Lead Public Affairs Specialist

Lead Public Affairs Specialist

US Department of Health And Human Services

Montgomery County, MD

$121,316 - $157,709 a year - Full-time, Part-time

Duties

Summary

Are you gifted at leading teams and passionate about keeping the public informed? The National Institute of Mental Health seeks an individual who is eager to serve by disseminating pertinent mental health information to other agencies, the scientific community, and the media. In this important role, you will arrange, coordinate, plan, manage and evaluate all communications prior to release. If this opportunity excites you, please apply to join our team!

Responsibilities

As a Lead Public Affairs Specialist GS-1035-14, you will:

Articulate and communicate to the team the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, milestones, and/or program issues under review, and deadlines and time frames for completion.

Complete and/or assign, monitor and review responses to all major inquiries received by the NIMH (over 1,000+ annually) from other news media and devise appropriate responses; Direct and review work of SWPD staff in the preparation of all news media outreach and response efforts.

Anticipate and stay abreast of breaking health and science news, gather up-to-the-minute information of events, activities, and major announcements involving mental health and other activities of interest to the NIMH.

Mentor science writers responsible for developing plain language summaries of complex scientific research relevant to neuroscience and mental disorders.

Design and supervise the implementation of media and educational products and nationwide multi-channel media (press, email, direct mail, texts, social media, online promotion) outreach efforts to promote mental health research.

Advise and consult with the Chief of the Science Writing, Press, and Dissemination (SWPD) Branch, as well as other senior Institute staff on communications with the media; serving as acting branch chief as needed.

Respond in a timely manner to media inquiries and providing advice on responses to press inquiries from the media, lay and professional public, and specialized groups, providing information, access to Institute staff, or referrals to federal and outside agencies as appropriate.

Direct preparations for special events, meetings, presentations and tours. Direct the identification of target audiences, determination of their informational needs, and the development or solicitation of material to meet those needs.

Inform, coordinate with, and advise NIH, HHS and other Federal agencies regarding media inquiries; coordinating with these agencies on appropriate responses and referrals.

Develop and maintain effective relationships with media, stakeholders, NIMH scientists, and staff in the NIH Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL).

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

14

Job family (Series)

1035 Public Affairs

Requirements

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.

Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.

Qualifications

You qualify at the GS-14 level, if you meet the following qualification 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: Creating, updating, and disseminating mental health research and related information through a comprehensive communications program for the mental health community, the media, and the general public; managing, evaluating and implementing a range of informational vehicles (i.e., television, radio, press releases, social media, etc.) to distribute mental health research or other relevant information; and developing specialized and targeted mental health information products for a range of stakeholders (i.e., press, patients, families, health care providers, scientists, Congress, etc.).

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10743790

Education

Additional information

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

This position is designated as a "non-emergency/teleworker" position and the selected candidate will be considered a "non-emergency/teleworker" employee. In the event of a closure, you must be available to telework or request leave.

At the supervisor's discretion, this position may offer work schedule flexibilities: [telework, compressed schedules].

A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.

PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should apply online to this announcement to receive consideration.

We may make additional selections for similar positions within the commuting area(s) of the locations listed through this vacancy announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s).

The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.

The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.

Visit our Applicant FAQs page for helpful information on the application process.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS

If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position, your application and responses to the online questionnaire will be evaluated under Category Rating and selection procedures for placement in one of the following categories:

Best Qualified - for those who are superior in the evaluation criteria

Well Qualified - for those who excel in the evaluation criteria

Qualified - for those who only meet the minimum qualification requirements

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Applicants determined to be Best Qualified will be referred for further consideration. Preference eligibles in the Best Qualified category are referred before all other applicants.

To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Ensure you support your self-ratings by the information you provide in your application. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as having knowledge of your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin prior to receiving an offer.

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least an 85 on the assessment and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance

Other

Drug test required

No

Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process

Credentialing, Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

Required Documents

REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS

RESUME:

Your resume must thoroughly describe how your skills and experiences align to the criteria defined in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and it must support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. We cannot assume you have performed the necessary experience required for this position regardless of your employment history or academic career.

To ensure all of the essential information is in your resume, we encourage you to use the USAJOBS online Resume Builder. If you choose to use your own resume, you must ensure it contains all of the required information and you organize it so we can associate the following information for each experience/position:

Job title

Name of employer

Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/day/year format)

Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will prorate part-time employment in crediting experience.

Detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable)

Series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position)

If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you must list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume.

Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications.

For resume writing guidance, please visit the following resources: NIH Jobs website, USAJOBS Resource Center, and the USAJOBS Resume Writing Video Tutorial.

ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE:

You must submit a completed assessment questionnaire.

Unless otherwise stated, we will only use the information above to determine your qualifications. Not providing the required information may result in a determination that you do not meet minimum requirements for the position (e.g., an ineligible rating) or a lower rating.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FOR PREFERENCE OR ELIGIBILITY CLAIMS

To claim veterans' preference, career transition selection priority, Schedule A or military spouse eligibility, you must provide the documentation listed below AND respond accordingly to the associated question on the online questionnaire.

Veterans' preference (DD-214, VA Disability Letter, etc.): Reference Standard Form 15 (SF-15) for required documentation for 10 point claims. Submission of SF-15 is not required, unless you are claiming derived preference (XP) as described in questions 7, 8, or 9 on the SF-15. In those cases, you must submit a completed SF-15 and the required documentation. For 5 point claims, you must submit your DD-214 (if separated) or any written documentation from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application package.

Visit our sites on Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) for more information and required documentation.

Visit our site on the Appointment of Certain Military Spouses for more information and required documentation to verify eligibility.

Schedule A Eligibility (Applicants with Disabilities) Applicants who are eligible to be considered under Schedule A must submit appropriate documentation to verify eligibility. Documentation must be obtained from a licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine); a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., state or private); or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits. The letter must be printed on a medical professional's letterhead and signed. Veterans' preference takes precedence in these appointments.

The Schedule A and military spouse hiring authorities do not guarantee employment or give an individual preference in the hiring process.

If you do not provide the required information, we will assume you are not eligible, or you do not wish to be considered for any preference or eligibility.

Do not submit documentation that is not requested of you. To protect your personal information, we will only send your resume and cover letter to the selecting official or hiring manager.

Benefits

Benefits

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. Learn 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.

Help

This job is open to

Military spouses

The public

U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National. Foreign nationals or legal permanent residents are not eligible for consideration.