Summary
The incumbent serves as a Public Affairs Specialist in the Office of Public Affairs within the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of Transportation (DOT) located in Washington, D.C. In this capacity, the incumbent is responsible for planning and executing comprehensive public affairs activities to inform general and specialized audiences about the agency's programs and promote their understanding, approval, and support of FHWA policies, programs, activities and accomplishments.
Duties
As a Public Affairs Specialist, you will: Responsible for planning and executing comprehensive public affairs activities to inform general and specialized audiences about the agency's programs and promote their understanding, approval, and support of FHWA policies, programs, activities and accomplishments. Plans, coordinates, and interacts with stakeholders in support of FHWA-sponsored, co-sponsored or transportation-related industry conferences, meetings, public events, and special projects where FHWA officials are participating. Exercise a high level of independence in analyzing and evaluating current agencies and departmental programs and initiatives. Identifies and advises Office of Public Affairs leadership and senior agency officials on problem areas, trends, accomplishments, and deficiencies as they relate to agency communications. Write and edit factually accurate and thoroughly researched communications products including media responses, holding statements, talking points, Q&A, news releases, rollout plans, fact sheets, and briefing papers to ensure messages relating to FHWA policies, programs and other initiatives are clear, convincing, and meet FHWA's high quality standards. The incumbent helps ensure the logic, clarity, consistency, grammatical accuracy, and appropriate tone of FHWA written products. To perform these duties well, the incumbent must possess the ability to think critically, work effectively, independently, and diplomatically in teams, and make technical information understandable to general audiences. In addition, the incumbent may also help train new staff or instruct others in message development and writing The ideal candidate for this position is a mid-career or senior professional with extensive experience coordinating public affairs, communications and outreach initiatives as well as day-to-day press activities, handling media inquiries and writing materials that include news releases, talking points or other prepared remarks, briefing materials, fact sheets and publications. The ideal candidate has worked with and established effective relationships with news media.
Requirements
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the 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. SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
How you will be evaluated
DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/ application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level. All applicants: Your application will be reviewed in two phases determine how you move forward in the hiring process. Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed. Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). You may preview questions for this vacancy.