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SummaryThis position is located in the Sierra National Forest at Clovis CA This position serves as a Public Affairs Specialist responsible for providing leadership for planning, designing, and executing a comprehensive public affairs program for communicating the organization's programs, policies, and activities to the surrounding publics For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Dean Gould at (559) 297-0706 Ext. 4800 and dean.gould.usda.govResponsibilitiesProvide leadership for planning, designing, and executing a comprehensive public affairs program for communicating the organization?s programs, policies, and activities to the surrounding publics.Serve as the sole official spokesperson and primary contact for local and national media that require immediate responsiveness.Coordinate effective employee and public meetings, workshops, field trips, or other forums designed to foster employee and public participation.Direct public affairs support for all natural resource program areas on a unit, to include community relations; media operations and facilitations; information strategies; liaison between local organizations, federal/state/local government officials.Advise on choice, timing and relative importance of information for dissemination to the general public using knowledge of general and specialized media.Identify and analyze communication needs, concerns and attitudes of various publics as they relate to natural resource and environmental programs and policies.Maintain knowledge of the most current and effective communication methods and techniques to carry out duties of the position and provide training in these methods for others as needed.Evaluate trends in public opinion to determine public attitudes and perceptions as they relate to agency policies.Ensure that employees are appropriately involved in decision making activities, using various tools and techniques to improve employee productivity and moral.Develop crisis and/or emergency communication plans during emergency events such as road closures, evacuations, fatalities, etc.Prepare and/or coordinate speeches, presentations, and written and electronic information materials for general and targeted audiences.Prepare information material for dissemination to various publics regarding natural resource programs, issues and/or policy, assuring technical accuracy through coordination of reviews by appropriate staff or technical experts.Develop a variety of materials designed to promote the Forest or provide information to the public on specific issues.Provide input into the long-range planning, development and coordination of the overall Public Affairs program for the Unit.Respond to media queries, including issues of a sensitive nature or that may be subject to misunderstanding if not properly explained, or that may draw adverse public attention.Serve as the principal advisor and spokesperson for the unit leader and senior staff on all matters involving public issues and the creation of communication policy.Provide management officials with advisory services in addressing and/or resolving public affairs problems in various resource program areas.Initiate program of action to earn community respect and confidence, taking into consideration the differing needs and goals of various publics.Maintain effective working relationships with representatives of government, members of Congress, civic organizations and other agencies, and with representatives of the media and special interest groups.Coordinate with appropriate agencies prior to contacting and releasing information to representatives of news media on conditions that might result in favorable or unfavorable public reaction.RequirementsConditions of EmploymentQualificationsIn order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. GS-1035: Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-12: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience must include: Established and maintained effective working relationships at multiple levels within an organization in order to develop and disseminate coordinated messages that accurately address organizational programs; Prepared written materials to promote the organization's position on a variety of sensitive, controversial and/or complex issues; Designed and tailored meetings and public involvement strategies to audiences that involved a degree of controversy. For the GS-13: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Examples of specialized experience must include: Evaluated the effectiveness of a public affairs and/or communications program, contributed to long-range plans and developed new methods and techniques in communicating with an agency's various publics and groups; Researched complex agency programs and developed communication materials using various tools and techniques, such as press releases, Opinion Editorials, multimedia and social media; Researched and analyzed controversial agency programs, assessed public reaction and developed appropriate communication strategies, information materials, campaigns, and programs. 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.EducationSee Qualification Section for educational requirementsAdditional InformationCareer Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the agency's definition for a quality candidate as provided in the How You Will Be Evaluated section of this announcement to be considered. The USDA Forest Service has legislative authority to recruit and fill Permanent (Career/Career-Conditional), Temporary, and Term Appointments under the USDA Demonstration Project. Under this authority, any U.S. citizen may apply. If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed. This is a term, time-limited appointment with an initial duration no less than 13 months and can be extended up to a total of 4 years. Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email asctos@fs.fed.us. This is not a bargaining unit designated position. Forest Service daycare facilities are not available. Government Housing is not available Daycare facilities are not available This position is eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements.
