The BLM's multiple-purpose mission continually provides complex challenges in communicating with a wide variety of audiences. The incumbent assists with developing strategies and practices to effectively communicate with federal, state, local, and tribal agencies and elected officials including members of Congress; non-governmental organizations and interest groups; industry; traditional and news media outlets; public land users; and other stakeholders.
Duties
Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.
The GS-09 is an entry-level position, whereas the GS-11 performs a wide variety of assignments designed to enhance the public's understanding of BLM programs, to assess public reaction to BLM activities, and to evaluate the effectiveness of communication materials and programs. Work may involve responding to media questions, developing informational materials, and developing portions of comprehensive communications plans. The incumbent is responsible for timely dissemination of accurate and balanced information about BLM programs, activities, and responsibilities to diverse audiences, utilizing both traditional communication channels as well as digital and new media platforms.
The full performance GS-12 incumbent is required to deviate from standard approaches in developing new ways to communicate the BLM's message on controversial and sensitive issues where public reaction has been negative, hostile or indifferent. The BLM's multiple use mission requires that the incumbent manage complex, and often controversial issues related to the diverse and conflicting programs managed in the office. For example, the incumbent may handle communications related to oil and gas; mining and minerals and proposed mines; lands and realty; renewable energy; wild horse and burro management; wildland fire management and restoration; conservation programs for special status species; land use programs such as grazing allotments and recreation permitting; and/or nationally significant cultural and natural resources, including National Conservation Lands. The incumbent develops complete communication plans for the office and provides advisory, planning, and technical services to management in designing approaches to resolve public affairs problems in various program areas.
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Requirements
Conditions of Employment
U.S. Citizenship required.
May be required to complete background investigation.
Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
Must provide resume and supporting documents (See required documents) prior to the closing date of this announcement.
You cannot hold an active real estate license, nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
Status applicants must meet time-in-grade requirements.
You may be required to occasionally travel overnight away from home. You must be eligible to obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions may affect your rating.
A Relocation Incentive of up to 25% may be authorized. A 2-year service agreement will be required.
A Recruitment Incentive of up to 25% may be authorized. A 2-year service agreement will be required.
Qualifications
In order to qualify, you must meet the experience and/or education requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience. If qualifying based on education, a copy of your unofficial transcripts must be provided with your application.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level in which you are applying.
For GS-09
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing the following: (1) assisting with the production of a broad range of creative, informative print, electronic and digital products in support of the organization's communication objectives; (2) writing a variety of public affairs materials to reach targeted audiences; (3) assisting in planning, writing and editing news articles; graphic design, web, journalism and photography to convey information about an organization; (4) communicating organizational programs, activities and/or functions to local communities.
OR
Education: Successful completion of at least master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. This education must demonstrate possession of the knowledges, skills and abilities to perform the work of this position. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.
OR
Combination: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience. To calculate your combined amount, first determine the amount of your specialized experience as a percentage of the requirement listed in A above. Then determine the amount of your education as a percentage of the requirement listed in B above; then add the two percentages. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.
For GS-11
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing the following: (1) overseeing arrangements with the media involving mission related activities; (2) developing recommendations for stimulating interest public lands, or similar focus, activities and programs; (3) analyzing new media technology that enhances engagement; and (4) designing information programs to assure effective communication with the public.
OR
Education: Successful completion of at least Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related.. This education must demonstrate possession of the knowledges, skills and abilities to perform the work of this position. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.
OR
Combination: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience. To calculate your combined amount, first determine the amount of your specialized experience as a percentage of the requirement listed in A above. Then determine the amount of your education as a percentage of the requirement listed in B above; then add the two percentages. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts as proof of any claimed education.
For GS-12
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors) performing the following: (1) developing and managing internal and external strategic communications projects, including producing press releases, producing and implementing communications plans, and conducting media interviews; (2) representing an agency in official and public meetings; (3) advising staff on public affairs matters; (4) preparing correspondence for leadership.
Status merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-07 is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-09 level. One year at the GS-09 is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level. One year at the GS-11 is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. (Must submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. No award SF-50 will be accepted).
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
Volunteer Experience: 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 volunteer experience.
You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that does not indicate exact hours per week or is listed as "varies".
A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Occupational Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position.
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position.
Education
To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 grade level of this announcement.
Additional information
Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive or Student Loan Repayment.
This position is offering a Relocation/Recruitment Incentive, of 25% of the annual salary. To be eligible for a Relocation Incentive, you must be a current Federal Employee employed with the Federal Government and be willing to work directly from the BLM OR/WA office in Prineville, OR (not remote). The selectee's current duty location must be more than 50 miles from the duty location of this position. To be eligible for a Recruitment Incentive, selectee must not be employed by the Federal Government.
A 2-year service agreement is required for any applicant receiving a relocation or recruitment incentive.
Any individual who is currently holding, or has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet time-in-grade requirements (must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent in the Federal service). Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
You may be required to travel overnight away from home occasionally. You must be eligible to obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
Physical Demands: The work is generally sedentary and does not require unusual physical effort. Most of the work is performed in an office setting. Driving a car or pickup truck is periodically required. The work often requires walking outdoors and travel in light aircraft, helicopters, and off-road vehicles. Long work days are occasionally required to meet deadlines and resolve specific problems.
Working Conditions: Most of the work is performed in an office setting although travel to field sites or other BLM/government offices is often required. Attendance at meetings at night or on weekends is sometimes required. Incumbent will adhere to all safety rules and regulations as prescribed in manuals/supplements or by the designated Safety Officer.
Telework: The Bureau of Land Management has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) or Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible see http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 90 or above on the rating criteria for this position.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact San Antonio Services Branch at [email protected] or 816-541-8101.
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How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessments, including a subject matter resume review and/or a panel interview. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed below that are required to successfully perform the job.
You Will Be Evaluated On The Following Competencies
Attention to Detail
Communications and Media
External Awareness
Oral Communication
Planning and Evaluating
Written Communication
Candidates Not Eligible To Apply Under Merit Promotion Will Be Rated And Ranked Using Category Rating Procedures. These Procedures Place Candidates With Veteran's Preference Above Non-preference Eligibles Within Each Category. Veterans With a Service Connected Disability Of At Least 10 Percent Are Listed In The Highest Quality Category, Except When The Position Being Filled Is Scientific Or Professional At The GS-09 Grade Level Or Higher. Under Category Rating, Candidates Will Be Rated And Ranked Into One Of Three Categories
Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.
Candidates who apply under Non-Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.
Performance Appraisals for Competitive and Non-Competitive Merit Promotion Applicants: In the evaluation process, due weight will be given to job related experience, education, training, incentive awards and performance appraisals. Applicants must submit a performance appraisal with a performance rating of at least the equivalent of fully successful to be eligible for promotion or placement. Applicants may provide a copy of a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months. If the applicant is unable to provide a performance appraisal of record dated within the last 18 months, the applicant may provide a written explanation as to why.
Recruitment incentive awards: Applicants that have received recruitment incentive awards during the last two years, must list them on their resume.
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