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Public Affairs Specialist

Department of the Interior
Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
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Summary

This position is located with the BIA, Office of Trust Services, Division of Forestry & Wildland Fire Management, Branch of Wildland Fire Management 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 position(s) at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
01/27/2021 to 05/21/2021
This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$77,488 to - $100,739 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Boise, ID
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
BIADE-21-11016464-MB
Control number
590399400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - No previous Federal Service is required. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

Duties

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  • Developing new ways to communicate the BIA's message on controversial and sensitive issues where public reaction has been negative, hostile or indifferent.
  • Manage complex, and often controversial issues related to the diverse and conflicting programs managed in the office.
  • Develop complete communication plans for the office and provides advisory, planning, and technical services to management in designing approaches to resolve public affairs problems.
  • Provide national guidance and Public Information direction to all 12-BIA Regions and will provide support to Tribes carrying out Fire Management programs.
  • Assist with developing strategies and practices to effectively communicate with federal, state, local, and tribal agencies and elected officials; media outlets; public land users; and other stakeholders.
  • Analyzes emerging and controversial trust land issues and develops and implements communication policies, plans, and strategies for a wide variety of diverse resource management programs.
  • Creates, writes, and distributes a wide variety of materials to communicate information about BIA issues, programs, and activities
  • Maintains current knowledge of all Departmental and Bureau policy and program direction related to public land management and develops communications policy for implementation.
  • Develops and maintains professional, proactive, credible relationships with media outlets, including traditional and new media outlets.
  • Promotes public sensitivity among employees to encourage internal understanding of external attitudes, more positive working relationships with the public, and a better understanding of the role of the Tribes, public, and special interest groups.
  • Employs new and established communications research and planning principles to develop both strategic and crisis communications plans.
  • Serves as the office's expert on digital communication technologies, such as web, mobile and social media platforms and is the primary photographer/videographer for the office.
  • Is the lead for development and maintenance of the public website and develops content for social media platforms the State Office's public website, and for national projects.
  • Maintains proficiency in the use of digital cameras, video devices, editing software, and emerging audiovisual technology.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Indian Preference applies.
  • Eligibility Documentation Required (i.e. DD-214, BIA Form 4432, SF-50 etc.).
  • You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
  • You may be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period.
  • Background security investigation will be required of all new hires.
  • An applicant appointed to this position must possess a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
  • Be sure to read the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" Sections.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience:
In order to be rated as minimally 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. Failure to provide required information on resume could result in ineligibility for consideration.

For GS-12: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: working with policy and program areas in an external affairs arena; handling legislative activities and managing aspects of external affairs programs that included formulating relationships with political officials and the media; writing and editing documents for the public, members of congress, and the media; designing presentations and serving as a spokesperson; providing hands-on media, video, and editorial support for a large organization; developing new approaches to complex external affairs issues; analyzing public reaction; and developing communication plans that maintain understanding with various publics.

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 by the closing date of the announcement.

There is no substitution of education for specialize experience at the GS-12 and above grade levels.

Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC, Section 472). Verification Form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. Indian Preference eligibles not currently employed in Federal service may be appointed under the Excepted Service Appointment Authority Schedule A, 213.3112(a)(7). Consideration will be given to Non-Indian applicants in the absence of qualified Indian Preference eligibles. For more information about Indian preference or to obtain BIA Form 4432 application instructions, please visit: https://www.bia.gov/jobs/Indian_Preference

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

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 E-Verify

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): 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, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

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.

BLM may use certain incentives, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract high quality applicants.

This announcement is being advertised concurrently under number BIAMP-21-11016465-MB for status candidates and special hiring authority eligibles. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how your application materials reflect the qualification requirements of this position.

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements.

To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. Qualified applicants will be placed in one of three predefined categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified and Qualified. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Candidates placed in the Best Qualified category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be contacted for an interview.

Your answers to the online questionnaire will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Communications and Media
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Technical Competence

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