Public Affairs Specialist

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

GS-07

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience, which includes: 1) Using web and/or social media networks or platforms, such as, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram or YouTube to provide technical and/or creative support for an organization's information program; 2) Communicating an agency's policies, programs, services, and/or activities to varying audiences; AND 3) Establishing and/or maintaining professional relationships with groups and/or individuals within the community to meet common goals (for example, churches, profit/nonprofit organizations, and/or media outlets). This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).

OR

Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as, Public Affairs, Public Relations, or another related field.

OR

Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. Superior Academic Achievement is based on:
(1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR
(2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR
(3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achshonor.org/).

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.

GS-09

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience, which includes: 1) Analyzing material for publications; 2) Responding to requests for information concerning an organization's programs and/or services; 3) Representing a part of a project and/or assignment for accurate and timely completion of project and/or assignment goals; AND 4) Preparing written materials in draft and/or final copy, to publicize an organization's mission and/or events, such as, news releases, feature articles, newspaper, magazine stories and/or digital media content. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07).

OR

Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D. [remove LL.B or J.D., if unrelated] in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as, Public Affairs, Public Relations, or another related field.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages.


You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas:

• Communications and Media
• Leadership
• Message Development
• Public Affairs Policies and Procedures