Public Affairs Specialist

This position is located in the Under Secretary of Economic Affairs, Office of the Executive Director (E/EX). The Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs leads the State Department's efforts to advocate for U.S. foreign policy priorities and develop and implement international policies related to economic growth, energy, agriculture, maritime affairs, the environment, and science and technology.

Major duties

• Monitors ongoing foreign affairs issues and policy developments as they relate to the Department public affairs initiative.
• Assists in writing announcements for the daily press briefing.
• Acts as a spokesperson, engaging members of the national and international media to disseminate, clarify, and defend important U.S. foreign policy messages with far-reaching implications.
• Informs journalists of the rules for access, including special requirements for entry and exit to/from foreign countries aboard Secretarial planes.
• Provides guidance to lower graded Public Affairs Specialists, sharing institutional knowledge on a wide range of issues involving policy, procedure, and mechanisms for engaging the press; as well as substantive content issues.
• At the GS-12 level, the incumbent performs essentially the same duties as outlined above; however, the scope and complexity of assignments are of less responsibility and independence and receives closer than normal supervision than GS-13.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. GS-12: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience developing and implementing media and/or public stakeholder outreach strategies. Experience drafting and clearing press materials, memos and/or talking points for media and/or stakeholder outreach. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position. GS-13: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience identifying targets of opportunity to strategically engage stakeholders and/or media outlets to develop recommendations to improve media coverage and/or inform thought leaders. Experience leading coordination with Subject Matter Experts, regarding drafting, editing, and clearing responses to press inquiries and/or talking points for media and/or stakeholder outreach. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.