Public Affairs Specialist

As a Public Affairs Specialist you will perform the following duties:

• Serve as a senior Public Affairs Specialist providing media relations support and leading communications for the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO). Interact with local national and international electronic and print media to establish relationships and coordinate interviews between personnel and journalists. Coordinate with the OMAO Communications Director Social Media Manager and senior OMAO managers to support OMAOs strategic priorities.
• Conduct public affairs functions to disseminate translated scientific and technical information utilizing various media platforms. Communicate the OMAOs mission to include ships aircraft diving operations and unscrewed systems to the media public and industry partners. Assist with the coordination of ships aircraft diving operations and facility tours for media the public and government officials.
• Enhance public knowledge of agency programs activities and missions with education and outreach efforts utilizing photographic content and social media. Create content for OMAOs website and social media channels including web stories scripts news releases and speeches. Monitor web and social media analytics to evaluate effectiveness and to adjust strategies as necessary.
• Serve as the policy and planning authority for the Executive Affairs Division (EAD) as an advisor to upper management. Develop recommend and implement strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of communications efforts.

NOTE: These duties are described at the full performance level of the ZA-4; the ZA-3 is developmental leading to such performance.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• This position will require escorting of media and other visitors aboard NOAA ships which are not handicap accessible. Must be able to climb several flights of steep and narrow stairs and step through doorways with thresholds up to 24 inches high.
• Some travel is required.
• This position may require after-hours (evenings weekends) work.

Key Requirements:

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
• Suitable for Federal employment as determined by background investigation.
• More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Additional Information.
• Must be registered for Selective Service if applicable ()
• Qualification requirements must be met by closing date of the announcement.

Additional Considerations:

• One year probationary period may be required.
• Payment of relocation expenses (PCS) is not authorized.
• Payment of relocation incentives OR recruitment incentives may be authorized. Note: Relocation incentives are for current federal employees only.
• This position requires Moderate Risk Security Clearance.
• Background investigation will be required. Continued employment is subject to applicants successful completion of security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

*Note: A one year probationary period will be required unless you are a current Department of Commerce (including NOAA) employee and are in the same line of work and with no more than a 30 day break in service.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position for those required to serve a 1-year probationary period we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• Your performance and conduct;
• Needs and interests of the agency;
• Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of then Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Managements website located at: is no positive education requirement for this position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

To qualify at the ZA-3 or GS-11 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-2 or GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Supporting communications and public relations to increase awareness of programs policies or activities; and
• Participating in editing and evaluating outreach and communication materials such as web stories scripts news releases facts sheet or speeches.

OR
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. if related.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience may be used to meet the total experience requirements. Note: Only graduate-level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience.


To qualify at the ZA-4 or GS-13 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Participating in planning and developing policies or strategies to support communications efforts and media relations;
• Disseminating information through public relations and media platforms such as social media channels websites news releases or outreach events; and
• Developing and recommending improvements to increase effectiveness of communications and the dissemination of information.