USA Staffing

Position Title: Communications Specialist
Agency: Department of Energy - Agency Wide
Announcement Number: 21-SC-00659-11202290-DE Opens in new window
Open Period: Tuesday, August 17, 2021 to Monday, August 30, 2021

For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.

1. Do you claim Veterans' Preference?

A. No, I do not claim Veterans' Preference

B. 0-point Sole Survivorship Preference (SSP)

C. 5-point preference based on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (TP)

D. 10-point preference for non-compensable disability or Purple Heart (XP)

E. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of at least 10% but less than 30% (CP)

F. 10 point preference based on widow/widower or parent of a deceased veteran, or spouse or parent of a disabled veteran (XP)

G. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of 30% or more (CPS)

2. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency, other than the Department of Energy?

If yes, confirm:

--you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy;
--you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated;
--you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND
--your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or equivalent.

For more information on eligibility visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/ictap/

Check the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section in the job announcement for instructions to support your eligibility to apply for this vacancy.

A. Yes

B. No

1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.

2. Do any of your relatives work for the agency to which you are applying? If so, please list any applicable names below. Please enter N/A in the text box, if not Applicable. (Include: father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, father-in-law, mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, and half sister).

Conditions of Employment

This position may have pre-employment requirements and conditions for continued employment. Your answers to the questions in this section will indicate your understanding of, possession of, and the ability to obtain and maintain these requirements and conditions.

1. This position is covered by the bargaining unit. I acknowledge that I have been informed that this position is covered by bargaining unit.

A. Yes

B. No

Assessment 1

Thank you for your interest in the Communication Specialist, GS-11/12 position with Department of Energy. 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.

1. GS-11 - Choose one answer that best describes your education and/or experience.

A. I have successfully completed 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

B. I possess a combination of education and experience that together meets the requirements for this position.

C. I possess at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Assisting in a variety of strategic communications and outreach programs; Using a full range of concepts and techniques of marketing and communications skills to provide program information material; Assisting in developing materials to convey information in a professional format for publication; Using digital technology and web applications to assist in developing informational materials for dissemination.

D. I do not meet any of the requirements as described.

2. GS-12 - Choose the answer that best describes your experience.

A. I possess at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Developing relationships with internal and external stakeholders to assist with communication of program activities and outreach goals; Using digital technology and web applications to develop informational materials for dissemination; Analyzing best practices for communicating scientific information to a variety of audiences; Evaluating the effectiveness of communications plans and recommending areas for improvement.

B. I do not possess the specialized experience required for this position.

3. Please indicate what position(s) on your resume supports this response (such as title, organization & date). If not applicable, put N/A.

Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.

4. Assist in writing and editing original internal staff announcements, messages, and news items for internal audiences and schedule their distribution.

A. I have not had education, training, or experience in performing this task.

B. I have had education or training in how to perform this task, but have not yet performed it on the job.

C. I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures.

D. I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee.

E. I am considered an expert in performing this task. I have supervised performance of this task or am normally the person who is consulted by other workers to assist or train them in doing this task because of my expertise.

5. Maintain internal and external stakeholder database lists.

A. I have not had education, training, or experience in performing this task.

B. I have had education or training in how to perform this task, but have not yet performed it on the job.

C. I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures.

D. I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee.

6. Assist in preparing, socializing, and executing strategic internal communication campaigns for events like Combined Federal Campaign, Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, etc.

A. I have not had education, training, or experience in performing this task.

B. I have had education or training in how to perform this task, but have not yet performed it on the job.

C. I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures.

D. I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee.

7. Use Google Suite, OneNote, or other collaborative editing and document sharing technologies.

A. I have not had education, training, or experience in performing this task.

B. I have had education or training in how to perform this task, but have not yet performed it on the job.

C. I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures.

D. I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee.

8. Record, edit, caption, and archive Zoom and Teams video materials.

A. I have not had education, training, or experience in performing this task.

B. I have had education or training in how to perform this task, but have not yet performed it on the job.

C. I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures.

D. I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee.

Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).

9. Have you managed an internal or employee communications program for a federal agency?

A. Yes

B. No

Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.

10. Prepared electronic briefings for senior leadership for town hall and similar events, including soliciting questions, preparing talking points, and collecting responses.

A. I have not had education, training, or experience in performing this task.

B. I have had education or training in how to perform this task, but have not yet performed it on the job.

C. I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures.

D. I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee.

11. Prepare, post, and archive internal communication content on an intranet or other internal communications web service using Drupal or Sharepoint.

A. I have not had education, training, or experience in performing this task.

B. I have had education or training in how to perform this task, but have not yet performed it on the job.

C. I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures.

D. I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee.

12. Conduct environmental scanning of internal and external sources to identify and share content of interest or importance to senior leadership and staff.

A. I have not had education, training, or experience in performing this task.

B. I have had education or training in how to perform this task, but have not yet performed it on the job.

C. I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures.

D. I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee.

13. Lead or facilitate groups or teams to develop, socialize, and manage large-scale public events.

A. I have not had education, training, or experience in performing this task.

B. I have had education or training in how to perform this task, but have not yet performed it on the job.

C. I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures.

D. I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee.

14. Your responses to the Announcement and Assessment Questionnaires, 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.

A. Yes, I verify that all of my responses to this questionnaire are true and accurate. I accept that if my supporting documentation and/or later steps in the selection process do not support one or more of my responses to the questionnaire that my application may be rated lower and/or I may be removed from further consideration.

B. No. I do not accept this agreement and/or I no longer wish to be considered for this position.

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