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Posted: February 9, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Public Affairs Specialist

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys

Department of Justice

Fresh

Salary

$133,060 - $172,980

per year

Closes

February 23, 2026More DOJ jobs →

GS-13 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $88,520 - $115,079

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-12. Expert-level knowledge in field.

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

Job Description

Summary

This job involves managing public relations for the U.S. Attorneys' Office, focusing on communicating about legal initiatives and handling sensitive topics that attract media attention.

The role requires creating press materials, building relationships with journalists and community groups, and acting as a spokesperson to inform the public.

It's a good fit for someone with experience in communications who thrives in high-stakes environments and can navigate differing viewpoints effectively.

Key Requirements

  • One full year of specialized experience at GS-12 level or equivalent in federal service
  • Planning and managing public relations programs on controversial public interest issues
  • Developing communication plans to educate the public on organizational initiatives
  • Establishing and maintaining professional relationships with print and broadcast media
  • Drafting, reviewing, and editing press releases, statements, remarks, and speeches
  • Serving as a spokesperson to transmit public information to the press
  • Building working relationships with external groups to foster understanding of policies

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 All U.S. Citizens and Nationals under 26-NDCA-12882881-DE.

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/.

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) -VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce.

To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service.

If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement.

Special Employment Consideration - Persons with disabilities, veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, certain other veterans, spouses of certain members of the armed forces, and returning Peace Corps volunteers are examples of individuals who are potentially eligible for non-competitive appointments.

For further information, click on the links provided below .

You must specify in your online questionnaire under what authority you wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities Links: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Types-of-Appointments Major Duties:

If selected for this position, you will serve as a Public Affairs Specialist responsible for planning, coordinating, and carrying out communications on behalf of the U.S.

Attorney's Office (USAO) for the Northern District of California (NDCA).

Typical work assignments will include: Planning, directing and executing communication activities to convey complex information concerning NDCA actions or decisions, programs, responsibilities, and activities, including the planning and implementation of various communication vehicles to deliver key agency messages to the news or social media.

Developing and maintaining a collaborative communication link with executive levels of law enforcement agencies with which the USAO works closely.

Engaging with representatives of the public, including corporate business communities; racial, ethnic, religious, and civil rights groups; bar and other professional associations; trade associations; and community organizations in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose metropolitan areas.

Coordinating with the executive staff and management of the USAO to effectively communicate policies, priorities, and procedures to employees of the Office.

Proactively managing the information environment to enhance and maintain the credibility of USAO communications.

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

The salary range for a GS-13 in San Francisco, California is $133,060 - $172,980 (step 1 through step 10). New federal employees are typically hired at Step 1 of the assigned grade.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/9/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/10/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 26-NDCA-12882882-MS