Federal Housing Finance Agency Logo
Position Title
Senior Communications Specialist (Stakeholder Relations)
Agency
Federal Housing Finance Agency
Announcement Number
OCAC-25-01 Opens in new window
Open Period
Thursday, October 31, 2024 to Wednesday, November 13, 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 veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND you:
  • have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more; OR,
  • are retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more?
For more information, review veterans;  https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. You must also submit the disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service and the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15.
(limit characters)
3. (1) Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who has been issued orders for a permanent change of station (PCS)? If yes, confirm you are indicated on the PCS orders; and that you:
  • have been married to the military member on or prior to the date of your spouse's PCS orders; AND
  • have not previously been appointed using this authority under these orders.
-OR-

(2) Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating of 100 percent at the time of retirement or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs?

-OR-

(3) Are you the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active-duty status?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

To verify your eligibility for option 1 identified above, you must submit a copy of your spouse's active military orders, and documentation verifying your marriage (e.g., a marriage certificate).

To verify your eligibility for options 2 and 3 identified above, you must submit the Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, Standard Form 15 and all supporting documentation identified on that document (e.g., Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service; death certificate and documentation identifying marital status at the time of death; disability letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs or Armed Service, etc..
(limit characters)
4. Do you meet one of the following Competitive Merit Promotion Eligibilities:
  • Current federal employees with career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold or have held a position at a lower grade level than the position being announced.
  • Transfer or Reinstatement eligibles: current federal or former employees with career or career-conditional appointments in the competitive service that hold, or have held a career or career-conditional position at a lower grade level as the position being announced; or,
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) eligibles

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation. For example, a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your competitive status or a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
(limit characters)
5. Were you formerly employed as a Federal civilian employee on a permanent competitive appointment or did you obtain career-conditional status (and are within 3 years of the date of separation or are a preference eligible) and have you never held the full performance level of this position? -OR
?
Are you currently employed as a Federal civilian employee in the Competitive Service and have you never held the full performance level of this position?

To verify your eligibility as a current or former Federal civilian employee, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. Your SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:

• career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND,

• status in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1).
(limit characters)
6. 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; 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

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
(limit characters)
7. Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past twelve months? -

OR

Are you a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who has completed your service within the past 36 months and are requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility due to your military service, status as a full-time student or other experience related to this position?

OR

Are you a current or former Peace Corps employee who has completed at least 36 months of continuous service and has been separated from the Peace Corps for less than three years?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your description of service or other proof of non-competitive eligibility. If you are a former Peace Corps volunteer or VISTA member who is requesting an extension of your non-competitive eligibility, please also provide the necessary documentation to support your request.
(limit characters)
8. Do you meet one of the following Non-Competitive Merit Promotion Eligibilities:
  • Current federal employees with career or career conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold or have held a position at the same or higher grade level than the position being announced.
  • Disabled veteran receiving 30% or more disability compensation from the VA;
  • Transfer or reinstatement eligible: current Federal or former employee with career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service that hold, or have previously held a career or career-conditional position at the same or higher grade level with the same or higher promotion potential as the position being announced; or,
  • Individual eligible under other non-competitive appointment authorities such as: Veterans Recruitment Authority; Military spouses under E.O. 13473; Certain former overseas employees; Present and former Peace Corps, Vista or Action volunteers; Former White House staff; Present and former Foreign Service officers and employees; Certain National Guard technicians; Schedule A; OPM Interchange Agreement and Other Miscellaneous Authorities.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation. For example, a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service; a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50); etc. All required documentation will be outlined in the Job Opportunity Announcement.
(limit characters)
9. Are you a current Excepted Service employee of a Federal Agency that has a valid interchange agreement with the Office of Personnel Management? For more information, review Interchange Agreements with Other Merit Systems.  http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiringinformation/competitive-hiring/#url=InterchangeAgreementsWithOtherMeritSystems 

-OR

Are you a current:
• Postal Career Service Employee;
• Postal Rate Commission Employee;
• Government Accountability Office (GAO) Employee; or,
• Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Employee 

For more information, review Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated By U.S. Office of Personnel Management. [[Show “Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated By U.S. Office of Personnel Management” as hyperlink to www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitivehiring/#url=MiscellaneousAuthoritiesNotRegulated 

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form (SF-50) reflecting your status.
(limit characters)
10. Do you have a severe physical, psychiatric or mental disability that qualifies you for a Schedule A Disability appointment?

For more information, review Individuals with Disabilities resources https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiringpaths/individuals-with-disabilities.

To verify your eligibility, you must provide appropriate medical documentation, i.e., a letter signed by a licensed medical professional or licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist stating your condition and restrictions.
(limit characters)
11. Were you formerly, but not currently, employed as a Federal civilian on a permanent competitive appointment and have you never held the grade or full performance level of this position?

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status.

Your separation SF-50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect:

• career or career-conditional (Tenure field is 1 or 2); AND,
• your status was in the competitive service (Position Occupied field is 1).
(limit characters)
12. Are you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions AND you:

• served three 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 the eligibility); OR,
• are entitled to veterans' preference?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources. 

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service.
(limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
2.

In the last five years (from the closing date of this announcement) have you served, or are you currently serving, as an Executive Branch Political, Schedule C, or Non-career Senior Executive Services appointee? You can find out if you have held one of these appointment types by looking at the SF-50s in your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF), in Section 5 where the legal authorities are listed.

  • A political appointee is an appointment made by the President without confirmation by the Senate (5 CFR 213.3102(c)) OR an assistant position to a top-level federal official if filled by a person designated by the President as a White House Fellow (5 CFR 213.3102(z)).
  • A Schedule C appointee occupies a position excepted from the competitive service by the President, or by the Director of OPM, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties (5 CFR 213.3301 and 5 CFR 213.3302).
  • A Non-career SES appointee is approved by the White House and serves at the pleasure of the appointing official without time limitations (5 CFR 317 Subpart F).
(limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for expressing interest in the Communications Specialist/Senior Communications Specialist (Stakeholder Relations) position located in the Office of Congressional Affairs and Communications (OCAC) at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). You will be evaluated on your responses to this assessment questionnaire; then, we will compare your responses against your resume and supporting documentation. Please Note: Your resume MUST clearly identify the dates that support your experience (month/year) and the number of hours per week worked for each position. (limit characters)
1. Minimum Qualifications EL-12: This section will be used to determine if you possess the specialized experience needed to qualify for this position. From the description below, choose the letter beside the statement that BEST describes your background relevant to this position at the EL-12 grade level.
(limit characters)
2. Minimum Qualifications EL-13: This section will be used to determine if you possess the specialized experience needed to qualify for this position. From the description below, choose the letter beside the statement that BEST describes your background relevant to this position at the EL-13 grade level. (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. I have crafted, led, and managed an effective engagement and relationship management strategy with key stakeholder groups and entities.
(limit characters)
4. I have identified and attended stakeholder meetings, briefings, and events in consultation with leadership to represent the organization and motivate relationship building.
(limit characters)
5. I have assisted with other special programs and events, including planning, execution, and management of events and other special programs regarding stakeholder relations.
(limit characters)
6. I have tracked, documented, and analyzed stakeholder opinion through news, public comments, and any public activities with media, congress, or other relevant stakeholders as they arise.
(limit characters)
7. I have assisted in developing short and long-term plans and established priorities.
(limit characters)
8. I have coordinated execution of communications plans and efforts.
(limit characters)
9. I have maintained high-level knowledge of an organization to help advance overall office results.
(limit characters)
10. I have drafted, edited and/or reviewed briefing materials for meetings, events, and media engagement for organization officials as identified by management.
(limit characters)
11. I have cultivated proficiency in an organization's subject matter areas, and I have coordinated with internal subject matter experts. (limit characters)
12. I have coordinated with organization subject matter experts with advanced technical knowledge of housing finance, banking, and finance issues, including both the primary and secondary mortgage markets, as well as familiarity with laws and regulations affecting the secondary mortgage market to guide staff under supervision.
(limit characters)
13. I have understood the technical and policy goals of an organization to formulate strategies and plans for engagement with internal and external stakeholders, as well as the general public.
(limit characters)
14. I have coordinated with leadership on the development and communication of an organization's message to stakeholders.
(limit characters)
15. Certification of Application: I understand that the responses I selected in this questionnaire must be fully supported by detailed descriptions of my work experiences in my resume. If my responses are not supported by my resume, the human resources office will rate my application based on the level of competency demonstrated in my resume. (If you select "No" to this question you will be removed from consideration.)
(limit characters)