Lead Public Affairs Specialist

This position supports the day-to-day execution of front line FEMA programs. The work of this position is typically performed in the forward areas providing direct support to the line program(s) of FEMA and Federal Coordinating Officers (FCO).

What will I do in this position if hired?

In this position, you will assist the Director and Deputy Director with executing day-to-day front-line FEMA programs.

Typical assignments include:

• Coordinating with other program areas and External Affairs components to identify logistical needs.
• Developing messaging/communication in coordination with the strategic communications plan.
• Analyzing and interpreting programmatic information to draft messaging/communication for external audiences.
• Communicating projects and/or assignments to a team.
• Monitoring and reporting on the status and progress of work/projects.

What else do I need to know?

At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters, and every employee at FEMA has a role in emergency management. Every FEMA employee has regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities, though not every position requires routine deployment to disaster sites. All positions are subject to recall around the clock for emergency management operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official position description. Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically austere and operationally challenging conditions.

This announcement is for a position as a CORE (Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery Employee). CORE employees are full-time employees hired to directly support the response and recovery efforts related to disasters. Appointments to CORE positions are typically between two years and four years in duration and may be renewed based upon workload needs and funding availability. Employees are hired under the Robert T. Stafford Act and are excluded from the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing jobs in the competitive service. They can be hired under a streamlined process instead of a competitive process. After three years of continuous service, Stafford Act employees may be granted competitive eligibility to apply for permanent full-time positions at FEMA.

FEMA is committed to ensuring that its workforce reflects the diversity of the nation. At FEMA, our workforce includes the many identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, ages, cultures, and beliefs of the people we serve. To learn about FEMA's ongoing diversity and inclusion efforts, reasonable accommodation process, and the FEMA Core Values, please visit