Public Affairs Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Public Affairs (OPA). OPA is charged with devising and implementing diverse public affairs and communication campaigns that promote the FTC's mission of ensuring robust competition across the U.S. economy, as well as protecting consumers. As a Senior Public Affairs Specialist, you are responsible for planning, designing and executing comprehensive, nationwide campaigns to communicate the FTC's programs and cases in consumer protection and antitrust law.

This job is open to

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Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Land and base management

Current or former employees of a base management agency.

Veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference

Military spouses

Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.

National Guard and reserves

Current members, those who want to join or transitioning military members.

Individuals with disabilities

Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.

Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista

Individuals who have served at least 2 years with the Peace Corps or 1 year with AmeriCorps VISTA.

Clarification from the agency

Current Federal employees; former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; well qualified displaced and surplus Federal employees in the local commuting area; individuals eligible for special hiring authorities and veterans who are eligible for special hiring authorities.

Duties

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If you are selected for this position, as a Public Affairs Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Coordinates all components of national media campaigns to convey complex information concerning FTC decisions, cases, programs, research and services;
• Works on deadlines and in consultation with the OPA Director, Deputy Director and bureau staff, creates multi-faceted press plans that include key messages, strategies and tactics. Also, develops and writes materials designed to reach FTC audiences;
• Possesses the ability to talk about a range of competition (antitrust) and FTC enforcement and policy issues using social media and public relations;
• Responsible for developing effective relationships with news media covering a variety of consumer protection and FTC enforcement topics;
• Advises management on ways to improve communications between organizations and various FTC audiences;
• Responsible for handling requests from the media and outside entities, and providing counsel to the FTC Bureau of Competition and other bureaus and regional offices about the media and the audiences of the FTC: the general public, specialized groups, as well as community and governmental entities;
• Responsible for directing special events, ceremonies and other activities intended to develop interest in FTC programs;
• As a public affairs expert, takes complex legal issues, and translates them into readable, engaging materials, including but not limited to: news releases, media advisories, fact sheets, media plans, statements and/or speeches;
• Responsible for communicating the FTC's mission, accomplishments, policies, and rules, particularly in the area of competition (antitrust);
• Utilizes public relations tools including media research and database services, and all modes of social media; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. citizenship requirement must be met by the closing date of this vacancy.
• This position is subject to a background investigation.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must register with Selective Service.
• The position may be subject to completion of a one-year probationary period. Probationary periods are an extension of the hiring process.
• If selected for this position, the agency will evaluate your fitness and whether continuation of employment advances the public interest before extending your appointment beyond the one-year probationary period.
• You must meet time-in-grade requirement by the closing date of this vacancy.
• You must submit a copy of your performance appraisal with your application.
• This position is in the bargaining unit. This position is represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Local 2211.

Qualifications

To qualify for a PublicAffairsSpecialist at the GS-14level, you must meet the following requirements:

You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: clearly and concisely conveying complex information; designing, planning and directing a comprehensive public affairs program for a large organization or federal government agency specifically for the issue areas encompassing national consumer protection and/ or domestic law enforcement; devised and executed a public relations program explicitly related to commerce, legal or economic policy, and/or written news releases explicitly related to commerce or economic policy for a large (national in scope) organization or U.S. federal agency, or worked as a professional journalist writing about commerce or economic policy for a national news outlet. Knowledge of antitrust and competition issues is preferred but not required.

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.

Education

There is no education requirement for this position or substitution of education for specialized experience at this grade level.

Additional information

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, you must be a preference eligible or a Veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 87 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.

For more information visit: ICTAP/CTAP

Non-competitive Appointment Authorities:

For more information on non-competitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:

• Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A

• Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans

• Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses

• Other Special Appointment Authorities

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are found qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Performance Appraisals: In the evaluation process, due weight will be given to job related experience, education, training, incentive awards and performance appraisals. Applicants must have a performance rating of at least the equivalent of fully successful to be eligible for promotion or placement. Applicants may provide a copy of a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months. If the applicant is unable to provide a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months, the applicant may provide a written explanation as to why.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Required Documents

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To apply for this position, you must submit a complete application package which includes:

1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed

2. Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional

• Two writing samples including a press release or news story on national consumer protection and/or domestic law enforcement, commerce or economic policy

• College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education

• Most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held (if applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service)

• Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable

• DD-214, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities

• Noncompetitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable

• Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)

FEDERAL APPLICANTS: You must submit SF-50(s) that verify your highest competitive grade, full performance level, and eligibility as a federal applicant. DO NOT submit an award SF-50 as these often do not verify grade or eligibility. For consideration for a promotion, Box 4 of the SF-50 must show a date that is at least 52 weeks prior to the job announcement closing. We recommend submitting your last promotion SF-50 or within-grade increase SF-50. Pay adjustment raise SF-50s for the current year will not support the 52 weeks' time-in-grade requirements. https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/service/SF-50/

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide o

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