External Affairs Specialist with Security Clearance

Location 1 vacancy in the following location: Arlington, VA * Remote job No * Telework eligible Yes-as determined by the agency policy. * Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position. * Relocation expenses reimbursed No * Appointment type Permanent * Work schedule Full-time * Service Competitive * Promotion potential 14 * Job family (Series) 0301 Miscellaneous Administration And Program * Supervisory status No * Security clearance Sensitive Compartmented Information * Drug test Yes * Position sensitivity and risk Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk * Trust determination process Suitability/Fitness * Announcement number OCEAO-ST-12408966-24-AH * Control number 791273000 Help Duties Typical work assignments include: * Helping to develop communication plans and strategies to promote various CISA initiatives. * Working collaboratively as part of a creative teams to develop concepts and materials that raise awareness of CISA and its resources. * Working with program experts to help interpret, develop or analyze policy/program issues related to stakeholder engagement or external affairs. * Working proactively to develop media and public interest in CISA initiatives. * Creating communications to ensure the final products are clear, compelling and written in plain language tailored to external audiences. * Conducting research on issues of interest and briefing senior executives on findings of significance related to stakeholder perspectives and concerns, outreach strategies and communication initiatives and proposals. * Providing guidance and direction on developing program briefings for leadership, in coordination with external affairs functional and program staff as required. Help Requirements Conditions of Employment * You must be a U.S. citizen. * Selective Service - Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service see http://www.sss.gov/ * All Federal employees are required to participate in Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer for salary payments. * DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities. * You must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance suitable for Federal employment as determined by a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. * Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements. * One-year probationary period may be required. * This position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, and acts of terrorism or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations (5 U.S.C. 7501-7533 and 5 CFR Part 752, as applicable). * This position has been identified as a drug testing designated position (TDP) for purposes of the CISA's Drug-Free Workplace Program. All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to a drug test to screen for illicit/illegal drug use prior to receiving a final offer of employment. A final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative drug test result. After appointment, you may be subject to periodic random drug testing. Qualifications To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required experience for the respective grade level in which you are applying. YOU MUST ALSO MEET THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level, if you have: EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-13 grade level (or equivalent) performing the following duties: * Executing external communication strategies to plan, organize and implement program plans and proposals; AND * Anticipate the needs of customers and programs and be proactive in seeking information and solutions need to complete tasks based on evolving needs, shifting mission requirements or other internal and external factors; AND * Demonstrate flexible thinking and adaptability needed to apply current skills or upskill as needed to conduct new types communication efforts as portfolios and technologies evolve; AND * Independently manage or lead groups of people from across External Affairs and the agency, drawing on the expertise and insight of each member to work as a team as they build out plans and campaigns. 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. Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). Time After Competitive Appointment: By the closing date specified in this job announcement, current Federal civilian employees must wait at least 90 days after their latest non-temporary appointment from a competitive service referral certificate before promotion, transfer, reinstatement, reassignment, or detail. All qualification requirements, including Time-in-Grade, must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Qualification AND Time-in-Grade claims will be subject to verification. Education Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone-- no substitution of education for experience is permitted . Additional information * Other incentives may be authorized. * If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. * This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. * This position has been designated excluded from bargaining unit representation under the national security provision of 5 U.S.C. 7112(B)(6). * Reasonable Accommodation Requests: This agency provides reasonable accommodation to otherwise qualified applicants and employees with a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, unless to do so would create an undue hardship to the agency (29 CFR 1614.203 (2017)). If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, contact the CISA Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (OEDIA) by sending an email to with the subject line, "Reasonable Accommodation Request @ CISA." In the email itself, you must include your name, vacancy announcement number(s), and state your intent to seek a reasonable accommodation. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. For more information or inquiries, please contact the CISA Reasonable Accommodation Program at . Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Shared Certificate: When CISA completes their selections, the remaining list of qualified candidates may be shared with other DHS Component agencies who are hiring for similar positions. You will have an opportunity to opt-in if you would like your name, application materials, and assessment results shared to be considered for employment with other DHS Component agencies. There is no guarantee of further consideration, and you can continue to explore other job opportunity announcements. Help A 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 window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility 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 Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and the responses you provide on the application questionnaire. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): * Technical Credibility * Information Management * Communications and Media * Team Building Overstating your q