Summary The position is located within the Office of Finance & Management, AFN-001. AFN Strategic Communications provides communications support with broad awareness messaging and digital presentation to enhance the visibility of AFN efforts, including the FedView Survey, awards programs, Robotics Process Automation (RPA), Enterprise Information Management (EIM), Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), AFN Connect, branding and other initiatives. Responsibilities The Program Specialist supports various aspects of information communications, other collateral and employee engagement products. The Program Specialist performs multiple, varying, and complex assignments under the minimal direction of a manager, project/program manager, team leader, or more experienced professional. The position is a contributing specialist on large work activities and may also act as a project manager or team leader for large projects/programs/activities. Applies experience and comprehensive knowledge applicable to providing program support for various aspects of communications and employee engagement including newsletter articles, webpage updates, blast emails, speeches, Town Halls, talking points, letters, PowerPoints, Podcasts, and other collateral and communications products. The Program Specialist performs the following: • Provides guidance to less-experienced professional, staff and team members. • Supports communication activities, including content strategy, marketing and creative production, including video production, podcasts, creative and technical writing, social media writing, graphic design, and web design and postings. • Assists with AFN web content development to upload, update, maintain and post content, including documents, videos, and graphics, to both employee and public websites, using the Content Management System. This includes responding to web requests from AFN organizations and working to improve the look and usability of web pages. • Ensures web content complies with guidelines, including reviewing documents for branding and 508 requirements. Makes documents 508 compliant as needed. • Gather data, compile metrics, administer polls and develop standardized web-based analytic reports for distribution to AFN management. Develops internal communications processes, procedures and strategies. • Assists the communications team with creating, writing, editing and proofreading documents, including articles, newsletters, daily broadcasts, emails, social media posts, talking points, speeches, briefings, etc. • Translate documents from technical jargon to plain language appropriate for a general audience. • Proofreads documents for errors in grammar, punctuation and spelling. Follows and adheres to Associated Press and design style guides. • Writes employee-focused articles, Associated Press style, corporate communications, and employee engagement is highly desirable. • Supports the development of new and innovative communication approaches, methodologies, policies that may impact the achievement of the AFN’s strategic communication objectives. • Assists in the development of long-term plans to direct and motivate staff to implement new strategies and complete new projects. • Participates on cross-functional groups and teams of federal employees and contractors in identifying areas in need of improvement, making recommendations for innovative strategies, and implementing creative solutions to existing and emerging issues. Independently plans time. Identifies, plans, and organizes available resources to accomplish projects/programs/activities. Makes optimal use of resources to complete activities within established schedules. Established policies/procedures provide guidance for most assignments, but allow considerable discretion for employee to select the most appropriate approach(es) or develop new approaches. Assignments regularly require interpretations of internal and external policies and extrapolations from precedents. Resolves most problems and work issues without the assistance of a manager, project/program manager, team leader, or more experienced professional. Develops and recommends approaches to address current and anticipated problems and issues. Works with management and/or more experienced professionals to solve problems. Requirements Conditions of Employment We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. Qualifications To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-H, FG/GS-12 level. This experience is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE STATEMENT: Experience in preparing clear, concise, written documents that engage readers. Experience with creating awareness campaigns in support of enterprise wide initiatives. Experience explaining in plain language the purpose, goals and objectives of a policy or regulations. Experience in writing about transportation issues, or government policies/regulations, consistently meeting daily deadlines for a public audience. You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered. Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification. Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position. Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; (3) alphabetical; or (4) priority grouping, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration. Education Education cannot be substituted for experience. Additional Information We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions. Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family. Leave Enhancement: FAA organizations may offer enhanced annual leave accrual to newly appointed or reappointed employees. In order to receive consideration for such a benefit, applicants' prior non-Federal service or active duty uniformed service must directly relate to the duties of the position to which appointed. Granting enhanced annual leave is at the sole discretion of the hiring organization, and granting such benefit is not an entitlement nor guaranteed to any newly hired employee. NOTES: 1. This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about Core Compensation is available at: https://www.faa.gov/jobs/working_here/benefits. 2. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA section, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a human resource specialist as appropriate. 3. Some, all, or none of the applicants may be interviewed. 4. This Level 1 (Low Risk) position requires favorable adjudication of a National Agency Check and Inquiries (NACI) background investigation prior to appointment. 5. This announcement is also being advertised under VA #AWA-AFN-24-5193JC-91975. Please review both vacancy announcements before making an application to determine your eligibility to apply. This is not a bargaining unit position. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA