Job Details for Public Affairs Specialist (Web Producer)
| Court Name/Organization: | U.S. Sentencing Commission |
| Overview of the Position: | The Commission's Office of Legislative and Public Affairs (OLPA) is seeking a motivated and creative individual to join the OLPA team to support the day-to-day functions and projects associated with the Commission's website and social media communications. The incumbent will develop, write, and edit content for the website and other communication channels and reports to the Senior Public Affairs Specialist (Digital & Print Media). |
| Location: | Washington, DC |
| Opening and Closing Dates: | 12/02/2024 - 12/30/2024 |
| Appointment Type: | Permanent |
| Classification Level/Grade: | JS 9 - JS 11 |
| Salary: | $68,405 - $107,590 |
| Announcement Number: | 25-03 |
| Link to Job Announcement | |
Position Description
Duties include, but are not limited to:
- Supporting the OLPA team and Commission units to implement communication strategies
- Developing webpages that consider best practices and adhere to an established information architecture within a content management system (Drupal)
- Developing, designing, editing, and posting a variety of digital content types including video, livestream events, interactive graphics, etc., to the Commission's primary external website, social media channels, and the Commission's intranet site
- Working with project teams to develop website enhancements and other communications materials
- Cross-collaborating with internal offices to obtain the necessary information to draft, copy edit, and post web and social media content
- Assisting with inventorying the website, updating or removing broken links and outdated content
- Assisting with troubleshooting website updates prior to release
- Promoting web content through various social platforms and various communication channels
- Maintaining and improving use of digital communications platforms, including GovDelivery and social media channels
- Copy editing assigned agency public material for digital use for clarity, grammar, and style
- Working with the OLPA team to track digital analytics to understand user data to inform site changes
- Other duties as assigned
Qualification
Mandatory Qualification Requirements
OLPA is a fast-paced environment. The successful candidate will have a minimum of three years of related experience and be expected to be flexible and efficient but creative and detail oriented.
One year of specialized work experience equivalent to the previous level in the federal service is required. For example, one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level is required to qualify for appointment at the GS-11 level. Specialized experience is defined as progressively responsible work experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities that will enable the individual to successfully perform the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position.
Skill Requirements:
- Ability to work effectively in a cross-collaborative team environment
- Ability to analyze metrics to make data-driven decisions
- Ability to handle multiple assignments, focus on details, and produce precise work products in a timely manner to ensure deadlines are met
- Ability to understand and implement established communication and web strategies
- Basic skills in marketing and visual design
Applicants must have demonstrated work experience related to the mandatory requirements listed below and must address the qualification requirements in an attached cover letter.
- Performing web content activities, including designing, writing, editing, reviewing, and posting
- Promoting web content through various social platforms and various communication channels
- Creating and modifying web content using a content management system
- Writing and editing in plain language
Preferred Qualifications
Highly competitive applicants will have the following:
- A bachelor's degree in publishing, communication studies, journalism, public affairs, marketing, political science and government, or other related fields
- Demonstrated experience and training with Drupal CMS
- Demonstrated experience and training with Adobe Creative Cloud applications
- Demonstrated experience implementing web usability, and best practice standards
- Demonstrated experience working with project teams on website enhancements
- Knowledge of Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Familiarity with user experience/user interface (UX/UI) concepts
Benefits
The Commission participates in the following federal benefits:
- The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program
- The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
- The Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program
- Federal Retirement
- Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
- The Federal Leave Program
In addition, the Commission participates in the Judiciary's Flexible Spending Program for dependent care, health care, and commuter reimbursement, the government-wide Long Term Care Insurance Program, unemployment, and workers' compensation benefits.
The Commission is conveniently located next to Union Station on Capitol Hill, and is easily accessible by public transportation, including the Metro, and the MARC and VRE commuter trains. In addition to the federal benefits package, the Commission's location in the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building offers various amenities such as a health unit, credit union, day care center, food services, and free on-site fitness center.
The Commission offers a monthly transit subsidy to employees who use mass transit to commute to and from work, subject to the availability of funds. The Commission offers alternative work schedules (AWS), which are fixed work schedules that enable full-time employees to complete the basic 80-hour biweekly work requirement in less than 10 workdays.
The Commission offers regular telework (not full-time) to employees in positions deemed eligible by the staff director and who meet the requirements of an approved telework arrangement in which an employee performs official duties at home or at an approved telework site. This position is eligible to regularly telework up to three days per week.
The Commission also offers training opportunities to employees through LinkedIn Learning, and the Judiciary's Online University, which offers academic credit and professional credit programs through web-based learning. These training tools assist Commission employees with taking online courses in a flexible way, by offering training courses in the areas of: staff training and development; credit toward undergraduate degree programs; continuing education and non-credit certificate programs; executive education; contract training; credit credentials courses for continuing professional education and credit for individuals who hold credentials and achieve certifications associated with several globally-recognized sponsored organizations.
Miscellaneous
Conditions of Employment:
- This position is in the excepted service and does not carry the tenure rights of positions in the competitive Civil Service.
- All information is subject to verification. Applicants are advised that false answers or omissions of information on application materials or inability to meet the following conditions may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed.
- Selection for this position is contingent upon completion of OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment during the pre-employment process and proof of U.S. citizenship or, for noncitizens, proof of authorization to work in the United States and proof of entitlement to receive compensation. Additional information on the employment of non-citizens can be found at: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/non-citizens. For a list of documents that may be used to provide proof of citizenship or authorization to work in the United States, please refer to http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf.
- The Commission participates in E-Verify and will confirm your authorization to work in the United States.
- A background security investigation is required for all selectees. Appointment will be subject to a selectee's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. A background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time.
- All new Commission employees must identify a financial institution for direct deposit of pay before appointment, mandated by the Federal Compensation Act.
- All new Commission employees, those converted from a temporary appointment to a permanent appointment, and all rehired former Commission employees are required to serve a one-year probationary period. The probationary period begins on the effective date of the employee's appointment, conversion, or rehire.
- The selected applicant must relocate to the Washington DC Metropolitan area.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The Commission evaluates applicants through a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview. Applicants may be required to take a skills assessment test. Applicants who do not address the qualification requirements (mandatory and preferred) in his or her application materials as stated in the vacancy announcement are automatically disqualified from consideration and must re-apply before the closing date to be considered for employment.
How To Apply
In order to be considered, all applicants must submit an electronic resume and cover letter that address all of the qualification requirements listed in this announcement, and if available, provide a recent job performance evaluation and college transcripts. Applicants will also need to complete the online occupational questionnaire. All applications must be submitted at www.usajobs.gov.
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.