Public Affairs Specialist

Headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command • McConnell AFB, KS

2d

About The Position

This is an Air Reserve Technician (ART) enlisted position in the Public Affairs Office of an Air Force Reserve wing. The incumbent serves as the senior NCO/Public Affairs Superintendent and carries out a broad range of wing public affairs assignments supporting the mission and the Commander’s/Director’s priorities. Work includes internal information, media operations, social media, community engagement, command information, visual information, communication planning, contingency and crisis response, special-event planning, environmental and security matters, policy review, and resource management. The incumbent also trains reservists to perform these duties.

ARTs are members of the regular career civil service and receive benefits granted to Federal employees in the competitive civil service. The incumbent’s regular assignments are ART duties, but some non-ART duties may be assigned, generally not exceeding 30 percent of total responsibilities. The work schedule is aligned to allow participation in unit training assemblies (UTA), and the incumbent must meet and maintain Air Force Reserve requirements, including military membership, uniform, specialty, and other military qualifications. Work may occasionally involve travel away from the normal duty station and uncommon tours of duty. The role may require evenings, weekends, holidays, shift work, or emergency overtime.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Must be a current member of the Air Force Reserve or be willing and qualified to join; selected ARTs must obtain and maintain Air Force Reserve membership and meet uniformed military requirements.
• Must obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance; a clearance may be required.
• Must meet Air Force Reserve requirements, including job-specific military specialty requirements and other military qualifications such as age, height, weight, and physical fitness standards.
• Must maintain current certifications.
• Must meet one of the following qualification paths: at least one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level or equivalent; a Ph.D. or equivalent graduate degree; three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or a qualifying combination of education and experience totaling at least 100% of the requirements.
• Specialized experience must include using standard print and electronic media and interpersonal communication techniques to convey news and information to internal and external audiences.
• Merit promotion applicants must meet the applicable GS time-in-grade requirement: one year at GS-09 for GS-11. This applies to current GS employees and those who held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skill in communication principles, methods, practices, and techniques for developing written and visual information.
• Demonstrate skill in gathering, evaluating, and interpreting data to identify potential problems, reach valid conclusions, and offer meaningful recommendations.
• Demonstrate ability to plan and develop news stories and features and to design and lay out final products.
• Demonstrate ability to present information logically, clearly, and concisely to audiences with differing levels of comprehension.
• Demonstrate knowledge of methods used to evaluate news significance.
• Demonstrate skill in developing and maintaining effective relationships with AFRC staff, AFRC public affairs officers, MAJCOM counterparts, and other DoD/USAF agencies to obtain and convey information.
• Submit college transcripts when qualifying based on education, either alone or in combination with experience.
• Male applicants must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• Federal employees are required to use direct deposit.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate planning and development of complex, high-level public affairs assignments in support of commanders’ programs and priorities.
• Accomplish work for the wing media relations program.
• Provide technical guidance and policy interpretation to military and civilian managers regarding internal information, media relations, community relations, and administrative functions for Reserve units.
• Execute the Employer Support Program.
• Establish an interchange of ideas and issues among wing personnel, community representatives, social and civic groups, and others concerning problems that might affect wing activities.
• Perform duties for the internal information program.
• Train reservists in the accomplishment of public affairs tasks.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• ARTs are eligible for 15 days of active-duty tour each year, with military leave granted at full civilian pay.
• A comprehensive Federal employee benefits package is available, subject to position type and eligibility.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized; the announcement also notes that recruitment and/or retention incentives may or may not be used.
• Leave accrual may be authorized upon request.
• If authorized, PCS relocation expenses may be paid in accordance with JTR and Air Force regulations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree