Public Affairs Specialist

This position is located in any field division, Office of Field Operations (FO), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and is responsible for planning, organizing, and developing communications strategies and media plans for mass media in support of the field division and the ATF mission.

Responsibilities

• Evaluating and determining effective methods of disseminating information that highlight programs and enforcement activities.
• Ensuring policies and views are consistent with public presentations and recognizing instances in which it is necessary to institute steps to resolve divergent public expression.
• Staying up to date and current with criminal enforcement and industry operations developments, with particular emphasis on matters that affect the public, legislative relationships and major program matters of immediate concern.
• Working with senior management to develop guidelines to ensure appropriate public information techniques are utilized.
• Communicating both orally and in writing to represent the organization with the media at conferences and meetings.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
• May be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
• You must meet all applicable time-in-grade requirements by the closing of this announcement.
• Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.

New employees hired pursuant to this vacancy announcement must sign a mobility agreement. The purpose of ATF's mobility policy is to enhance career development and progression, and achieve mission and business effectiveness. Applicants who decline to sign a mobility agreement, as required, will be removed from the hiring process.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Qualifications

Specialized experience is demonstrated experience, which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. Experience must be in the normal line of progression or must be related to the work of the position advertised and must be reflected in your resume.

To qualify for the Public Affairs Specialist position at the GS-13 grade level, candidates must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience must include all of the following:

• Planning, organizing, and developing programs for and determining effective dissemination of information through appropriate mass communications media.
• Responding to unscheduled media inquiries concerning ongoing investigations, conducting press conferences, arranging interviews, resolving complaints in general.
• Providing specialized training for specific division needs.

Your resume must support your responses to the application questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating.

Pay

Salary range is based on the Rest of US locality. Salary of selectee will be based on duty location. Locality-based tables are available at www.opm.gov.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.