Summary General Information Salary: $66,300 (Step 01) to $86,190 (Step 10); NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies in the advertised office or other U.S. Geological Survey offices in the local commuting area. Responsibilities This is a Recent Graduate position under the Pathways Program and is open to individuals who have obtained a qualifying degree or certificate from an accredited educational institution or completed a qualifying career or technical education program within the previous two years. The program provides a one-year full-time developmental experience in federal agencies. Veterans with service obligations may apply up to six years after graduation. Additional information can be found at: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/recent-graduates. You are required to provide documentation to support eligibility. As a Public Affairs Specialist (Stakeholder Engagement Liaison) within the Western Ecological Research Center, some of your specific duties will include: Communicating with USGS leadership on a weekly basis by crafting and providing non-technical summaries of research products, upcoming publications, events, and media coverage of all scientists within the Western Ecological Research Center. Developing opportunities to educate the public as to the mission, current scientific biological research, and accomplishments at professional conferences, primary/secondary school engagement, and other educational outreach. Developing content including but not limited to web pages, newsletters, posters, and handouts to communicate technical biological/ecological research that is conducted by Western Ecological Research Center scientists in a non-technical way for the lay audience. Developing symbiotic partnerships with key stakeholders, shares information of key USGS scientific studies, and works with stakeholders to share USGS science achievements. Physical Demands: The work is usually sedentary and requires prolonged sitting at computer terminals. Occasional moderate lifting and carrying equipment is required. Occasional visits to monitoring and research sites may be required, to understand and document the work done by scientists and technicians and may require walking on diverse terrain or riding on a boat. There may be periods of considerable stress related to meeting established deadlines. Work Environment: The work is normally performed in an office setting that is adequately heated, lighted, and ventilated. Guiding or accompanying media or officials on field trips is occasionally required in conjunction with requests by or in coordination with the Office of Communication and Publishing (OCAP). Such trips are usually associated with field conditions, including mud, water, and cold/heat. Other work locations may also include conference rooms, schools, and offices of other agencies or groups. Requirements Conditions of Employment Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. The duration of the Recent Graduates appointment is a trial period. Recent Graduates will be required to sign a Pathways Recent Graduate Participant Agreement. Selectee must provide a valid state driver's license & safe driving record. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Other Information. Are There Any Special Requirements For This Position? This vacancy is limited to the first 50 applications received and will close at midnight Eastern Time on the day this application limit is reached regardless of the closing date specified in this vacancy announcement. Any application received prior to midnight Eastern Time of the day the application limit is reached will be accepted and considered. You are strongly encouraged to submit all required supporting documents at the time of application should the vacancy close earlier than stated in this announcement due to the applicant limit being reached. Supporting documents will not be accepted once the vacancy announcement closes. Because this position requires travel for official business, the selectee will be required to apply for a charge card within 30 calendar days of appointment. Individuals who have delinquent account balances from a previous Government charge card will be required to satisfy their existing obligation before a new card can be issued. The Recent Graduate Program lasts for 1 year. Participants who successfully complete the Recent Graduate Program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent appointment or a term (1-4 years in duration) appointment without further competition. Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system. A background investigation will be required for this position. Continued employment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. Qualifications Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible for an appointment under the Pathways Recent Graduate Program you must meet the following requirements: You must be a recent graduate who has completed, within the previous two years, an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution such as an accredited technical or vocational school; a 2- or 4-year college or university; a graduate or professional school (e.g., law school, medical school); or a post-secondary home school curriculum; or a qualifying career or technical education program (e.g., Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps). Note: Qualifying volunteer service must be from a federally administered program indicating completion of either: at least 52 weeks of volunteer service (through one or multiple periods of service), or at least 1,700 work hours when the volunteer service period is less than one year. Note: Certificate program is defined as post-secondary education in a qualifying educational institution equal to at least one academic year of full-time study that's part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum. Veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty; however, eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed 6 years from the date on which the degree, certificate or qualifying career or technical education program was obtained. The date of release or discharge from active duty should be later than the date the degree or certificate was obtained. Qualification Requirements Applicants must meet one of the following to qualify for the GS-09 level: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education (36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours or the equivalent) leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D. in a field of study which provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. *OR One year of appropriate specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service that is in or related to public affairs and that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of such experience could include writing news releases on routine matters; providing information to the public on agency programs; assisting higher level specialists with the preparation of news releases, fact sheets, and brochures; assisting with the organization and support of special events. These work experiences would have involved following established methods and procedures, or detailed instructions; using some judgment in applying analytical techniques, and would have required a good general working knowledge of communication and public relations principles and methods. *OR A combination of successfully completed progressive graduate level education as described above that is beyond the first year of graduate study and specialized experience, as described above. (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO COMBINE GRADUATE EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE) You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement. Education Education Requirements: 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 completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit:https://www.usgs.gov/human-capital/how-foreign-education-evaluated-federal-jobs Additional Information This position is being filled under the Pathways Recent Graduate Program that affords developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service to individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. You will be required to operate a government-owned or -leased vehicle in the performance of your official duties. Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements: (1) possess a valid State license, and (2) possess a safe driving record. If selected, you will be required to provide proof of a valid State license & a copy of your driving record. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties. Under Executive Order 11935, only United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) may compete for civil service jobs. Agencies are permitted to hire non-citizens only in very limited circumstances where there are no qualified citizens available for the position. USGS employees are subject to Title 43, USC Section 31(a) and may not: (a) have any personal, private, direct or indirect interest in lands or mineral wealth of lands under survey; (b) have any substantial personal, private, direct or indirect interests in any private mining or mineral enterprise doing business with the United States; or (c) execute surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations. The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361. DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. The Department of the Interior (DOI) places a high value on diversity of experience and cultural perspectives and encourages applications from all interested eligible candidates. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are fundamental principles that guide the Department and allow us to successfully achieve our mission. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.