Job Information
U.S. Army, Pacific Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist in Zama, Japan
Summary About the Position: Serves as the Director of Public Affairs, United States Army Japan (USARJ) responsible for the management of the Public Affairs Office (PAO) to include planning, coordinating, and directing public affairs support for all organizations within Japan. This is a TERM position Not to Exceed, (NTE) 3 Years. Responsibilities Serves as the principal staff advisor to the Commander and senior staff principals on all matters involving public issues and the creation of communication policy. Identifies and analyzes communication needs, concerns, and attitudes of various publics as they relate to programs, policies, and activities of the community and its higher headquarters. Plans information program, conducts appropriate research, and participates in formulating plans and policies to ensure public information and public relations implications are considered in planned actions Promotes and maintains effective working relationships with representatives of government, US Embassy staff, members of Congress, civic organizations and other agencies, and with representatives of the media and special interest groups. Serves as the sole official spokesperson and primary contact for local, national, and international media that require immediate responsiveness. Responds to media queries, to include issues of a sensitive nature or that may be subject to misunderstanding if not properly explained, or that may draw adverse public attention. Plans, implements, and oversees effective internal information programs through the newspaper, websites, social media and other internal communication media and forums. Supervises a staff of U.S. civil service and foreign civilians. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Term Appointment NTE - Position may be filled as a Term Appointment NTE 3 Years. Term appointments may be extended beyond of six (6) years, up to eight (8) years. With DoD approval, Term appointments may be extended beyond eight (8) years. Current permanent Federal employees (to include permanent Army employees) applying for a Term appointment will be appointed/converted into a Term appointment with no statutory return rights back to a permanent position. 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army) Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce Excepted Service Overseas Family Member Appointment Family Member Preference (FMP) for Overseas Employment Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Military Spouse Preference (MSP) for Overseas Employment Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI) Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer Re-employed Annuitant Reinstatement In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. To qualify based on your work experience, your resume must describe at least one year of experience which prepared you to do the work in this job. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: (1) coordinate public affairs support to include community relations, media operations, and facilitations, information strategies, liaison between tenant organizations and the public; (2) serve as the principal staff advisor on all matters involving public issues; 3) create communication policy; 4) prepare and review speeches, presentations, and written/electronic information for general and targeted audiences. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12). You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Communications Interpersonal Skills Leadership Public Affairs Policies and Procedures Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-12). Separated Military Members: Resumes will be accepted from members of the Armed Forces who indicate in their applications that they are available for appointment within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement. Military members may be appointed while on terminal/transitional leave before the effective date of their military retirement/separation. Military Retirees: Within the DoD (Department of Defense), including non-appropriated fund positions, the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following the retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326 or 5 U.S.C. 5305. Selecting officials may select or not select from a certificate of best-qualified candidates OR from a list of applicants eligible for noncompetitive placement (5 CFR 335). Education Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. Additional Information Direct deposit of pay is required. U.S. citizens overseas under ordinarily resident status are not eligible for appointment under the Status of Forces Agreement. Locality pay does not apply in the overseas area. If an employee brings a child to an overseas location and that child is entitled to attend a DoD school on a space-required basis in accordance with DoDEA Regulation 1342.13, the DoDEA and the Military Department responsible for providing related services will ensure that the child, if eligible for special education, receives a free appropriate public education, including related services pursuant to DoDI 1342.12 and DoDM 1342.12. If an employee brings an infant or toddler (up to 3 years of age) to an overseas location, and that infant or toddler, but for the child's age, is entitled to attend the DoDEA on a space-required basis in accordance with DoDEA Regulation 1342.13, then the Military Department responsible for EIS will provide the infant or toddler with the required EIS in accordance with the eligibility criteria consistent with DoDI 1342.12 and DoDM 1342.12. Employees (and family members) who require medical or dental care in the overseas location will be responsible for obtaining and paying for such care. Access for civilian employees and their families to military medical and dental treatment facilities is on a space-available and reimbursable basis only. Pay retention may be offered to selected applicants for positions at overseas locations. Pay retention will not be offered as an incentive for employees moving between overseas positions. Selectees may receive certain foreign area benefits such as: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) or government quarters, home leave, etc. Selectees will have their eligibility for foreign area benefits determined at the time of hire in accordance with Department of State Standardized Regulation (DSSR) and DoDI 1400.25 volume 1250. For positions in a foreign country, that country's laws or international agreements may have a direct impact on the ability of an employee's same sex domestic partner or spouse to accompany the employee and receive certain benefits. If you believe you may be affected by these laws and agreements, you should familiarize yourself with relevant information and direct questions concerning a specific country (Foreign Duty Location) to the appropriate Army Human Resources point of contact prior to the acceptance of employment and your entrance on duty. This is a Public Affairs and Communications Media Career Field position. The initial length of this overseas tour is 36 months. Defense National Relocation Program will not be authorized. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations. A relocation or recruitment incentive may be authorized. Student loan repayment, advanced-in hire, and advanced leave accrual will not be authorized.