Department of Defense Education Activity Logo
Position Title
Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist
Agency
Department of Defense Education Activity
Announcement Number
NC7X209008447716 Opens in new window
Open Period
Thursday, December 31, 2020 to Monday, January 11, 2021
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2. Current Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Civilian Employees

Do you meet one of the categories below?

• CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES SERVING ON A PERMANENT APPOINTMENT. You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action. (Block 24 of your SF-50 must be a "1" or "2" AND block 34 must be a "1"); OR

• CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES SERVING ON AN EXCEPTED SERVICE VETERANS RECRUITMENT APPOINTMENT (VRA). You must submit a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, reflecting current DoDEA Excepted Service VRA appointment (Block 24 must be a "2" AND block 34 must be a "2").

Supporting documentation: You must submit the documents which prove you are a current DoDEA employee as described in one of the categories above. To obtain a copy of SF-50s from employment with the Department of Defense, go to My Biz.

Are you a current Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) civilian employee?
(limit characters)
3. Current Permanent Department of Defense (DoD) Civilian Employee

Do you meet the following?

Current permanent Federal civilian serving on a permanent, competitive service appointment in any of the following Department of Defense (DoD) Agencies:

• U.S. Navy
• U.S. Marine Corps
• Department of the Air Force
• Department of the Army
• Other Department of Defense Agency (e.g., WHS, DLA, DFAS, DISA, DODDS, Defense Commissary, etc.)

Supporting documentation: You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action. (Block 24 must be a "1" or "2" AND block 34 must be a "1").

Notes:
*Current Permanent Federal Civilians: You can check your competitive service status by viewing your latest Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50, Block 34, Position Occupied. If eligible, you will see 1-Competitive Service in this block.
*If you are currently working on a temporary or term appointment, or you are serving on active duty in the U.S. military service in any of the above agencies, you are NOT eligible for this hiring category.
*If you are currently working for a private sector company performing work related to a contract with a federal agency, you are NOT eligible for this hiring category.
*Department of Defense employees can access their SF-50 at: My Biz

Are you a Current Permanent Department of Defense (DoD) Civilian Employee?
(limit characters)
4. Domestic Defense Industrial Base Facilities and Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce Flexibilities

Are you eligible under this authority for appointment?

Current or former Domestic Defense Industrial Base (DIB) Facilities and Major Range and Test Facilities Base (MTRFB) employee; and Who currently are or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain DIB or MTRFB.

Current DIB or MTRFB employees: Must have initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to the time-limited appointment, must have served under 1 or more time-limited appointments by a Domestic Defense Industrial Base (DIB) Facilities and Major Range and Test Facilities Base (MTRFB) for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years, and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.

Former DIB or MTRFB employees: Must have initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to the time-limited appointment, must have served under 1 or more time-limited appointments by a Domestic Defense Industrial Base (DIB) Facilities and Major Range and Test Facilities Base (MTRFB) agency for a total period of more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years, must have performed at an acceptable level throughout the service period(s), must apply for a position covered by these provisions within 2 years after their most recent date of separation, and must have been separated, with respect to their most recent separation, for reasons other than misconduct or performance.

Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable proof of your appointment eligibility by submitting a copy of your most recent SF-50 (block 24 must be a "0" or "3"AND block 34 must be a "1"), Notification of Personnel Action, documenting your DIB or MTRFB eligibility for a competitive service appointment AND performance rating showing you have performed at an acceptable level.
 
(limit characters)
5. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan

Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:

• You are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy,
• Your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy, and
• Your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

ICTAP applicants must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well-qualified is defined as meeting all of the minimum qualification standards and eligibility requirements as well as possessing skills that clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position.

*Note: Under competitive delegated examining, an ICTAP eligible will be considered well-qualified if they attain an eligibility rating of 90 or higher, not including points for veterans' preference.

Supporting documentation: Federal employees seeking ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.704, by submitting a copy of the following documents with your completed application:

• A copy of your agency notice; AND,
• A copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal; AND,
• A copy of your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location.  Additional information regarding ICTAP eligibility can be found in the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.  For more information, review the USAJOBS Resource Center.

Are you eligible under the Interagency Career Transition Assista• nce Plan (ICTAP)?
(limit characters)
6. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act

You are eligible for this hiring category if you:

• Are a current or former Land Management Agency employee (i.e. the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture; the Bureau of Land Management of the Department of the Interior; the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior; the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior; the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior; or the Bureau of Reclamation of the Department of the Interior); and
• Who currently are or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies.

Current land management agency appointees:
must have initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to the time-limited appointment, must have served under 1 or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years, and must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.

Former land management agency employees:
must have initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to the time-limited appointment, must have served under 1 or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a total period of more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years, must have performed at an acceptable level throughout the service period(s), must apply for a position covered by these provisions within 2 years after their most recent date of separation, and must have been separated, with respect to their most recent separation, for reasons other than misconduct or performance.

Supporting documentation: You are required to submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, documenting your Land Management eligibility for a competitive service appointment (block 24 must be a "0" or "3" AND block 34 must be a "1"), AND a copy of your performance rating showing you have performed at an acceptable level.

Are you eligible under this authority for appointment?
(limit characters)
7. Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer

This category includes competitive service, career or career-conditional employees of federal agencies other than the Department of Defense (e.g., Dept of Labor, VA). 

Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable documentation of your appointment eligibility, by submitting a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, (block 24 must be a "1" or "2" AND block 34 must be a "1").

*If you are currently working on a temporary or term appointment, or are serving on active duty in the U.S. military service, you are NOT eligible for this hiring category.
*If you are currently working for a private sector company performing work related to a contract with a federal agency, you are NOT eligible for this hiring category.

Are you applying to transfer from a federal agency other than the DoD?
(limit characters)
8. I am a military spouse who is currently married to my active duty sponsor. I am exercising my preference eligibility for positions within the local commuting area of my sponsor's current duty station.  I certify that I have not accepted nor declined a permanent, continuing Federal or non-appropriated fund position in the local commuting area of our current duty location. 

NOTE 1:  Military spouses are eligible for one permanent noncompetitive appointment using their preference eligibility for the duration of the active duty sponsor's assignment to a permanent duty station, as long as the military spouse has not declined or accepted a permanent Federal or non-appropriated fund position in the commuting area of the sponsor's current duty location.  If you certify that you have not used your preference at your sponsor's current duty location and it is discovered to be untrue, you may be subject to loss of MSP and possible disciplinary action. 

NOTE 2:  You must include a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. 

Supporting Documentation:  You must provide a signed Military Spouse PPP Self-certification Checklist, PCS orders/verification of duty location assignment, a copy of marriage certificate or license and documents as listed on the Military Spouse PPP Self-certification Checklist. .

Are you a Priority Placement Program DoD Military Spouse Preference Eligible?
(limit characters)
9. Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998

This category includes veterans whose discharge was under honorable conditions AND:

• who served 3 or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (NOTE: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet this eligibility); or
• who have preference eligibility; or
• who have derived preference

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998, as amended (VEOA) is a competitive service appointing authority that can only be used when filling permanent, competitive service positions. It cannot be used to fill excepted service positions.
 
"Preference eligible" under VEOA includes those family members entitled to derived preference. For eligibility information and supporting documentation requirements, go to VEOA Derived Preference.

Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. Acceptable documentation is:

• DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," showing dates of service, as well as character of service (Honorable, General, etc.). The member 4 copy of your DD Form 214 is preferable (Note: If you have more than one DD Form 214 for multiple periods of active duty service, you should submit a copy for each period of service.); OR
Future Military Retirees*: You are required to submit a copy of your retirement DD Form 214 OR a copy of your approved retirement letter AND a copy of your terminal leave letter OR certification document**. You will be required to provide your DD Form 214 prior to appointment; OR
Future Military Separatees*: You are required to submit a copy of your most recent DD Form 214 OR certification document** OR a copy of your most recent active duty orders AND a copy of your terminal leave request (if applicable). You will be required to provide your DD Form 214 prior to appointment.
Disabled Veterans: You are required to submit a copy of one of the separation documents identified above AND documentation of your overall service connected disability identified on the SF-15, page 2, section B or Section C.
*Active duty military members who are selected may not be appointed unless on terminal leave before the effective date of employment.
 
**The "certification" is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the certification is submitted for consideration in the hiring process, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the applicable job opportunity announcement. Prior to appointment, the service member's character of service and qualifying discharge or release must be verified through a DD Form 214 or equivalent documentation.
 
The SF-15 is available on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management forms webpage.

You may request copies of your military personnel records online.

Additional Veterans' preference information
U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Government-wide Veterans Employment webpage
U.S. Office of Personnel Management Veterans Services webpage (OPM Vet Guide)

Are you applying for consideration under the VEOA?
 
(limit characters)
Assessment 1
INSTRUCTIONS: Thank you for your interest in a Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist position with Department of Defense Education Activity. Your resume and the responses you provide to this assessment questionnaire will be used to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification. Please review your responses for accuracy before you submit your application. (limit characters)
1. Select the one statement that best describes the experience that you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of a Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist at the GS-15 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal Service. (limit characters)
For each item, select the one response that most accurately describes your current level of experience and capability using the scale below. (limit characters)
2. Plans work assignments and makes adjustments to meet substantial changes in workload. (limit characters)
3. Reviews work and accept or reject products, providing additional guidance as necessary. (limit characters)
4. Develops performance standards; and evaluates work performance of subordinate supervisors and team leaders.
(limit characters)
5. Interviews candidates for supervisory positions in the unit. (limit characters)
6. Reviews and approves serious disciplinary actions. (limit characters)
7. Provide advice and counsel on communications matters to senior leadership.
(limit characters)
8. Conducts communications training sessions for senior leaders and staff members.
(limit characters)
9. Represents communications on various senior level workgroups and/or committees to recommend or act on proposals that are policy-related or have significant impact on organization. (limit characters)
10. Represents the organization's director at conferences and meetings with other senior representatives of the DoD and other federal agencies and members of the public/private sector on matters related to organizations missions and programs.
(limit characters)
11. Find ways to improve business practices, promote team building and increase the quality of the work directed.
(limit characters)
12. Official spokesperson for the agency, when dealing with the media.

(limit characters)
13. Direct the execution of an integrated marketing, graphics, worldwide web, motion media, and/or public affairs operation to disseminate information. (limit characters)
14. Prepares Leadership and/or staff for public appearances with the news media, business, professional, educational, civic and/or government organizations and entities
(limit characters)
15. Plan and direct special events, ceremonies, tours and/or other activities involving highly visible public figures.
(limit characters)
16. Consults with Program Managers to execute communication plans for educational programs, priorities and initiatives.
(limit characters)
17. Assesses problems, identifies existing or potential problem areas and recommends communications strategies.
(limit characters)
18. Reviews, analyzes and/or evaluates the accomplishment of the overall organization's communication program.
(limit characters)
19. Reviews and analyzes programs in effect at organization and make recommendations for improvement.
(limit characters)
20. Evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of the agency's overall public communications (media relations/outreach) program, making changes and adjustments as required to improve performance in meeting agency objectives.
(limit characters)
21. Surveys trends in education and the general operation of schools and recommends changes or corrective action regarding communications as appropriate to senior leadership.
(limit characters)
22. Establishes and maintains a two-way dialog and rapport with representatives of local, regional, national and international news media organizations. (limit characters)
23. On a continuing basis, maintains an awareness of policy and guidance emanating from higher echelons, exercising sound technical judgment in developing or revising your organization-wide plans and objectives.
(limit characters)
24. Serve as the principal communications advisor to leadership.
(limit characters)
25. Issues new or revised guidance as appropriate.
(limit characters)
26. Provides counsel and advice to leadership in developing and implementing communications plans, strategies and techniques that are in keeping with organization objectives (limit characters)
27. Responsible for the School public relations program.
(limit characters)
28. Development and implementation of strategic communications plans, to create an understanding and commitment to the organization's vision, mission, agency priorities, goals and/or objectives. (limit characters)
29. Evaluates communications strategies and methods in use across the agency and provides agency wide information and guidance as appropriate.
(limit characters)
30. Plan, coordinate, and direct a proactive national public information and outreach strategy that promotes the understanding of the mission and vision and it's priorities, goals, objectives and educational programs and contributions among the general public.
(limit characters)
31. Makes decisions on non-routine, costly, or controversial training needs and training requests related to employees of the unit.
(limit characters)
32. Develops and is responsible for executing broad plans, objectives, and specific communications strategies for the organization's communications program. (limit characters)
33. Your responses to the Eligibility Assessment and Occupational Questionnaire, along with your resume and all supporting documentation are subject to evaluation and verification to ensure accuracy. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy.
(limit characters)