Job Information
Bureau of Land Management Public Affairs Specialist in Elko, Nevada
Summary Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This position is located in Elko, Nevada. Information about and the surrounding area can be found at Elko Chamber of Commerce. We expect to fill one (1) vacancy at this time. Additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available. This position is authorized a 20% incentive - see the Additional Information Section for more details. Responsibilities Serves as the principal advisor to the District Management Team and staff on all public affairs matters. Instructs management and staff on their roles and responsibilities regarding release of information. Serves as the principal spokesperson for the District and NCA. Coordinates with the Surprise Field Office on matters regarding the NCA. Required to communicate BLM policy to those with conflicting points of view. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with media representatives. Serves as the principal media liaison with national syndications. Responds to media/public/Congressional inquiries about BLM responsibilities/activities. Develops and maintains professional, proactive, credible relationships with media outlets, including traditional and new media outlets. Serves as a primary spokesperson for the office. Coordinates media coverage of BLM issues, programs and activities and arranges interviews with managers and subject matter experts. Handles media inquiries on sensitive or controversial issues. Coordinates all international, national, and sensitive media inquiries with the State Office or directly with the Public Affairs Division, Assistant Director’s Office of Communications, based on established protocols. Creates, writes, and distributes a wide variety of materials to communicate information about BLM issues, programs, and activities to key publics. Incorporates national and state messages into communications materials. Demonstrates proficiency with Associated Press and copywriting style. Provides quality control oversight and conforms to BLM and DOI branding, layout, and design standards. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level in the federal service showing demonstrated experience in the application of principles, practices, and techniques of communication to include writing a broad array of written materials, such as news releases, feature stories, briefing papers, correspondence, and Web Master duties for the internal and external web pages; developing communication strategies and plans to maintain public awareness; developing and managing internal and external strategic communications projects, including producing press releases, producing, and implementing communications plans, and conducting media interviews. 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 meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR 300.604. If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level. 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 workdays are occasionally required to meet deadlines and resolve specific problems. Work Environment: 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. Education This position falls under the Public Affairs Series, 1035. There are no Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for this job series. There is no substitution of education for experience at this grade level. Additional Information Relocation/Recruitment Incentive: This position is offering a Relocation/Recruitment Incentive, 20% of the annual salary. To be eligible for a Relocation Incentive, you must be a current Federal Employee and the selectee must be employed with the Federal Government and the selectees current duty location is 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. DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP. Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service Tax Law Impact for PCS: Moving expenses reimbursement is a taxable benefit. However, the Federal Travel Regulation 18-05 issued by General Services Administration has authorized agencies to use the Withholding Tax Allowance and Relocation Income Tax Allowance to pay for "substantially all" of the increased tax liability resulting from the "2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" for certain eligible individuals. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis. The selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. This announcement is being advertised concurrently under number NV-DEU-25-12608219-RCM, which is open to all qualified persons. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods. 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.