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Summary Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information. The primary purpose of this position is: to serve as a senior Public Affairs Specialist at United States Central Command (USCENTCOM). Responsibilities Purpose: Provides expert public affairs advice, authority, technical expertise, and management support to leadership. Provides policy and program guidance to the USCENTCOM CMD Group, Special Staff Offices and Directorates, to include the command's Components and Services and; administers the activities within a portion of the PA program for the organization. As a senior Public Affairs Specialist for the organization; plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates a major public affairs function with HQ USCENTCOM applicability, ensuring public affairs activities comply with legal and regulatory requirements and meet customer needs. Responds to or leads initiative to respond to information requests on the organization's program from the news media and specialized and general publics, to include all levels of the Department of Defense, local, state, and federal elected officials and special interest groups, community, and civic organizations. Manages wide-ranging programs, special projects, and initiatives with responsibility for researching, planning, executing, and evaluating complex public affairs operations, programs, policies, and strategies of significant importance and which affect functional areas and multiple organizational levels. Represents the organization with a variety of councils, boards, working groups, and panels inside and outside the agency, including Headquarters USCENTCOM, DoD (Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Staff, unified combatant command and sister services), and other governmental, nongovernmental, public, civic, service, industry, business, educational, entertainment, think tank, and media organizations. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In order to qualify, you must meet the SPECIALIZED experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions for the GS-1035, Public Affairs Series. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-12, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes: Mastery of communication principles, methods, practices, and techniques; analytical methods that enables the incumbent to serve as the technical authority on specific matters within the organization; and skill in applying these principles and methods in managing a public affairs program involving media relations, civic outreach, planning and execution of nationally prominent events, internal information, visual information, communication planning / research / analysis, standardization and evaluation, emerging technology/social media, security and policy review, public affairs resource management, or contingency planning and operations. Knowledge and skill to analyze public reaction to Air Force programs and policies in developing recommendations that significantly modify major organization programs or policies, and integrating diverse points of view in a communication plan in establishing and maintaining mutual understanding with various agency publics. FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-12 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: 1. Extensive knowledge of a full range of oral, written and visual communication concepts, principles, policies, practices, methods, applications, techniques, standards, and trends applicable to researching, planning, developing, coordinating, guiding, and evaluating broad public affairs and visual information programs; to develop new approaches to extremely difficult issues; and prioritizing requirements, strategies, and assets to perform the mission. 2. In-depth knowledge of the missions, roles, functions, organizational structures, relationships, and operational planning objectives of various DoD and Interagency organizations; as well as knowledge of a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to evaluate public reaction to agency programs and policies. 3. Skill in gathering, evaluating, and interpreting conflicting data, considering various points of view, to arrive at valid conclusions and offer meaningful recommendations. 4. Skill in planning and independently managing short- and long-term projects and to cultivate and sustain positive working relationships to project completion. 5. Ability to evaluate and assess program effectiveness and prepare reports on accomplishment of program objectives. 6. Ability to communicate effectively with tact and diplomacy, to advocate agency positions, to logically and effectively explain programs, functions, and activities and gain understanding of the organization's efforts by concerned publics. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Education Additional Information 120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur. Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist. Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement. Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit. Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here. If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here. Tax Law Impact for PCS: On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017" suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit GSA Bulletin FTR 20-04 here for additional information.