Public Affairs Specialist

Summary Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource. This position is located with the BLM Fire & Aviation Directorate, Division of External Affairs, located at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), in Boise, Idaho. Information about the surrounding area can be found at https://www.boisechamber.org/ We expect to fill 1 (one) position at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available. Responsibilities Integrates social media with the office’s traditional media relations program, assisting with the development of contact lists for key state reporters’ X and other social media accounts. Creates, writes, and distributes a wide variety of materials to communicate information about BLM Fire issues, programs, and activities to key publics. Develops communications materials for high-level correspondence, including: news releases, opinion editorials, reports, newsletters, early alerts, talking points, briefing papers, speeches, interpretive brochures, web and social media content, etc. Advises line managers, program leaders, and staff on potential public reaction to BLM Fire policies, decisions, and activities. Develops and maintains professional, proactive, credible relationships with media outlets, including traditional and new media outlets. Serves as a primary spokesperson for the office. Coordinates media coverage of BLM Fire issues, programs and activities and arranges interviews with managers and subject matter experts. Serves as interagency communications subject matter expert for the National Interagency Fire Center. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Specialized Experience: In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the minimum qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. For GS-11: To qualify for the GS-11 grade level, 1 year (12 months) of specialized experience equivalent to the to the next lower grade level (GS-09) is required. Examples of work experience include but are not limited to: Producing a broad range of creative and informative communications products in support of the organization's outreach objectives. Creating, drafting, and distributing informational materials to further public, employee, and customer understanding of the organization's mission. Providing guidance to partners, leadership, and/or staff on traditional and digital media. -OR- a Ph. D or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree directly related to the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. -OR- an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education. For GS-12: To qualify for the GS-12 grade level, 1 year (12 months) of creditable specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) is required. Examples of work experience include but are not limited to: Producing a broad range of creative and informative communications products in support of the organization's outreach objectives. Creating, drafting, and distributing informational materials to further public, employee, and customer understanding of the organization's mission. Providing guidance to partners, leadership, and/or staff on traditional and digital media. Preparing high-level correspondence, including: news releases, opinion editorials, reports, newsletters, early alerts, talking points, briefing papers, speeches, interpretive brochures, signs, web and social media content, and/or other information materials. There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 and above grade levels. 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. You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR 300.604. If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level. If selected at the lower grade, subsequent promotion to the next grade level will be processed without further competition dependent upon administrative approval and the continuing need for an actual assignment and performance of higher-level duties. Education Proof of Education: All applicants who are using education or a combination of education and experience to qualify must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts. Pass/Fail Courses: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. Graduate Education: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ Additional Information E-Verify: DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/e-verify. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at CTAP or ICTAP. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration or that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) This vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) You apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) You are found well qualified for this vacancy. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, or a copy of your separation personnel action form. CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they receive a minimum score of 85 based on the rating criteria used for this position. Permanent Change in Station (PCS): Travel and relocation expenses will be paid consistent with the Federal Travel Regulation, Chapter 302, and Departmental policy. Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. See "Other" section for additional information on 2017 Tax Cuts as related to Permanent Change in Station (PCS). Tax Law Impact for PCS: On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025. The law made taxable certain reimbursements and other payments, including driving mileage, airfare and lodging expenses, en-route travel to the new duty station, and temporary storage of those items. The Federal Travel Regulation Bulletin (FTR) 18-05 issued by General Services Administration (GSA) has authorized agencies to use the Withholding Tax Allowance (WTA) and Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) to pay for "substantially all" of the increased tax liability resulting from the "2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" for certain eligible individuals. For additional information on WTA/RITA allowances and eligibilities, please visit: https://www.gsa.gov/policy-regulations/regulations/federal-travel-regulation-ftr/i1182168#i1180710 Telework: The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis. The selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. Incentives: Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive or Student Loan Repayment.