Public Affairs Specialist

Summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides leadership on food and agriculture issues based on public policy, the best available science and effective management. The USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) links U.S. agriculture to the world, improves foreign market access for U.S. food and agricultural products, builds new markets, improves the competitive position of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace, and provides food aid and technical assistance to foreign countries.

Duties

• •Oversees the development and preparation of talking points, speeches, presentations, and other communications for use by senior agency officials oftentimes dealing with complex, policy-sensitive, and controversial issues.
• •Provides guidance to the CES staff and other FAS staff in best practices for communicating about FAS activities, operations, and program objectives to audiences such as Congress, international bodies, farm and industry organizations, and news media.
• •Plans, directs, and implements the FAS social media strategy, coordinating with stakeholders across the agency to ensure its effectiveness and leading and encouraging use of relevant social media tools and techniques.
• •Liaises with external organizations, including industry cooperators and food assistance implementing partners, to develop joint strategies for sharing information and successes via social media channels
• •Demonstrates steady leadership when responding to dynamic mission needs and short deadlines, and following through in carrying out duties as the mission requires.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. FOR THE GS-14 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-13 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: -Experience identifying targets of opportunity to engage stakeholders and/or media outlets to recommend and carry out strategies to improve media coverage and/or inform thought leaders. -Collaborate with senior officials on short- and long-term priorities for Agency communications with foreign and domestic audiences and partners, evaluating and reporting effectiveness, and adjusting strategies based on lessons learned. -Collaborates with members of the news media who cover agriculture and trade policy issues, drafting, clearing, and coordinating responses, arranging schedules for interviews, briefing and training spokespersons, and creating supporting materials. -Experience in steady leadership when responding to dynamic mission needs and short deadlines, and following through in carrying out duties as the mission requires. -Experience coordinating with Subject Matter Experts and Agency leadership in drafting, clearing, and implementing press materials, strategies, memos, talking points, social media, and other supporting products for media and stakeholder engagement and outreach. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.