Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist (Communications Director)

Internal Revenue Service•Anchorage, AK

About The Position

This announcement is for a Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist (Communications Director) within the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) business unit. The role involves exercising delegated managerial authority to oversee the planning, directing, and execution of a program or program segments. This includes setting goals and objectives for supervisors, approving long-range work plans, managing policy changes, overseeing organizational changes, and allocating budget funds. The position requires a comprehensive understanding of IRS and CI missions, operations, and strategies, along with strong communication, negotiation, analytical, and team-building skills. A general understanding of law enforcement, technology, and personnel issues is also necessary. The specialist will need detailed knowledge of nationwide criminal investigation programs and the ability to visualize the impact of new programs on media/communication requirements. A comprehensive knowledge of work planning, analysis, resource utilization, coordination, and evaluation principles is essential, as is proficiency in communicating complex technical information effectively, both orally and in writing, and the ability to handle controversial or sensitive matters persuasively.

Requirements

One (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the next lower level within the payband or GS grade.
Experience with management techniques, methods, theories, principles, and labor relations concepts, to assure optimum utilization of personnel, equipment, and space for the accomplishment of all program objectives with combined technical and administrative oversight.
Experience applying regulations, other official guidance and principles, including the latest procedures and techniques sufficient to oversee the planning, development and implementation of the technical aspects of programs specific to the position being filled.
Experience applying basic budget management principles and practices (i.e. ability to maintain and manage financial resources).
Experience applying communicative techniques to effectively and diplomatically interact with internal and external customers.
Time After Competitive Appointment (TACA): Current civilian employees must have completed at least 90 days of federal civilian service since their latest non-temporary appointment from a competitive referral certificate.
A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of overall IRS mission, operations, organization, and National Compliance Strategy.
Thorough knowledge of CI mission, operations, and organization.
General management experience.
Strong communications, interpersonal, negotiation, analytical and team building skills.
General understanding of law enforcement, technology and personnel issues.
Detailed expert knowledge of all phases of nationwide criminal investigation programs.
Ability to use this program to visualize the effect of new or revised programs and to make informed decisions to meet Criminal Investigation wide media/communication requirements.
A comprehensive knowledge of the principles and techniques of work, planning, analysis, resource utilization, coordination and evaluation.
Skill in communicating highly complex technical information.
Ability to effectively deal with others on controversial or sensitive matters.
Ability to persuade and motivate others and to exercise sound judgment.
Experience developing, coordinating, and delivering internal and external communications products related to law enforcement operations, organizational initiatives, or executive priorities to support program objectives and stakeholder engagement.
Experience applying knowledge of IRS and Criminal Investigation programs, organizational structure, and operational priorities to develop recommendations, communications strategies, or guidance supporting law enforcement and administrative initiatives.
Experience coordinating communications activities with executives, program managers, public affairs staff, and internal or external stakeholders to ensure accurate and consistent messaging.
Experience preparing and presenting written and oral briefings, talking points, speeches, reports, or other communications materials for senior leadership, employees, or external audiences.
Experience managing or advising on communications related to sensitive, high-visibility, or time-sensitive matters involving law enforcement operations, organizational issues, or executive-level initiatives.
Experience evaluating communications needs and recommending approaches to support organizational objectives, employee engagement, media coordination, or stakeholder outreach.
Experience leading or supporting projects, initiatives, or program activities involving communications planning, executive correspondence, media relations, employee communications, or strategic messaging.
Experience reviewing communications products for accuracy, consistency, alignment with organizational priorities, and compliance with applicable policies, procedures, or disclosure requirements.

Responsibilities

Exercise delegated managerial authority to oversee the overall planning, directing and timely execution of a program, several program segments, or comparable staff functions.
Develop, assign, and obtain higher-level clearance for goals and objectives for supervisors or managers of subordinate organizational units.
Approve multi-year and longer-range work plans developed by supervisors or managers.
Manage the overall work to enhance achievement of goals and objectives.
Oversee the revision of long-range plans, goals, and objectives for the work directed.
Manage the development of policy changes in response to changes in appropriations or other legislated changes.
Manage organizational changes throughout the organization directed or major changes to the structure and content of the program or program segments directed.
Exercise discretionary authority to approve the allocation and distribution of funds in the organization's budget.
Develop, coordinate, and deliver internal and external communications products related to law enforcement operations, organizational initiatives, or executive priorities.
Develop recommendations, communications strategies, or guidance supporting law enforcement and administrative initiatives.
Coordinate communications activities with executives, program managers, public affairs staff, and internal or external stakeholders.
Prepare and present written and oral briefings, talking points, speeches, reports, or other communications materials.
Manage or advise on communications related to sensitive, high-visibility, or time-sensitive matters.
Evaluate communications needs and recommend approaches to support organizational objectives, employee engagement, media coordination, or stakeholder outreach.
Lead or support projects, initiatives, or program activities involving communications planning, executive correspondence, media relations, employee communications, or strategic messaging.
Review communications products for accuracy, consistency, alignment with organizational priorities, and compliance with applicable policies, procedures, or disclosure requirements.