Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist (Media Manager) (IS-1035-14) - Smithsonian Institution
Washington, DC
About the Job
Description
OPEN DATE: October 2, 2024
CLOSING DATE: October 16, 2024 (This job will close once 100 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date.)
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
Open to all Qualified Applicants
What are Trust Fund Positions?
What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).
Conditions of Employment
- Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
- Complete a Probationary Period.
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
- The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
- Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
OVERVIEW
This position is located organizationally in the Office of Public Affairs (OPA), Assistant Secretary for
Communications and External Affairs, Smithsonian Institution (SI). SI is a diverse museum and research complex dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. This OPA position supervises a portion of OPA’s public affairs functions. Add summary of unit and position.
Communications and External Affairs, Smithsonian Institution (SI). SI is a diverse museum and research complex dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. This OPA position supervises a portion of OPA’s public affairs functions. Add summary of unit and position.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Media Relations
- Plans, directs and executes national and international communications campaigns to convey complex information concerning SI programs, research on program related areas, responsibilities and outreach activities. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with members of the top tier national and international news media, specialized groups interested in SI programs and with non-SI museums and academic and research organizations. Responds to information requests from local, regional,national and international news media, as well as specialized and general publics, on various programs in written and oral form, often requiring detailed explanations of performance in a particular situation.
- Serves as spokesperson for SI and units. Manages media relations for senior leadership. Manages
- crisis communications. Partners with OPA managers for the creation and maintenance of photo and video archives.
Public Affairs Advice and Guidance
- Serves as principal advisor. Provides guidance, assistance and consultation to other specialists in SI museums and research centers in initiating and maintaining direct contacts with the public, specialized groups, community and governmental entities and crisis communications. Evaluates community relations and outreach programs and recommends modification when appropriate. Prepares and oversees articles for publication in print, broadcast, blogs, podcasts and online media. Serves as principal advisor to the Director of OPA and the Assistant Secretary for Communications and External Affairs on all media matters. Works with Office of Government Relations on congressional communications, Office of General Counsel for information requests, Office of Advancement for donor communications and marketing colleagues for partnerships and advertising.
Supervision
- Performs all the major aspects of a supervisor which include:
- interviewing and selecting candidates for positions
- training
- assigning work
- conducting performance evaluations
- recommending promotions, reassignments and other personnel actions
- reviewing the completeness and thoroughness of work assignments
- counseling employees on problems related to work responsibilities
- adjudicating complaints
- responding to technical inquiries from subordinates to facilitate the completion of work
- Demonstrates leadership in planning and directing activities. Ensures the development and implementation of goals and objectives. Formulates policies and procedures. Ensures the integration of policies with those of other OPA teams.
Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Requires mastery of the principles, methods, practices, and techniques of media relations/communications combined with the highest analytical skills to plan optimal ways to convey information on controversial and often hotly contested issues to target audiences that are diverse and represent a wide variety of viewpoints, concerns, and interests.
- Requires the skill to apply this mastery to develop new methods and approaches in planning, integrating, and evaluating the media relations program for SI in an innovative and creative manner.
- Requires expert representational skills necessary to create meaningful communication interchanges with journalists as well as individuals and groups with antagonistic and opposing positions.
- Requires exceptional ability to tactfully offer constructive advice and criticism to senior executive staff throughout SI on a wide variety of public affairs matters.
- Requires a mastery of oral communication skills and specific experience as a spokesperson for an organization.
- Requires a mastery of written communication skills.
- Requires a minimum of three years experience working with video and/or film production.
- Requires a minimum of six years communications experience in a media, cultural, and/or scientific, and/or art, and/or complex education organization.
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact OCEA-ADMIN@si.edu . Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact OCEA-ADMIN@si.edu . Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: https://www.si.edu/oeesd.
Source : Smithsonian Institution