Public Affairs Specialist

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

Major duties

Serves as a Public Affairs Specialist for the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), reporting to the Chief, Public Information Office, and working closely with the Director, and members of the BOP's Executive Staff to ensure a smooth flow of accurate and timely information to and from: the Director's Office; between the various components of the BOP; and with outside agencies, the media, and the public. Assists in coordinating public information activity with Department of Justice Public Affairs staff. Acts as a spokesperson for the Director and that of the BOP, in all matters relating to the agency, its programs, policies, and position on a vast array of topics. Serves as a contact between the BOP and members of the news media and the public.

Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements: Education: GS-13 and GS-14:There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position. Experience: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level. To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to perform successfully the duties of the position, and must typically be in or related to the position to be filled. Some examples of this qualifying experience are: GS-13: Experience serving as a spokesperson or point of contact with news media and the public on complex, sensitive, or controversial matters, developing and implementing communication strategies to respond to inquiries and preparing press releases, briefing materials, or talking points for senior leadership on organizational policies, programs, and positions. Experience coordinating public information activities across multiple organizational components or facilities to ensure consistent messaging and compliance with organizational policy, maintaining regular contact with field offices to provide guidance on responding to public inquiries, and disseminating information through various communication channels including publications, reports, and electronic media. Experience planning, managing, and directing audio and video production, print layout, graphic design, or social media content for a large organization, exercising independent judgment in conceptualizing videos and event productions and managing integrated procurement and production programs for complex communication missions. Experience monitoring and analyzing news sources, media coverage, and public communications to identify issues affecting the organization, providing daily briefings to senior executives on relevant topics and initiating or developing appropriate responses to selected issues for executive approval and dissemination. GS-14: Experience serving as an authorized spokesperson for an organization's Director or senior executive leadership on all matters relating to agency programs, policies, and positions across a vast array of topics, working directly with executive leadership to ensure accurate and timely dissemination of information and coordinating public information activities with Department-level or other external agency public affairs staff. Experience independently planning, developing, and implementing comprehensive communication strategies to respond to highly controversial, complex, and sensitive inquiries that could significantly impact organizational operations and mission, developing and coordinating strategies designed to obtain public support and effectively communicate leadership positions and serving as liaison with news media representatives developing major news stories about the organization. Experience exercising broad authority and independent judgment in planning, directing, and managing sophisticated visual information activities including audio and video production, print layout, graphic design, and social media content for an entire agency or large organization, establishing priorities and allocating resources for agency-wide communication programs and managing integrated procurement and video production programs for extremely complex missions. Experience serving as a management official with significant authority to make determinations that further program objectives; exercising independent judgment and discretion on a regular basis with primary duties having significant effect on the formulation or execution of management policies or programs and identifying operational or program issues and initiating corrective action or recommending solutions with limited review or revision. AND Selective Factor: GS-13 and GS-14: Applicants applying for this position MUST also possess the following Selective Factor. In the event that you do not possess the Selective Factor, you will be found ineligible for the position. Two (2) years of experience in audio/video productions and post production proficiencies, graphic design, and social media content strategies. If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as number of hours worked per week) spent in the activities. Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.

Education

ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here. Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

Requirements

Career Transition Programs (CTAP or ICTAP): These programs apply to Federal and/or DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1. Meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2. Be rated well-qualified for the position, scoring at least half of the total possible points for the vacancy KSAs or competencies; and 3. Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility: A copy of the agency notice (i.e., separation notice or agency RIF letter), Most recent performance appraisal, and Most recent SF-50 showing current/former position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location. See USAJOBS' Career Transition Programs for more information. EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: U.S Department of Justice - Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Key Requirements: U.S. Citizenship is Required. See Special Conditions of Employment Section.