Bureau of Reclamation Logo
Position Title
Public Affairs Specialist
Agency
Bureau of Reclamation
Announcement Number
BOR-CGB-23-MP-11963390-MT Opens in new window
Open Period
Friday, May 12, 2023 to Tuesday, May 30, 2023
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 Bureau of Reclamation Employee (Promotion)

To claim Competitive eligibility as a Current Bureau of Reclamation employee, please confirm:

  • You currently hold a position at a grade level (or equivalent) that is at or below the advertised full performance level for this position.
  • (Trades Positions) You currently hold a position at a pay rate that is at or below the advertised full performance level for this position.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) representing your permanent, competitive status including:
  • Career or Career-Conditional status (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND
  • Competitive Service status (Position Occupied field is 1). 
In addition to submitting your most recent SF-50, if you have held a higher grade level on a permanent basis please submit a copy of SF-50, which documents the highest grade you have held on a permanent basis. Additional supporting documentation requirements are listed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

Are you a current, permanent Bureau of Reclamation employee applying for competitive Promotion?
  (limit characters)
3. Current Bureau of Reclamation Employee (Reassignment, Change to Lower Grade, Re-Promotion)

To claim Non-Competitive eligibility as a Current Bureau of Reclamation employee, please confirm you are applying to be considered for one of the following:
  • Reassignment: You currently hold the same grade level with the same or higher promotion potential as the position being advertised.
  • Change to Lower Grade: You currently hold a higher grade level with the same or higher promotion potential than the position being advertised.
  • Re-Promotion: You have previously held the same grade level with the same or higher promotion potential as the position being advertised.
  • Trades Positions: You currently hold or have previously held a position at the same or higher rate of pay as the position being advertised. 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) representing your permanent, competitive status including:
  • Career or Career-Conditional status (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND
  • Competitive Service status (Position Occupied field is 1). 
In addition to submitting your most recent SF-50, if you have held a higher grade level on a permanent basis please submit a copy of SF-50, which documents the highest grade you have held on a permanent basis. Additional supporting documentation requirements are listed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

Are you a current, permanent Bureau of Reclamation employee applying to be considered for a Reassignment, Change to Lower Grade or Re-Promotion? (limit characters)
4. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)

To claim CTAP eligibility, please confirm:
  • You are a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position? AND
  • You are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND
  • 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; AND
  • 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 the equivalent.
To verify CTAP eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation with your application to include:
  • Your agency notice, such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice; AND
  • Your most recent annual performance appraisal rating of record; AND
  • Your most recent SF-50, or equivalent personnel action, noting current position, grade level, and duty location.
Additional supporting documentation requirements are listed in the Required Documents section of this announcement. For more information, visit the USAJOBS Help Center or review The Employee's Guide to Career Transition.

Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in The Department of the Interior with CTAP eligibility? (limit characters)
5. Current Department of the Interior Employee (Promotion)

To claim competitive eligibility as a Current Department of the Interior employee, please confirm:
  • You currently hold a position at a grade level (or equivalent) that is at or below the advertised full performance level for this position.
  • (Trades Positions) You currently hold a position at a pay rate that is at or below the advertised full performance level for this position.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) representing your permanent, competitive status including:
  • Career or Career-Conditional status (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND
  • Competitive Service status (Position Occupied field is 1). 
In addition to submitting your most recent SF-50, if you have held a higher grade level on a permanent basis please submit a copy of SF-50, which documents the highest grade you have held on a permanent basis. Additional supporting documentation requirements are listed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

Are you a current Department of the Interior employee applying for competitive Promotion? (limit characters)
6. Current Department of the Interior Employee (Reassignment, Change to Lower Grade, Re-Promotion)

To claim Non-Competitive eligibility as a Current Department of the Interior employee, please confirm you are applying to be consider for one of the following:
  • Reassignment: You currently hold the same grade level with the same or higher promotion potential as the position being advertised.
  • Change to Lower Grade: You currently hold a higher grade level with the same or higher promotion potential than the position being advertised.
  • Re-Promotion: You have previously held the same grade level with the same or higher promotion potential as the position being advertised.
  • Trades Positions: You currently hold or have previously held a position at the same or higher rate of pay as the position being advertised. 
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) representing your permanent, competitive status including:
  • Career or Career-Conditional status (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND
  • Competitive Service status (Position Occupied field is 1). 
In addition to submitting your most recent SF-50, if you have held a higher grade level on a permanent basis please submit a copy of SF-50, which documents the highest grade you have held on a permanent basis. Additional supporting documentation requirements are listed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

Are you a current Department of the Interior employee applying to be considered for a Reassignment, Change to Lower Grade or Re-Promotion? (limit characters)
7. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)

To claim LMWFA eligibility, please confirm:
  • You are a current or former term or temporary employee of a Land Management Agency (Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management; National Park Service; Fish and Wildlife Service; Bureau of Indian Affairs; or Bureau of Reclamation); AND
  • You were originally hired to a time-limited position under a competitive appointment; AND
  • You served one or more time-limited appointments at a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; AND
  • You performed at an acceptable level of service during each period of service; AND
  • You have been separated for no more than two years and departed that position in good standing, if you are no longer employed by the land management agency.
To verify LMWFA eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation with your application to include: 
  • Your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50, or equivalent personnel action.
  • Your performance appraisal that demonstrates you meet the requirements outlined in the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act.
Additional supporting documentation requirements are listed in the Required Documents section of this announcement. For more information, visit the USAJOBS Help Center or review the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act FAQs.

Are you a current or former employee of a Land Management Agency with LMWFA eligibility? (limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the location(s) you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location. (limit characters)
2. Certificates of Eligible Applicants for this position may be shared with other Federal agencies at their request. This may include other Offices within the Bureau of Reclamation, other Bureaus within the Department of the Interior, and/or other Federal agencies. If your information is shared with another office/bureau/agency, you will be notified. Do you authorize the sharing of your information with other Federal agencies? If you respond "No" to this question, your information will not be shared and you will not be considered for employment by the requesting agency. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in the Public Affairs Specialist position with the Bureau of Reclamation. We will evaluate your resume and your responses to this assessment questionnaire to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for this position. Your responses are subject to verification. Please review your responses for accuracy before you submit your questionnaire.  (limit characters)
1. Select the one statement that best describes the education and/or experience that you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of a Public Affairs Specialist at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal Service. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
2. Arranges for facilities, publicity, speakers, reception table, handouts and displays, recording of proceedings, and medial interviews. (limit characters)
3. Skill communicating and accurately represent sensitive issues and/or policies to media, interest groups, elected officials and/or high-level government representatives. (limit characters)
4. Develop specialized strategies, communication campaigns and associated communication products that support the organization's objectives. (limit characters)
5. Develop improvements to meet the needs of the public relations program more effectively. (limit characters)
6. Develops and implements communication strategies to convey information on the agency's programs. (limit characters)
7. Develops and maintains a working relationship with representatives of stakeholder groups, including environmental and agricultural, multiple organizations, water districts, and individuals. (limit characters)
8. Tailors products to best suit various publics. (limit characters)
9. Responds to media inquiries, designs information packets, meets with editorial boards, trains and advises staff on public affairs matters, makes public presentations and serves as spokesperson at public events (limit characters)
10. Responds to media inquiries, designs information packets, meets with editorial boards, trains and advises staff on public affairs matters, makes public presentations and serves as spokesperson at public events. (limit characters)
11. Maintain and develop content for the social media and web pages according to Reclamation standards. (limit characters)
12. Develops new tools and utilizes new products to increase the outreach and communications capabilities. (limit characters)
13. Utilizes writing and editing skills to develop a broad array of written public information materials. (limit characters)
14. Writes a variety of articles, news releases, scripts, and speeches to convey information and clarify the programs, operations, and activities to a variety of specialized audiences and the general public. (limit characters)
15. Applying the principles and methods of written and oral communication to provide public information and carry out community relations activities for internal and external audiences. (limit characters)
16. Review and recommend changes to pending organizational plans and policy modifications. (limit characters)
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
17. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information included in this questionnaire is true, correct, and provided in good faith. I understand that if I make an intentional false statement or commit deception or fraud in this application and its supporting materials, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process, I may be fined or imprisoned (18 U.S.C. 1001); my eligibilities may be cancelled, I may be denied an appointment, or I may be removed and debarred from Federal service (5 C.F.R. part 731). I understand that any information I give may be investigated. I understand that responding "No" to this item will result in my not being considered for this position. (limit characters)
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