Public Affairs Specialist - Department of Energy - Agency Wide : Job Details

Summary This position is part of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management - National Energy Technology Laboratory, Department of Energy. As a Public Affairs Specialist, you will serve in a career ladder position as a public affairs representative for the NETL responsibile for supporting, planning, developing, implementing and maintaining an effective information/communication program between the organization and its various publics on related activities. This job is open to

• Internal to an agency Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency This position is ONLY open to current Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) employees currently on a career or career-conditional competitive service appointment. Videos Duties As a Public Affairs Specialist, you will:

• Assimilate data to draft a variety of reports with no/few written errors, to include grammar, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, sentence structure, organization, and transition errors.
• Prepare responses to routine inquiries from interested groups, such as the general public and the media concerning DOE policies/activities.
• Identify public affairs communication trends/issues through traditional analytical methods.
• Create effective displays (exhibits, posters, and other visual and printed material) for display at various public forums.
• Assist senior Public Affairs Specialists reviewing current communication strategies.
• Analyze public reaction to DOE information programs in order to convey findings to facilitate analysis conducted by senior public affairs specialists.
• Serve as an NETL Emergency Public Information (EPI) Officer.
• Assists senior Public Affairs Specialists in handling controversial issues.

Requirements Conditions of Employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• If selected, your appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Occasional travel may be required.
• This position is included in a Bargaining Agreement.

Qualifications SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: For the GS-11: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting ALL of the following:

Drafting a variety of products, such as fact sheets, informational brochures and papers, PowerPoint briefings, articles, press releases and other content, to convey an organizations programs and accomplishments to external audiences; AND

Assisting senior Public Affairs Specialists in reviewing current communication strategies, plans, and the design of new or revised communication approaches and outreach efforts; AND

Planning and executing information sessions and other professional or public events/meetings to discuss an organizations programs and objectives.

OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-11 BASED ON EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in business administration, business management, communications, public policy, or similarly related major that provided the knowledge, skills, or abilities to perform the work of this position or LL.M. OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-11 BASED ON A COMBINATION OF EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: You may qualify on a combination of education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the educational requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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. Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education If substituting education for specialized experience, you must submit proof of your qualifying education. Failure to provide college transcripts may result in a rating of 'Ineligible'. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. Additional information The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• New employees to the Department of Energy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
• Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website.
• If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information. In order to be considered under the ICTAP program, your application must score within the pre-established well qualified category as stated in the Qualifications section.
• More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.
• Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.
• Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation.
• Your performance appraisal and incentive awards will be given due consideration in the selection process based on their relation to the duties of the position and the consistency with which they may be considered in evaluating you against other candidates.
• Hiring incentives may be authorized in accordance with agency policy and if funding is available.
• EEO Policy:
• Reasonable Accommodation Policy:
• Veterans Information:
• Selective Service Registration:
• The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged noncompliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and submitting it to the Administrative Investigations Program at [email protected].

• Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Once the announcement closes, we will conduct a review of your application package to verify your eligibility and qualifications. If you are found qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process. Merit Promotion & VEOA Procedures: If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the self-assessment questions (True/False, Yes/ No, Multiple Choice questions) will be evaluated to determine if you are a best qualified candidate. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Due weight will also be given to federal employees, when applicable, for performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR § 335.103(b)(3). Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements and current employees must have at least a fully successful or equivalent performance rating to receive consideration. Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following competencies. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your resume how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the competencies identified below. Use specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position.

• Communications and Media
• Planning and Evaluating
• Strategic Thinking
• Technical Competence
• Written Communication

Shared Certificates: The Department of Energy shares lists of applicants among its internal Departmental Elements and organizations. You may be referred for consideration to other DOE Hiring Managers throughout the Department for more than one position based on this application. By applying to this announcement, you understand your application materials may be shared with multiple Hiring Mangers throughout DOE. If additional positions are filled from this announcement conditions of employment may differ. You will be notified if you are referred for additional positions. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date ( 12/02/2024) of this announcement. To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click

• Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
• Required Documents As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies. To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:
  • Your RESUMEshowing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
  • Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume.
  • Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement. Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.
  Submit one or more of the following to support your eligibility(s) to apply to this job announcement:
  • SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (current/former federal employees): Most recent Promotion, Within Rate Increase (WRI/WGI), or Appointment/Conversion SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held.
  Failure to submit the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Do not provide photos or list a Social Security Number or date of birth on any attachment. If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
• How to Apply Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
• Click the Apply Online button.
• Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
• Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on 12/02/2024.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit: If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support. Agency contact information David Johnson Phone 202-###-#### Email [email protected] Address Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management - National Energy Technology Laboratory Department of Energy Human Capital Shared Service Center 1000 Independence Ave, SW Washington, DC 20585 US Next steps Once you submit your online application, you will receive a confirmation notification by email that your submission was successful. After the closing of the announcement, we will review applications. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. We will notify you of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete. If you are interested in being added to our Schedule A or 30% or more Disabled Veterans repository, please submit your information by using the below links. 30 Percent or More Disabled Veteran Repository 2024 for Department of Energy - Schedule A Repository 2024 for Department of Energy
• Fair and Transparent The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
  • Criminal history inquiries
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Financial suitability
  • New employee probationary period
  • Privacy Act
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Selective Service
  • Signature and false statements
  • Social security number request

Required Documents To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:

• Your RESUMEshowing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
• Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume.
• Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement. Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.

Submit one or more of the following to support your eligibility(s) to apply to this job announcement:

• SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (current/former federal employees): Most recent Promotion, Within Rate Increase (WRI/WGI), or Appointment/Conversion SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held.

Failure to submit the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Do not provide photos or list a Social Security Number or date of birth on any attachment. If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating. How to Apply Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:

Click the Apply Online button.

Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.

Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on 12/02/2024.

To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit: If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support. Agency contact information David Johnson Phone 202-###-#### Email [email protected] Address Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management - National Energy Technology Laboratory Department of Energy Human Capital Shared Service Center 1000 Independence Ave, SW Washington, DC 20585 US Next steps Once you submit your online application, you will receive a confirmation notification by email that your submission was successful. After the closing of the announcement, we will review applications. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. We will notify you of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete. If you are interested in being added to our Schedule A or 30% or more Disabled Veterans repository, please submit your information by using the below links. 30 Percent or More Disabled Veteran Repository 2024 for Department of Energy - Schedule A Repository 2024 for Department of Energy Fair & Transparent The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request