Lead Public Affairs Specialist - Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

Summary The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is ranked within the top 5 mid-size agencies through the Partnership for Public Service’s Best Places to Work in the Federal Government Rankings! This Lead Public Affairs Specialist position is located in the Office of Public Participation. For more information visit: Office of Public Participation (OPP). Responsibilities As a Lead Public Affairs Specialist some of your typical work assignments may include: Leading development of communication strategies, key messaging, and communication materials for OPP to include speech writing, presentations, marketing, technical editing, formatting, and document layout design. Demonstrating knowledge of the production, consumption, and distribution of information and ideas to inform various audiences (specialists and non-specialists) via written, oral, and visual media. Focus on digital media platforms. Identifying distinct audiences and crafts communications materials appropriately to effectively convey Office news and information. Recognizing or using correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; understanding and implementing writing style principles—such as concision, cohesion, coherence, and clarity—to communicate information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in the appropriate genre and in a brief, clear, and organized manner; producing written information, which may include complex and technical content, that is appropriate for the intended audiences. Monitoring media coverage and analyzing public sentiment to gauge the effectiveness of communications efforts. Understanding and keeping up to date on the economic, political, and social trends affecting the organization and is aware of the organization's impact on the external environment. Leading the team in: identifying, distributing, and balancing workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established work flow, skill level, and/or occupational specialization; making adjustments to accomplish the workload in accordance with established priorities to ensure timely accomplishment of assigned team tasks; and ensuring that each employee has an integral role in developing the final team product. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen or National. You must provide your SF-50 (see Required Documents section). A one-year probationary period may be required. A background investigation is required. **This is not a bargaining unit position. Generally, male applicants must be registered with the Selective Service. Relocation expenses will not be paid. You may be required to divest certain energy-related securities. Time-in-grade requirements must be met within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement unless you are (1) eligible for a special hiring authority OR (2) reinstatement eligible. You must meet qualification (experience and/or education) requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Qualifications To view the eligibility and qualification requirements of a Lead Public Affairs Specialist, GS-1035, please visit: Public Affairs Specialist, 1035. You must have one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is defined as: having extensive experience and skills specifically related to managing and coordinating public relations and communication efforts. As a lead, the candidate would be responsible for overseeing and guiding the work of other public affairs professionals, demonstrating leadership and strategic capabilities in the realm of public relations. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience. Please do not cut and paste the position description, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. Education There is no education requirement for this position; therefore, transcripts are not required. Additional Information Our employees ranked FERC as a top 5 mid-size agency in both Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) and Effective Leadership according to the Partnership for Public Service’s Best Places to Work in the Federal Government! In addition, FERC was also ranked #1 in Work-Life Balance and we are proud to offer telework and workplace flexibilities in accordance with agency policy. The duty location of this position is Washington, DC. Agency employees are eligible for telework and other workplace flexibilities. Telework days and waiting periods for eligibility are determined when an employee enters on duty. When promotion potential is shown, future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval. If selected for this position, you will be required to: Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for Federal employment. Have your Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choice. Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. FERC also participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). For more information about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify. Attend a mandatory ethics training. We are governed by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Standards of Conduct, the criminal conflict of interest statutes, and FERC’s supplemental ethics regulation, which specifically prohibits FERC employees from holding certain energy-related securities. To comply with these regulations and statutes, divestiture of these securities may be required after you begin employment. See 5 C.F.R. 2634-41; 18 U.S.C. 201-208; 5 C.F.R. 3401. If selected, you may also be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of appointment. Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch.