Forest Service Logo
Position Title
Public Affairs Specialist
Agency
Forest Service
Announcement Number
24-CHI-OCR-12184277-DP Opens in new window
Open Period
Monday, October 30, 2023 to Wednesday, July 3, 2024
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.
Are you a current USDA employee who meets the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee, in which received official notice that your job is no longer needed or that you will lose your job by Reduction-in-Force (RIF)? If yes, confirm:

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

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
 
 
(limit characters)
3.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than USDA? If yes, confirm:

• you are located in the same local commuting area as 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.

 For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
 
 
(limit characters)
4. Have you registered for reemployment consideration AND meet one of the below: 

• Are you a current or former competitive service USDA employee who will be or was separated by Reduction-In-Force (RIF) and received a rating of satisfactory or above as your last annual performance rating? 
OR 
• Are you a former USDA competitive service employee who separated due to a compensable injury or disability?
(limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the location(s) you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location. You may only select up to 9 location(s). (limit characters)
  • No matches found
2. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
3. Are you a current or former Political appointee, Presidential appointee, and/or non-career Senior Executive Service (SES) appointee? (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in this Public Affairs Specialist, GS-1035-11/12 position with the USDA Forest Service. IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: If you are using education to qualify you must document your course work and/or degree completed in your resume or other application materials you submit. You must submit a copy of your transcripts that identifies for each course the college or university, semester or quarter hours earned, grade received, and date completed. If you are qualifying based on education and you do not submit specific course work information described below, your application will be rated not qualified for consideration. A copy of your official transcripts will be required before entrance on duty, if selected. Your responses are subject to verification. (limit characters)
This section will be used to determine if you possess the education and experience needed to qualify for this position. (limit characters)
1. From the statements below, select the response that best describes your education and/or experience as it pertains to meeting the Specialized Experience Requirements for the Public Affairs Specialist, GS-1035-11 position. Please select only one response. (limit characters)
2. From the statements below, select the response that best describes your experience as it pertains to meeting the Specialized Experience Requirements for the Public Affairs Specialist, GS-1035-12 position. Please select only one response. (limit characters)
For each of the following questions, choose the response that best describes your experience and training. Mark only one response for each question. Please note that your answers will be verified against the information you provide in your resume or application, as well as information provided by your references. Failure to respond to these questions will result in an ineligible rating. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
3. Plan, direct, and implement a comprehensive public affairs program for the unit. (limit characters)
4. Inform interested public including other agencies, organizations, and individuals, of forest service activities and programs. (limit characters)
5. Coordinate the public participation program in order to involve interested publics in the decision-making process. (limit characters)
6. Advise management of the probable public reaction to specific proposals, policies, or actions. (limit characters)
7. Collaborate with other staff to develop and implement public affairs communication plans, program strategies and techniques for dealing with addressing critical and complex public issues. (limit characters)
8. Provide input into the long-range planning, development, and coordination of the overall Public Affairs program. (limit characters)
9. Advise as to how to present an Organization's position on controversial issues. (limit characters)
10. Monitor public participation posture and public's perception of that posture. (limit characters)
11. Make recommendations on best techniques to use in organizing analysis and evaluation process. (limit characters)
12. Write, edit, and prepare news releases and programs for press, radio, and television. (limit characters)
13. Establish two-way communication with the publics including the news media and elected officials. (limit characters)
14. Represent the unit in meetings and discussions involving individuals, groups, and organizations working in support of, or opposing, the policies, programs, and work of the unit. (limit characters)
15. Develop and maintain an effective working relationship with media representatives in the unit's zone of influence. (limit characters)
16. Establish and maintain contact with print and broadcast media on a regional and national level for issues which generate regional or national interest. (limit characters)
17. Organize and conduct public meetings, workshops, field trips, or other forums designed to foster public participation. (limit characters)
18. Respond to inquiries from their offices and keep them informed of issues, especially important program or policy changes which may generate interest among their constituents. (limit characters)
19. Please select the statement(s) that reflect your educational achievement(s). Transcripts, certificates, or other appropriate documentation must be included with this application to verify GPA, coursework, degree, and/or completion of trade or vocational school program. (limit characters)
20. 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. Submitting false information or attempts to falsify information may be grounds for disqualifying you or for terminating you after you have been hired. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy. (limit characters)
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
21. I certify that I have read the announcement and have attached all supporting documents as required in the "Required Documents" section of the vacancy announcement. I understand that failure to submit all required legible documents prior to the closing date of the announcement may result in loss of consideration (limit characters)
22. I certify that I have read the vacancy announcement, more specifically the Summary section. I understand that this is an Open Continuous Recruitment (OCR) announcement and all of the duty locations listed may not fill position(s) from this announcement. (limit characters)