functions, organizational structures, relationships, and operational planning objectives of Air Force and DoW organizations; as well as knowledge of a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to evaluate public reaction to agency programs and policies.

3. Skill in gathering, evaluating, and interpreting conflicting data, considering various points of view, to arrive at valid conclusions and offer meaningful recommendations. 4.

Skill in planning and independently managing short- and long-term projects and to cultivate and sustain positive working relationships to project completion. 5.

Ability to evaluate and assess program effectiveness and prepare reports on accomplishment of program objectives. 6.

Ability to communicate effectively with tact and diplomacy, to advocate agency positions, to logically and effectively explain programs, functions, and activities and gain understanding of the organization's efforts by concerned publics.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work.

You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Major Duties:

  • Serves as a NORAD and USNORTHCOM media operations strategist for assigned programs, ensuring public affairs activities comply with legal and regulatory requirements and meet customer needs Leads response initiatives or directly responds to information requests for N/NC mission areas from local, national, and at times international news media, specialized, and general publics; serves as a command spokesperson as required Manages wide-ranging programs, special projects, and initiatives with responsibility for researching, planning, executing, and evaluating complex public affairs media and current operations programs, policies, and strategies of significant importance and which affect functional areas and multiple organizational levels Represents the organization with a variety of councils, boards, working groups, and panels inside and outside the command Serves as a senior public affairs advisor for Current/Media Operations program

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Posted on USAJOBS: 3/31/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 4/2/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 6X-AFPC-12925984-243697-AH