Public Affairs Officer

About the role

The Public Affairs Officer will administer a comprehensive communications program to inform and engage the public, news media, community organizations, and other stakeholders about the work and priorities of the United States Attorney's Office. Typical work assignments will include:

• Planning, initiating, and implementing comprehensive public affairs and communications strategies to enhance public understanding of USAO initiatives, priorities, and the Department of Justice's role in advancing the rule of law and instilling public confidence in the justice system.
• Serving as the office's chief spokesperson and principal communications advisor to the United States Attorney and senior leadership on all matters involving media relations and public messaging.
• Developing and executing proactive and reactive communications strategies, including crisis communications planning, to ensure accurate, timely, and consistent information reaches the public across all channels.
• Handling privileged, sensitive, and law enforcement-sensitive information with discretion, ensuring that public communications do not compromise active investigations, ongoing prosecutions, or the privacy rights of victims, witnesses, and defendants.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with members of the local and national news media, specialized groups, community organizations, and other stakeholders interested in the office's work and initiatives.
• Producing a broad range of high-quality written communications, including press releases, public statements, speeches, talking points, op-eds, and articles for both national publications and district-level distribution.
• Managing the office's social media presence and other digital communications platforms, developing content that advances office priorities and accurately represents the office's work to diverse audiences.
• Organizing and coordinating media interviews, press conferences, and other public-facing events involving senior leadership and staff; overseeing logistics and preparation for all media engagements.
• Providing expert advisory services and communications leadership to public affairs officers at federal, state, and local law enforcement partner agencies, promoting coordinated and consistent public messaging across the law enforcement community.
• Developing messaging frameworks and strategic communications initiatives that strengthen public trust in the justice system and help audiences understand the Department of Justice's mission and impact.
• Coinciding with public affairs officers at other United States Attorney's Offices on shared cases and initiatives, and maintaining close working relationships with public affairs staff at Department of Justice headquarters.

Responsibilities

Typical work assignments will include:

• Developing news releases, fact sheets, talking points, and related materials for publication in printed media;
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with print and broadcast media;
• Speech writing;
• Managing press events;
• Executive-level support for media and business interviews;
• Conducting workshops, seminars, and other meetings with various audiences.

Requirements

Conditions of employment:

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Your initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication, which includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing.
• Your continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
• If applicable, you must be registered for Selective Service.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

• GS-12: At the GS-12 level, you must meet one year of specialized experience at the GS-11 level. Specialized Experience is defined as performing the following types of duties: developing news releases, fact sheets, talking points, and related materials for publication in printed media; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with print and broadcast media; and conducting workshops, seminars, and other meetings with various audiences.
• GS-13: At the GS-13 level, you must meet one year of specialized experience at the GS-12 level. Specialized Experience is defined as performing the following types of duties: developing news releases, fact sheets, talking points, and related materials for publication in printed media; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with print and broadcast media; speech writing; managing press events; executive-level support for media and business interviews; and conducting workshops, seminars, and other meetings with various audiences.

Additional Information

The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.

EEO Statement/Policy

The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.