Public Affairs Specialist
: Job Details :

DutiesWHAT IS THE Taxpayer Advocate Service-(TAS)DIVISION?A description of the business units can be found at:Vacancies will be filled in the following specialty areas:TAS, Operations Support, Communications, Stakeholder Liaison & Online Security, Marketing & CommunicationThe following are theduties of this position at the full working level.Recommend policies, programs, services, and procedures governing the dissemination of information to internal stakeholders (executives, managers, employees). Advise on and recommend specific communications events and activities designed to meet challenges of diverse internal and external audiences with varying levels of information requirements and interests.Develop effective communication programs that support the organization's goals; work on all phases of communications plan execution including delivery, measurement, reporting and results; develop content designed to achieve organization wide and department-level business goals.Establish and maintain effective working relationships with communications counterparts; assist in the development of plans by considering such items as specific topics or aspects to emphasize the most effective media to use in communicating with intended audiences. Develop social media content for external audiences through a variety of channels; develop and edit plain language content for internal intranet and external websites; review and edit high-level reports, internal/external messaging (blogs, congressional testimony, executive briefings, etc.) for accuracy and consistency.Requirements Conditions of EmploymentSTANDARD POSITION DESCRIPTIONS (SPD):PD94890Visit the IRS SPD Library to access the position descriptions.A 1-year probationary period is required (unless already completed).Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel. QualificationsFederal experience is not required. The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: GS-14 Level: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience with communication practices and techniques to be able to function as the technical authority, direct complex programs and develop communication materials designed to promote the mission, programs, goals, and objectives within the organization; Experience establishing and maintaining relationships to facilitate communications with counterparts; Experience applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to shape programs development and evaluating program effectiveness; Experience with IRS objectives, and the overall organization to recommend policies, programs, services, and procedures and evaluate alternatives. Experience with development and dissemination of communication materials designed and in analyzing and developing recommendations from a wide array of conflicting and divergent information; Experience with writing and editing reports requiring thorough knowledge of the AP Stylebook (i.e., Congressional testimony, executive briefings, and press releases); Experience with program management skills in leading prominent projects and devising project strategies and communication plans; Experience working with various customers (such as IRS Publishing and outside contractors) on reviewing adherence to contract guidelines and contractor work performance; Experience presenting information on issues and/or other high profile information to Senior Management and Executives.ANDTIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Under merit promotion procedures, Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. Time is credited based on calendar time served in a grade, regardless of the number of days or hours worked. If you currently hold or have previously held a position at the same (or equivalent) or higher grade/level in the Federal government as of this announcement, you will meet the TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENTS.ANDTIME AFTER COMPETITIVE APPOINTMENT: By the closing date (or if this is an open continuous announcement, by the cut-off date) specified in this job announcement, current civilian employees must have completed at least 90 days of federal civilian service since their latest non-temporary appointment from a competitive referral certificate, known as time after competitive appointment. For this requirement, a competitive appointment is one where you applied to and were appointed from an announcement open to All US Citizens .For more information on qualifications please refer toOPM's Qualifications Standards.EducationA copy of your transcripts or equivalent documentation is required for positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying based on education or a combination of education and experience. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. If the position has specific education requirements and you currently hold, or have previously held, a position in the same job series with the IRS, there is no need to submit a transcript or equivalent at this time. Applicants are encouraged, but are not required, to submit an SF-50 documenting experience in a specific series. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click here (Section 3, Explanation of Terms) or here for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions.Additional informationWe may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. Additional jobs may be filled.The salary range indicated in this announcement reflects the minimum locality pay up to maximum locality pay for all duty locations listed. The range will be adjusted for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.This is a non-bargaining unit position.Tour of Duty: Monday-Friday, Day Shift - Start and stop times between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.Alternative work schedule, staggered work hours or telework may be available.In the event that a building is closed due to rent management, new hires may be placed in a local commuting location.Telework Eligible Positions: Telework eligible positions do not guarantee telework. Employees must meet and sustain IRS telework eligibility requirements (e.g., reporting at least twice a pay period to your assigned Post of Duty (POD)) and supervisor's approval to participate in the IRS Telework Program. Employees must also be within a 200-mile radius of their official assigned post-of-duty (POD) while in a telework status. As a reminder - If you are selected for a position, you are responsible for reporting to your designated POD (location) on the negotiated start date or as directed by management.Relocation expenses - NO HelpA 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 benefitsEligibility 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 EvaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.Your application includes your resume, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume may result in a not qualified determination. Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.Rating: Your application will be evaluated in accordance with the Service's Merit Promotion Plan. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):Communication and RepresentationCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Program GovernanceSelf ManagementWritingYour application will also be rated and ranked among others, based on your responses to the online questions, regarding your experience, education, and training. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. IRS employees may obtain their most recent awards listing at . Your rating may be lowered, if your responses to the online questions are not supported by the education and/or experience described in your application.Referral: A category-like rating (Quality Group) will be used to rate, rank and select eligible candidates. If qualified, you will be assigned to one of three quality level categories, Superior/Best Qualified, Highly Qualified and Qualified.If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. Candidates, if required to participate in a selection interview (telephonic and/or in person at the discretion of the Selecting Official in accordance with hiring practices), will be interviewed in quality group order. We will not reimburse costs related to the interview such as travel to and from the interview site.If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee eligible for Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), you must receive a score of Highly Qualified or better to be rated as well qualified to receive special selection priority.