SummaryThis position is in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The incumbent serves as Director of the Office of Public Affairs and Strategic Communications and reports to ECA's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. The incumbent determines the bureau's strategic communications architecture, drafts executive communications for ECA and Department principals, directs bureau media relations, supervises office personnel, and oversees office operations, including the annual operating budget.
DutiesHelp
- Directs the strategy and structure of ECA's public-facing communications, including its narrative framework, digital channel portfolio, and visual identity.
- Develops and adapts the bureau's public-positioning framework to explain ECA's mission and impact to Department leaders, Congress, interagency and implementing partners, the press, and the public as priorities shift.
- Serves as the bureau's principal advisor on public affairs and applies expert knowledge of ECA's public diplomacy portfolio, its foreign policy purposes, and its stakeholders.
- Supervises staff performing public affairs and communications functions.
- Develops statements of work for contracts covering about 20 personnel, coordinates contract matters with procurement officials and vendors, and oversees COR monitoring of vendor performance.
RequirementsHelp
Conditions of employment- U.S. Citizenship is required.
- Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
- Statement of Employment & Financial Interest required prior to appointment.
QualificationsApplicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement.
NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement.
Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F.
Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.
Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:- Experience directing public affairs functions, including media relations, executive communications, and multichannel initiatives that require coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience managing public affairs operations: leading staff and overseeing communications budgets and contracts.
- Experience establishing positioning frameworks, communications architecture, and approval standards across the bureau to adapt communications approaches in response to shifts in Department priorities.
- Experience advising senior leadership on communications risks and developing response strategies for sensitive or rapidly evolving issues.
- Experience establishing communications performance measures, using analytics, and emerging technologies to improve communications strategy and operations.
There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-15 position.
In addition, applicant's experience must also demonstrate that the candidate possesses the following qualities:- Ability to assign, review, and supervise the work of others;
- Objectivity and fairness in judging people on their ability, and situations on the facts and circumstances;
- Ability to adjust to change, work pressures, or difficult situations without undue stress;
- Willingness to consider new ideas or divergent points of view; and
- Capacity to "see the job through."
EducationEducation requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.
Additional information- To request a reasonable accommodation for additional time on the timed sections of the assessment, please submit your request using the "Request a Reasonable Accommodation" button within the Assessment Application.
For all other reasonable accommodations at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) at [redacted].
OAA is responsible for reviewing and adjudicating reasonable accommodation (RA) requests for the Assessment Battery being used for this announcement. The following applies to all RA requests:
- RA requests cover additional time on timed sections only.
- Applicants submitting a RA request MUST attach supporting medical documentation signed by a licensed, treating medical provider. The documentation should describe the nature, severity, and expected duration of the condition, identify the relevant medical condition or diagnosis, and explain the basis for the requested extension. RA requests that do not contain supporting medical documentation attachments at the time of initial request may be subject to further review.
- Note: the following documents do not, on their own, qualify for automatic approval of the RA request: Schedule A letters, VA benefits letters, or SSA letters.
- Applicants MUST submit their application before the vacancy closes, even if pending an accommodation decision.
- Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow instructions related to medical documentation provided in the vacancy announcement prior to beginning the RA process.
- Applicants will have 48 hours after their RA request is adjudicated to complete the assessment battery. Scores generated after the allotted timeframe will not be admissible and the applicant will not be considered further for the vacancy.
- If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval.
- Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.
- Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM's CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
BenefitsHelp
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
