Job Information
Air National Guard Units PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST in Westfield, Massachusetts
Summary THIS IS A NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION. This National Guard position is for a PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST, Position Description Number PDT5810900 and is part of the MA ANG 104th FW, National Guard. This is a Bargaining Unit position. The unit point of contact and contact phone for this position is: Christopher Riga at christopher.riga@us.af.mil Responsibilities 1. Prepares internal and external public affairs products for distribution through social media, DVIDS, wing website, and release to civilian media, as applicable. Researches and writes stories/articles and rewrites material intended for distribution. Shoots related photos and video, as required. Edits and revises products for style, format and content; and, reviews and edits photography and artwork for quality and composition. May design overall products. Accesses public affairs' products to DVIDS per current DoD procedures. Responds to requests for information, materials, and support; and, plans and conducts community engagement activities with community officials and groups. Maintains an active web/social media presence; provides visual information services for documentation and/or publicity purposes; and, plans and arranges news media coverage. For approved events, coordinates support of requests from community and community groups, schools, news media organizations, and others to include requests for interviews, speakers, tours, bands, honor guards, and aviation support and support of local observances and celebrations. Prepares and ensures distribution of customer satisfaction/opinion surveys on internal information products. Evaluates feedback to determine customer needs and uses comments to improve future output. Makes positive suggestions to the supervisor for changes in approach and adoption of new techniques. 40%) 2. Performs work for the production/management/maintenance of electronic and web-based information products. Implements and ensures the quality of the Hometown News Release program. Publicizes the programs, monitors, logs, and disseminates releases. Writes draft and final versions of news releases, feature articles, speeches, fact sheets, and brochures for internal and external audiences. Updates unit mission briefings and develops additional informational briefings as needed. Confers with program specialists, action officers, and other subject matter experts to obtain the latest and most accurate information and imagery approved for public releases. Prepares requests for photographer or graphic support; takes photographs; and, selects and edits photographs and electronic images to accompany articles and media releases. Provides historical documentation support. Provides photographic and video support for alert mission to include mishaps. Performs security reviews on information placed on the unit's public web-page and social media feed(s). Assists in the overall design of unit's web "home-page".(35%) 3. Organizes, coordinates, publicizes and conducts periodic events with local organizations such as, community councils, local governments, Chamber of Commerce, and, state and national legislative offices. Assists with organizing and conducting larger events such as, Civic Leader Tours, Base Open-House activities, and Armed Forces Days, which are designed to promote positive relations between the base and surrounding communities. Accomplishes administrative support work such as, preparing correspondence, press kits and handouts, arranging for passes, and compiling data. Responds to and processes requests from community organizations and individuals for military support and/or participation in various events such as, orientation flights, PA travel on military aircraft, flyovers, parades, fairs, and conventions. Assists in evaluating the events' primary purpose, potential risk factors, and benefits to the ANG. Recommends speakers and assists in training unit members for speaking engagements. Provides speech materials, topics, and objectives used by wing personnel. Organizes, coordinates and conducts wing tours for civic groups, media representatives, students and distinguished visitors. Ensures tour itineraries focus on improving ANG image and furthering base community relations and involvement activities. Prepares and monitors materials for the commander's civil leader/distinguished visitor program. Briefs visitors on the ANG and Wing's mission, impacts and contributions to DoD, the Air Force, and the community. (15%) 4. Responds, in a timely manner, to media queries concerning special events, mobilizations, exercises, aircraft incidents, or accidents. Clears responses with appropriate authority before releasing information. Confers with subject matter experts to obtain latest and most accurate information for use in news releases on social media, radio, TV networks, newspapers or other public forums. Coordinates and responds to news media inquiries on the mission, capabilities, impacts, and contributions of the base. Assists the PAO in advising wing leadership on DoD, Air Force, and ANG policy concerning release of information to the public. Provides media training on a just-in-time basis for wing personnel. Assists PAO in establishing and maintaining positive relationships and on-going contacts with local news media representatives. (10%) Performs other duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications This is an indefinite position, tenure 3, with a time limit determined by the needs of the agency. Any permanent military technician who is selected for this position will become tenure 3. The selectee will receive the same benefits and entitlements as the tenure 1 employee but will be considered tenure 3 for purposes of reduction in force. If a permanent resource becomes available, incumbent may be converted to a permanent appointment without competition AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to all current and former members of the Massachusetts National Guard (former members must provide documentation showing membership in the Massachusetts National Guard such as an NGB 22 or DD214). GENERAL EXPERIENCE: Must have experience, education or training in administrative, professional, investigative and/or technical work. Experience evaluating information and/or using analytical skills to disseminate effective communication. Experience in compiling reports, letters, memoranda, etc., and required person-to-person contacts to convey information. Experience using computers and automation systems. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Must have at least one year of experience equivalent to at least next lower grade level. Experience, education, or training involving knowledge of writing, communication principles, methods and techniques that relate to the public affairs of an agency. Experience in applying and adapting knowledge of strictly controlled situations of an agency. Experience writing articles on routine events of non-controversial subjects. Experience responding timely and appropriately to requests for information concerning agency programs and services. Experience participating in meetings with specialized groups to listen to and understand feedback on agency programs that are of particular interest to public. OR Education: Possess a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR Combination: A combination of Specialized Experience and Education as described above. Only graduate education in excess of 1 full year of graduate level education may be used when combining education and experience to meet the total qualification requirements. 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 months/years. 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 If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency (https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx). To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine. Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019 An employee of an agency may not request, in oral or written form, that an applicant for an appointment to a position in the civil service disclose criminal history record information regarding the applicant before the appointing authority extends a conditional offer to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint, or any other information, to an agency within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged non-compliance by an employee of an agency. To file a complaint please click this link and scroll to the bottom of the page for more information.