Strategic Communications Lead

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), Integrated Communications Management Staff (ICMS).

As a Public Affairs Specialist, posted here as Strategic Communications Lead, GS-1035-14, you will work in a team of experts leveraging Office of Communications resources across all of its program areas in support of CMS' public affairs strategy.

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 this GS-14 position, you must clearly demonstrate in your resume at least one year (52 weeks) of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal government, obtained in either the private or public sector, to include: Developing communications strategies to increase public awareness of healthcare programs; AND Establishing relationships to support strategic communications objectives; AND Preparing materials, such as communications plans and PowerPoint presentations, to communicate healthcare program goals at meetings or conferences.

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/12900616 Major Duties:

• Develop, implement, and administer an Agency-wide audience-centered communications strategy and plan.
• Serve as a chief point-of-contact within Office of Communications and across CMS for initiatives and campaigns that require a mix of short-term tactical implementation and long-term communications planning and project management.
• Conduct a variety of public relations activities with external audiences to ensure that CMS is viewed as a creditable resource of information to the public.
• Function as the technical authority and program/project director for agency's audience-centered communications activities.
• Provide leadership, program direction, and technical direction to lower-graded analysts and/or teams; define individual team member roles; review member/team work for technical accuracy.
• Ensure that all CMS personnel that are involved in communications efforts are oriented to and trained in communications processes and standards.