JOB SUMMARY:
Become a part of the Department that touches the lives of every American! At the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) you can give back to your community, state, and country by making a difference in the lives of Americans everywhere. It is the principal agency for protecting the health of citizens. Join HHS and help to make our world healthier, safer, and better for all Americans.
This position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of the Commissioner (OC), Office of External Affairs, Office of Public Affairs (OPA) in Silver Spring, MD.
This vacancy is also being announced concurrently with vacancy announcement HHS-FDA-OC-MP-12-637389 under merit promotion procedures. Please review that announcement to see if you are eligible for consideration under merit promotion procedures. NOTE: Applicants must apply separately for each announcement in order to be considered.
PHS Commissioned Corps Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps (not as a career/career-conditional employee) are encouraged to apply under the merit promotion announcement indicated above.
This announcement may be used to fill multiple positions in multiple locations.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
U.S. Citizenship is required. Background investigation required. One year supervisory probationary period will be required.
DUTIES:
The Deputy Director of Strategy, along with the Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs and Deputy Director of Operations, directs and manages all aspects of OPA, commonly referred to as the “Press Office.’
The candidate must have excellent media relations, project management and leadership skills to provide expert advice and guidance on all aspects of communications to press officers, subject matter experts, principals and other agency officials.
If selected for this position you will:
Plan, organize and carry out a media relations program for the agency, which includes the development of strategies and materials and the timely release of information to the news media.
Work closely with leadership, including roll out coordinators, communication contacts in each of FDA’s Centers, OC components and HHS to plan, coordinate, execute and evaluate the FDA’s press operations.
Advise senior leadership in the agency on the management of FDA public affairs initiatives and media matters.
Serve as spokesperson for the FDA on high-profile and sensitive agency issues when the Assistant Commissioner is unavailable. As needed, brief and staff the Commissioner and other senior leaders at agency media events.
Plan, direct and execute media relations efforts to inform and educate general and specialized publics about FDA programs, actions and accomplishments.
Act quickly and effectively as a senior communications counsel to staff as well as senior officials in providing sound media relations advice for major roll outs, agency announcements and key initiatives.
Facilitate press conferences, media briefings, media availabilities and media interviews with senior agency officials and prepare officials on advisable conduct during agency news events.
Cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with members of the news media, particularly with FDA “beat” reporters.
Respond to questions and/or criticism from members of the news media concerning sensitive and complex subjects.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
To qualify for the GS-15 grade level, applicants must have specialized experience and/or directly related education in the amounts shown below:
You must have one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-14 grade level that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.
Specialized experience includes experience as a senior level communications, public affairs or public relations professional for a public sector organization, private industry, public relations firm or trade association where the candidate routinely dealt with national news organizations on sensitive and controversial matters and provided recommendations for strategic communications messaging to their organization’s senior leadership AND/OR experience as a journalist or public relations professional who covered the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or wrote about public health issues.
Conditions of Employment:
1. Security and Background Requirements: If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. In addition, if hired, a background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time. Applicants are also advised that all information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.
2. E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires, and as a condition of continued employment obligates the new hire to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is an E-Verify Participant.
3. Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
4. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
5. Financial disclosure statement may be required.
6. One-year probationary period may be required.
7. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will be paid: No
8. Bargaining Unit Position: No
9. Drug Screening Required: No
10. Recruitment incentives may be authorized: No
11. Annual leave for non-federal service authorized: No
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. Category rating procedures will be used to rate and rank candidates. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Qualified candidates will be ranked into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified or Qualified.
The Category Rating Process does not add veterans’ preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher). Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
Ability to supervise
Mastery of media relations principles, methods, practices and techniques; analytical methods; and interpersonal relations practices
Skill in written communication
Skill in oral communication
BENEFITS:
The Federal Government offers a comprehensive benefits package. Explore the major benefits offered to most Federal employees at http://www.usajobs.gov/ResourceCenter/Index/Interactive/Benefits#icc.
OTHER INFORMATION:
If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans’ preference see http://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans.
Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov).
For information on "People with Disabilities" please visit http://opm.gov/disability/PeopleWithDisabilities.asp
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible see http://opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ictap. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85.0 or above on the rating criteria for this position.
HOW TO APPLY:
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
Note: To return to a previously Saved or Incomplete application you may use the following link: https://applicationmanager.gov.
To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload, complete this cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf using the following Vacancy ID 637223. Fax your documents to 1-478-757-3144.
If you cannot apply online:
Click the following link to view and print the assessment questionnaire
View Occupational Questionnaire, and Print this 1203FX form to provide your response to the assessment questionnaire
http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf and Fax the completed 1203FX form along with any supporting documents to
1-478-757-3144. Your 1203FX will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Bethesda Customer HelpDesk at (888) 478-4340; TTY/TDD: (800) 877-8339; or by email
quickquestions@psc.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Your Résumé - You are encouraged to use the USAJobs online resume builder to ensure that all required information is in your resume. If you use your own résumé, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose then you must describe your job-related qualifications that include beginning and ending dates for paid and non-paid work experience, hours worked per week, month and year of employment for each job title listed.
A complete Assessment Questionnaire
Other supporting documents:
- Veterans Preference Documentation, if applicable
- College Transcripts (if the position has a positive education requirement)
For Résumé and Application Tips visit: http://www.usajobs.gov/ResourceCenter/Index/Interactive/ResumeAndApplicationTips#icc
The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Tuesday, April 17, 2012.
AGENCY CONTACT INFO:
Bethesda Center Helpdesk checkIfEmptyDisplayHeader('(888)478-4340', 'Phone') checkIfEmptyDisplayHeader('(478)757-3144', 'Fax') checkIfEmptyDisplayHeader('', 'TDD') checkIfEmptyDisplayHeaderEmail('QUICKQUESTIONS@PSC.GOV', 'Email') Agency Information:OHR Bethesda Operations Center7700 Wisconsin AveBethesda, MD20814 checkIfEmptyDisplayHeader('(478)757-3144', 'Fax')
WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:
Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement.
You will receive notice via email or by mail, if no email address was provided by you during the application process, once this process is completed (generally 4-6 weeks).
