Visual Information Specialist

Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens; Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP).

Duties

Specific to Independence National Historic Park: This position serves as the primary lead for the digital presence of the National Parks of Philadelphia in preparation for America 250. America 250 is the federal body tasked with commemorating and celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary of independence. Together, they will work to promote shared stories and experiences and strengthen common bonds through programs, educational outreach, and signature events leading up to July 4, 2026.

The major duties of the Visual Information Specialist for both locations include the following:

Responsible for performing a wide variety of visual and audio production services to all park divisions, networks or associations using nationally established guidelines. Coordinates and completes visual information assignments. Plans, designs, coordinates, produces, and maintains development of printed materials, exhibits, graphics, videos, photos, websites, mobile applications, social media, webcams, audiovisual equipment, touchscreens, and digital image/video collections/catalog for internal and external use. Develops strategies and park policies for web and social media. Coordinates and leads social media team, ensures one voice in digital presence. Works as a collaborative member of the interpretation projects team on long term projects including exhibits, waysides, wayfinding, printed media, etc Effectively engages with different audiences by using the right combination of communication methods and tools. Examines finished projects to ensure uniformity and consistence with specifications and standards. Designs and display visual communication aspects of speeches, briefings, and training materials through the use of photos, slides, charts, posters, and other appropriate means. Considers cost associated with preparation of visual material and equipment to balance against project objectives. Specifies and decide on placement of text in relation to art, artifacts, etc. and determine fonts and typographical effects to be used. Designs and coordinates the publication of projects and promotions using specialized graphic design software, produce and finalize logos, illustrations, graphs, charts and images. Determine placement of art and images to reflect the intent of publishing materials. TERM Appointment: This is a term position (more than 1 year) with an initial appointment expecting to last at least 13 months but may be extended up to a total of four years, or more based on any changes to regulations governing the number of years term appointments may last, without further competition. Term positions do not convey permanent status in the Federal service.

Salary by location
Philadelphia, PA-$79,839 to $103,787 per year Christiansted, VI-$72,552 to $94,317 per year plus a 12.04% Cost of Living (COLA) subject to annual review and adjustment.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued driver's license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued driver's license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license. You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. You will be required to complete a one-year trial period. For Independence Nat'l Historic Park: You may be required to occasionally travel overnight away from home. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. For Christiansted Nat'l Historic Site: You may be required to travel up to 5 nights per month. Overtime may also be required. You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes. For Christiansted Nat'l Historic Site: There is a possibility that government housing may be available. You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy for Independence Nat'l Hist Park only. Christiansetd, VI: In addition to the annual salary, selectee will receive a 12.04% Cost of Living (COLA) subject to annual review and adjustment.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/23/2024-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level, you must meet one of the individual occupational requirements:

Individual Occupational Requirement:

Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, drafting, interior design, photography, visual communication, or other fields related to the position.

Advanced training in a vocational school, technical institute, or art institute above the high school level in one of the fields listed above is creditable as general experience on a month-for-month basis.

OR

Experience

Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience in the actual type of work for which application is made. Unpaid experience is creditable, provided the work done was of a quality level and demonstrated the ability required for the position. This includes planning the preparation and use of photographs, illustrations, drawings, and other artwork, charts, diagrams, dioramas, maps, slides, overlays, and other kinds of visual material for use in communicating information through visual means.

In addition to meeting the individual occupational requirement, you must meet one of the following :

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: Research, develops and executes specific ideas on appearance and content for a variety of written and visual information products; Experience with a wide range of graphic/visual information practices, concepts and principles to coordinate and complete visual information assignments and provide technical advice and recommendations on visual information assignments; assists with program development and makes recommendations to management officials on which resources should be utilized in order to develop visual information projects. You must include hours per week worked.

OR

EDUCATION: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or
LL.M., if related. Education must be in a field of major study that is directly related to the work of the position. Directly related coursework consists of commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, drafting, interior design, photography, visual communication, or other fields related to the position if it clearly provides applicants with the background of knowledge and skills necessary for successful job performance in the position to be filled. You must include transcripts.

OR

Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To combine education and experience, divide your number of credit hours in excess of 36 semester hours (or 54 quarter hours) by 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours), or the number your school uses to represent one year of full time graduate academic study. To calculate your percentage of experience, divide your months of qualifying specialized experience by 12. Add the two percentages. They must equal at least 100% to qualify using this option. You must include transcripts.

Volunteer Experience: 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.

Education

To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work.

If you are using to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

---