Public Affairs Specialist

Air Mobility Command • Scott AFB, IL

2d

About The Position

The Public Affairs Specialist carries out recurring, precedented public affairs assignments in support of the commander's priorities. The work includes elements of media operations, social media, community engagement, command information, visual information, communication planning, contingency and crisis response, special event planning, and policy review. The position produces or assists in producing materials that support the commander's public affairs goals, represents the public affairs office at meetings, and helps plan, organize, and carry out the visual information program.

The position requires specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level, qualifying graduate education, or a combination of experience and education. Applicants are evaluated on public affairs and communication knowledge, organizational knowledge, visual communication knowledge, research and analysis skills, relationship-building skills, and the ability to develop news stories and related articles. The role may require a Secret security clearance, on-call availability, work outside normal duty hours, and occasional travel away from the normal duty station.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Must complete the initial online questionnaire and additional assessment(s).
• Must be registered for Selective Service if male, as applicable.
• Must obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• Must meet the GS-1035 specialized experience, education, or combined experience-and-education qualification standard: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07; a qualifying master's or equivalent graduate degree, two years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or LL.B./J.D. in a relevant field; or a qualifying combination of experience and graduate education.
• Merit-promotion applicants must meet applicable federal time-in-grade requirements; one year at GS-07 is required for the GS-09 level when applicable.
• Knowledge of public affairs programs and written and oral communication principles, methods, and techniques.
• Knowledge of the organization's operations and functions sufficient to communicate accurate information.
• Knowledge of visual communication concepts, principles, policies, and practices, which may include illustrations, photography, presentations, television or motion-picture production, and base cable access television.
• Skill in gathering, evaluating, and interpreting information to identify potential problems, reach valid conclusions, and offer recommendations or resolutions.
• Skill in working with people to establish and maintain effective relationships with relevant groups and to communicate complex information to diverse public stakeholders.
• Ability to plan and develop news stories, features, and quasi-technical articles.
• Must submit official college transcripts when relying on education to qualify; foreign education requires evidence of U.S. equivalency when applicable.
• May be required to work on call and outside normal duty hours, including evenings, weekends, or holidays.
• May be required to travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
• Must use direct deposit as a federal employee.
• May be required to serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, depending on appointment type.

Responsibilities

• Carry out recurring, precedented public affairs assignments in support of the commander's priorities.
• Produce or assist in producing materials that support the commander's public affairs goals.
• Attend meetings as a representative of the public affairs office.
• Assist in planning, organizing, and carrying out the visual information program.
• Conduct and coordinate public affairs activities to develop communication between the agency and its stakeholders.
• Gather, evaluate, and interpret information to identify potential problems, reach conclusions, and recommend resolutions for recurring assignments.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with groups interested in or affected by Air Force and local installation or organization programs and policies.
• Produce written information conveying complex information to public stakeholders with different levels of understanding.
• Plan and develop news stories, features, and quasi-technical articles.
• May serve periodically on 24-hour alert duty as the public affairs on-call representative, answering news media and other inquiries after duty hours.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive a comprehensive benefits package, with benefits available to employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level