Public Affairs Specialist

• As a senior Public Affairs Specialist for the organization; plans organizes directs and evaluates a major public affairs function with Air Force-wide applicability ensuring public affairs activities comply with legal and regulatory requirements and meet customer needs
• Responds to or leads initiative to respond to information requests on the organizations program from the news media and specialized and general publics to include all levels of the Air Force local state and federal elected officials and special interest groups community and civic organizations
• Manages wide-ranging programs special projects and initiatives with responsibility for researching planning executing and evaluating complex public affairs operations programs policies and strategies of significant importance and which affect functional areas and multiple organizational levels.
• Represents the organization with a variety of councils boards working groups and panels inside and outside the agency including Headquarters Air Force DoD (Office of the Secretary of Defense Joint Staff unified combatant command and sister services) and other governmental nongovernmental public civic service industry business educational entertainment think tank and media organizations
• Serves as the senior adviser in the assigned area of responsibility

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service see
• If authorized PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements may be found at: position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
• Upon completion of your probationary/trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• This is an Obligated Position in which an employee has return rights. Upon the employees return incumbent may be required to vacate this position.
• Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on civilian or military aircraft
• May be required to be on call and/or to work other than normal duty hours which may include evenings weekends and/or holidays
• Employee must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance
• This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing

In order to qualify you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions Administrative and Management Positions Public Affairs Series 1035.


SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-12 or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes knowledge of oral written and visual communication concepts principles policies practices methods and trends applicable to coordinating guiding and evaluating broad public affairs and visual information programs; develop new approaches to extremely difficult issues and prioritizing requirements strategies and assets to perform the mission.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-12 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge skills abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Extensive knowledge of a full range of oral written and visual communication concepts principles policies practices methods applications techniques standards and trends applicable to researching planning developing coordinating guiding and evaluating broad public affairs and visual information programs; to develop new approaches to extremely difficult issues; and prioritizing requirements strategies and assets to perform the mission.

2. In-depth knowledge of the missions roles functions organizational structures relationships and operational planning objectives of Air Force and DoD organizations; as well as knowledge of a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to evaluate public reaction to agency programs and policies.

3. Skill in gathering evaluating and interpreting conflicting data considering various points of view to arrive at valid conclusions and offer meaningful recommendations.

4. Skill in planning and independently managing short- and long-term projects and to cultivate and sustain positive working relationships to project completion.

5. Ability to evaluate and assess program effectiveness and prepare reports on accomplishment of program objectives.

6. Ability to communicate effectively with tact and diplomacy to advocate agency positions to logically and effectively explain programs functions and activities and gain understanding of the organizations efforts by concerned publics.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e. Peace Corps AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience including volunteer experience.