Public Affairs Specialist

These positions are within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Communications and each will serve one of three agency portfolios: NOAA Fisheries, NOAA's National Ocean Service, and NOAA Research. For the NOAA Fisheries position, candidates can select a duty station of either Seattle, Washington -or- Long Beach, California. The positions with NOAA's National Ocean Service and NOAA Research have a duty station of Silver Spring, Maryland only. This position is also announced under vacancy number UNSEC DUSO-27-13084579-ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both. As a Public Affairs Specialist, you will perform the following duties: Conduct public affairs and media strategies with responsibility for planning, designing, and executing activities and campaigns to inform and educate the public about National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) program, science, and service. Collaborate on the development of communication offering guidance and instruction on how to tailor messages to specific audiences. Advise management on public communication policies, such as format, content, and routing. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of the news media, internal and external stakeholders and groups. Respond to information requests from the news media and the public, often requiring detailed explanations in written or oral form for that explanation. Build relationships with journalists to facilitate the dissemination of critical scientific information that affects both public safety and commerce. Handle media and public inquiries and support offices in effectively communicating information to the public. Arrange media interviews, news conferences, content for NOAA.gov, social media posts, and draft talking points and communication plans designed to ensure the communication of critical information. Develop and transmit informational material to a variety of public outlets to enhance the understanding of NOAA's operation, and science practices. Evaluate, formulate and execute recommendations about information that should be made available to the various publics. This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. The ZA-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14. Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Additional Information. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov) Qualification requirements must be met by closing date of the announcement. Additional Considerations: One year probationary period may be required.* Payment of relocation expenses (PCS) is not authorized. This position requires a Low Risk Security Clearance. Background investigation will be required. Continued employment is subject to applicant's successful completion of security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. *Note: A one year probationary period will be required unless you are a current Department of Commerce (including NOAA) employee and are in the same line of work and with no more than a 30 day break in service. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, for those required to serve a 1-year probationary period, we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: Your performance and conduct; Needs and interests of the agency; Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of then Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system. Substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy.