PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

Full Job Description

This vacancy announcement is open to Department of Interior, Office of the Secretary (OS) employees only. This is not a remote position and selectee will be required to report to a federal facility.

The Department of the Interior is devoted to protecting and preserving the natural resources of this great nation, including National Parks, Landmarks, and the well-being of communities, including those of Native American, Alaska Natives and affiliated Islanders.

Minimum Qualification Requirements: Specialized Experience To qualify for the GS-15, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service.

Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience: Advising senior executives or political leadership on communication approaches for sensitive or controversial issues.

Managing complex media relations programs, including responding to national press inquiries and coordinating messaging during crises or emergencies.

Developing rapid-response communication plans that mitigate reputational risk and ensure compliance with federal policy.

Preparing executive-ready briefing materials, talking points, and speeches for senior leadership, including the Secretary or equivalent. Must meet all.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Merit Promotion candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the vacancy announcement. Major Duties:

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary, Office of Communication, Washington D.C.

The official duty station will align with the selectee's current duty station.

At the full performance level GS-15 the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: Develops, coordinates, and manages public information plans and activities, which meet the highest professional standards, to achieve public understanding and acceptance of the major and diverse functional programs of the Department.

Performs public information work of unusual and exacting difficulty, exercising independent judgment, for the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, and other Secretarial officials, directs the preparation, coordination, policy review, and distribution of information materials developed for the media.

Manages special projects centering on public information and education programs involving organizations concerned with special segments of resource conservation and development.

Provides information services of a wide variety to newspapers, reporters, editors, press associations, magazines, television networks and stations, radio networks and stations, educators and representatives of other Federal agencies concerning the entire range of activities of the Department.

Collaborate with officials in the planning, preparing, and executing news conferences held by the Secretary and other Secretarial officers by identifying areas of media interest, by preparing material reflecting Departmental activities and policies on a variety of subjects for use by the Secretary, and by following up on specific media interest generated by news conferences.

May represent the Director and the Department, on behalf of the Secretary in a wide range of capacities, such as attendance at high-level meetings, information liaison with other agencies, or as a spokesperson to the national media.

Salary Information Salary will vary based on current duty station and will vary. GS-15 range: $147,945 - 197,200 This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.