Public Affairs Specialist (TCF)

Minimum Qualifications for GS-7:
Superior Academic Achievement at the GS-7 level:(SAA) at the baccalaureate level in the coursework detailed above is fully qualifying. Applicants who wish to apply under this provision must submit proof from their educational institution that they meet one of the criteria listed below. To qualify for SAA, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled and meet one of the following:

1. Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university or major subdivision.
2. A grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
3. A grade point average of "B+" (a GPA of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
4. Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. For a list of recognized honor societies please visit http://www.achsnatl.org/quick_link.asp.

For more information regarding SAA please visit http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e5.asp#e4f. OR

Education: Possess at least one full year of graduate level study or possess a master's or higher degrees in a field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR

Experience: Possess at least one year of work in using of oral and written mass communication principles and techniques with analytical methods and effective interpersonal practices; developing and evaluating new strategies to solve public affairs problems. OR

Combination of Education and Experience: Possess a combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience as (described above) to meet total qualification requirements for the grade level. To be computed by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level of GS-7. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR

Minimum Qualifications for GS-9:
Experience: Possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled? To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS-7 in Federal service. Specialized experience is using of oral and written mass communication principles and techniques with analytical methods and effective interpersonal practices; developing and evaluating new strategies to solve public affairs problems; possessing of principles and techniques of visual, and personal communications to implement a comprehensive public affairs program involving public information, internal communication, and community relations. OR

Education: Possess a 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., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR

Combination of Education and Experience: Possess a Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience as described above to meet total qualification requirements for the grade level. To be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR

Minimum Qualifications for GS-11:
Experience: Possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS-9 in Federal service. Specialized experience is using of oral and written mass communication principles and techniques with analytical methods and effective interpersonal practices; developing and evaluating new strategies to solve public affairs problems; possessing of principles and techniques of visual, and personal communications to implement a comprehensive public affairs program involving public information, internal communication, and community relations; designing and implementing a marketing plan for the medical center and coordinate slide shows, videotapes and other audiovisual products. OR

Education: Possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR

Combination of Education and Experience: Possess a combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience as stated above to meet total qualification requirements for the grade level. To compute by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for the grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-11. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.