Public Affairs Specialist

Full Job Description

The position is located in the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education (OPACE), Food Safety Education Staff (FSES).

FSES conducts the Agency's consumer education programs.

The staff develops and conducts a variety of targeted and general food safety campaigns intended to educate consumers, producers, distributors, and food handlers on the prevention of food-borne illness.

FSES operates the Meat and Poultry Hotline and Ask USDA systems.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Time in grade: Applicants must meet one year at the next lower grade to be considered for the next higher grade (e.g.

one year at the GS-07 grade level for consideration for the GS-09 grade level; one year at the GS-09 grade level for consideration for the GS-11 grade level; one year at the GS-11 grade level for consideration for the GS-12 grade level).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level in which you are applying: For the GS-09 Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) performing duties which demonstrate: Basic knowledge of written and oral communication principles, methods and techniques; analytical methods; and interpersonal relations practices.

Writing news releases on routine events of non-controversial subjects, participating in meetings with specialized groups to listen to and understand feedback on agency programs.

Speaking to groups in explaining the organization's programs, objectives and policies and obtaining the group's reaction to information presented.

Analyzing agency information program materials and offering recommendations for improving the delivery of program information to affected individuals and groups.

Your specialized experience must be clearly and thoroughly described in your resume in order to be creditable.

OR Successful completion of a masters degree or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.B. or J.D., if related.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: You must have an appropriate combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and experience.

To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate education in excess of one full year (18 semester hours) may be used to qualify.

For the GS-11 Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 level) performing duties which demonstrate: Contributing to talking points and press releases on the topics of food safety, agriculture, or public health.

Developing media contact lists by establishing contacts with members of the media. Pitching food safety, agriculture, or public health stories to members of the media.

Drafting written responses to media, stakeholder, and Congressional inquiries, including constituent inquiries as necessary about food safety, agriculture, or public health.

Contributing to large-scale communications plans on food safety, agriculture, or public health issues.

Your specialized experience must be clearly and thoroughly described in your resume in order to be creditable. OR Successful completion of a Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or possession of a LL.M. degree, if related.

This education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study.

If that information cannot be determined from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as equivalent to 1 year of full-time study.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: You must have an appropriate combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and experience.

To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then determine your education as a percentage of the education listed above; then add the two percentages.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate education in excess of two full years (36 semester hours) may be used to qualify.

For the GS-12 Level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 level) performing duties which demonstrate: Developing and conducting food safety campaigns intended to educate consumers, producers, distributors, and food handlers on the prevention of food-borne illness.

Disseminating information about policies and programs in support of organizational goals to public and internal audiences.

Planning, developing, and coordinating a communications and education program that promotes public understanding and acceptance of the organization's programs, policies, and decisions.

Selecting appropriate methods for communicating program goals and accomplishments. Preparing suitable information strategies and materials.

Your specialized experience must be clearly and thoroughly described in your resume in order to be creditable.

Education cannot be substituted for or combined with experience to qualify for the GS-12 grade level.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. For more information on the qualifications for this position, view OPM's Qualifications Standards.

Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Administrative and Management Positions. Major Duties:

• This position may be filled as a multi-grade career ladder. If position is filled at a developmental grade level, assignments will be of a more limited scope, performed with less independence, and may reflect limited complexity/personal contacts.
• You may/will:
• Plan, develop, and coordinate a broad and comprehensive communications and educational program that will promote public understanding and acceptance of Agency programs, policies, and decisions.
• Analyze consumer concerns and needs and recommend appropriate actions.
• Prepare suitable informational strategies and materials.
• Select appropriate methods for communicating program goals and accomplishments.
• Participate in the development of educational programs including preparation, editing, and issuance of consumer food handling publications and webinars, and issuance of consumer press releases, blogs, and other print and broadcast media outreach.