Public Affairs Specialist

Full Job Description

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/.As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

This position is also being announced to applicants eligible to apply through Merit Staffing procedures under 26-NJ-12917921-MS.

GS-13:To be eligible at the GS-13 level, you must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which has equipped you with the competencies to perform the duties of the position.

Specialized experience is defined as planning and managing the public relations program of an organization involving controversial issues of significant public interest; developing a dynamic and effective communication plan designed to educate the public about an organization's initiatives, programs, and operations; establishing and maintaining effective and professional working relationships with print and broadcast media representatives; drafting, reviewing, and editing press releases, press statements, remarks, and speeches; developing and transmitting public information to the press, as a spokesperson for an organization; and establishing and maintaining working relationships with outside groups in achieving understanding with individuals indifferent to or having opposing points of view of an organization's policies and programs.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)- The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy.

To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria.

You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form.

Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)-The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy.

To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria.

You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application.

Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Major Duties:

If selected for this position, you will serve as a Public Affairs Specialist responsible for independently planning, designing and executing a program to inform and educate inside the district and beyond about the district's programs, activities and services; maintaining internal communications; monitoring critical events inside the district and across the country with potential prosecutorial relevance to USAO-DNJ; and coordinating press strategy with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, including at Main Justice.

Typical work assignments will include: In connection and consultation with the U.S.

Attorney and/or the Front Office, planning, directing, and executing a public affairs program for all offices within the district, including personally performing a range of public affairs duties designed to disseminate information to a variety of audiences and promote understanding of USAO-DNJ programs, initiatives and priorities via multiple platforms.

Determining, developing, implementing, and managing the public affairs program for the USAO-DNJ, through which various activities are used to communicate the goals of the district, depending on the needs, understanding, interest, support, or hostility of the individuals, groups, or affected audiences.

Developing and maintaining effective and professional working relationships with print and broadcast media representatives and various special interest groups as necessary given the type of litigation pending in the district at a particular time and assures that the various public and media outlets get accurate and timely information and responses from the USAO-DNJ.

Developing and managing social media strategies to create appropriate messaging about USAO-DNJ press, priorities, and initiatives.

Planning, implementing, and managing social media messaging and social media/social networking programs.

Developing methods and uses analytical tools to understand social media and online customer information needs.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.