Senior Media Advisor

Full Job Description

This position is located in the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Office of Communications (OC).

As a Public Affairs Specialist, GS-1035-15, referred to here as Senior Media Advisor, you will serve as a senior advisor to leadership on key mission-critical issues, enterprise-wide initiatives, and other high-level functions associated with media relations activities.

ALL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

Your resume (limited to no more than 2 pages) must include detailed information as it relates to the responsibilities and specialized experience for this position.

Evidence of copying and pasting directly from the vacancy announcement without clearly documenting supplemental information to describe your experience will result in an ineligible rating.

This will prevent you from being considered further.

In order to qualify for the GS-15 grade level, you must meet the following: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one year (52 weeks) of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal government, obtained in either the private or public sector, to include: 1) Developing, writing, reviewing, and editing various communications documents, i.e., news releases, media advisories, speeches, and talking points; AND 2) Coordinating with various offices on responses to media queries; AND 3) Speaking directly to the media to convey program messaging and develop relationships; AND 4) Formulating proactive media strategies and tactics to pitch TV, radio, online and print media.

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.

Time-in-Grade: To be eligible, current or former Federal employees and current or former Federal employees applying under the VEOA eligibility who hold or have held a permanent General Schedule position in the previous year must have served at least 52 weeks (one year) at the next lower grade level from the position/grade level(s) to which they are applying.

Click the following link to view the occupational questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12919141 Major Duties:

• Serve as primary senior advisor to OC’s Deputy Director for Communications on all matters concerning official agency responses to media queries that directly impact the perception of vital CMS policies that are of national interest and scope.
• Give technical direction across CMS on responses to media queries and ensure release of information is timed to achieve maximum utilization, having regard in general for the total news situation.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert on media relations; plan, prepare, coordinate, and edit press releases, news and feature materials, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and briefings for the press and other news media representatives.
• Brief the Agency leadership regularly and create high-level media query tracking documents.