Pathways Recent Graduate Program Public Affairs Specialist

Duties

IRS Recent Graduates Program 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. Selected applicants are placed in a dynamic, developmental program with the potential to lead to a civil service career in the Federal Government. In addition, the IRS implemented the new IRS Forward Recent Graduate Program that includes an additional year of formal development, training, networking, project teams, and may include rotational assignments.

Following the completion of program requirements, selectees may be considered for non-competitive conversion to a career/career-conditional or term appointment. All conversion requirements will be identified in the Participant Agreement. Program requirements include but are not limited to:

• Successful completion of at least 1 to 2 years of continuous service depending on the position;

• Completion of at least 40 hours of interactive training;

• Mentorship;

• Demonstration of successful job performance; and

• Meet the qualification position standards.

Conversion to the competitive service is not implied or guaranteed.

If selected, you will be placed in a developmental position as a Public Affairs Specialist 1035-GS-5 with promotion potential to GS-11 in one the division(s) listed below:

Tax Exempt & Government Entities (TEGE) Shared Services Communications & Liaison (C&L)

A description of the business units can be found at: https://www.jobs.irs.gov/about/who/business-divisions

The following are the duties of this position at the full working level.

• Assists with edit designs, performs lay-out, takes photographs, provides graphic art/desktop publishing expertise and works with a Public Affairs Specialist or Communications Analyst(s) to prepare communication vehicles that may include original articles for local and national publications, briefing materials and presentations, etc. for use by cross-functional and high-level management including up to executive level.

• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with high level IRS management, members of the news media, specialized groups interested in IRS programs and IRS employees.

• The incumbent uses knowledge of a wide variety of communications vehicles and techniques analyzes assigned tasks and objectives and recommends the appropriate vehicles(s) for realizing an assigned communications objective.

• With assistance, edits designs, performs lay-out, takes photographs, provides graphic art/desktop publishing expertise and works with Communications Analyst(s) to prepare communication vehicles that may include original articles for local and national publications, briefing materials and presentations, etc. for use by cross-functional and high-level management including up to executive level.

This position has career progression. If you are selected at a grade level lower than the full working level, you may be non-competitively promoted as your career progresses. For example, you may be hired as a GS-05, but if the position has career progression to GS-11, then you may move from a GS-05 to a GS-11 in as little as three years.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Telework Eligible Positions: Telework eligible positions do not guarantee telework. Employees must meet and sustain IRS telework eligibility requirements (e.g., reporting at least twice a pay period to your assigned Post of Duty (POD)) and supervisor's approval to participate in the IRS Telework Program. Employees must also be within a 200-mile radius of their official assigned post-of-duty (POD) while in a telework status. As a reminder

• If you are selected for a position, you are responsible for reporting to your designated POD (location) on the negotiated start date or as directed by management.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National and provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. (Birth certificate showing birth in the U.S; Unexpired U.S. Passport; Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization; or Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen (Form FS-240))

• Undergo a review of prior performance/conduct and an income tax verification. Refer to "Get Your Tax Record" at http://www.irs.gov/(https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript) to check the status of your account, balance owed, payment history, make a payment, or review answers to tax questions. If you are not in compliance, you will be determined unsuitable for employment with IRS.

• This position requires that the successful candidate undergo personnel vetting, which includes a background investigation and enrollment upon onboarding into "Continuous Vetting." Enrollment in Continuous Vetting will result in automated record checks being conducted throughout one's employment with Treasury. The successful candidate will also be enrolled into FBI's Rap Back service, which will allow Treasury to receive notification from the FBI of criminal matters (e.g., arrests, charges, convictions) involving enrolled individuals in near real-time. For more information regarding your rights refer to Noncriminal Justice Applicant's Privacy Rights

• FBI, FD-258 Privacy Act Statement

• FBI, and SEAD-3-Reporting-U.pdf (dni.gov).

• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.

• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. These documents must be unexpired original or certified copies.

Qualifications

Federal experience is not required. The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis.

To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

In order to qualify, you must first meet Pathways Recent Graduate Program eligibility:

You must have, within the previous 2 years, completed all educational requirements for a qualifying associate, bachelor, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying institution; or intended graduation is no more than 9 months from date of application;

• OR-

Veterans (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 2108) who, due to a military service obligation, were precluded from applying to a Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period may have their eligibility period extended so that they receive the full 2 years of eligibility. The remaining 2-year eligibility period will begin upon his or her release or discharge from active duty. The veteran's eligibility period may not extend beyond 6 years from the date of completion of all requirements of an academic course of study.

Secondly, you must meet any basic requirements of the position and the experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Information and Arts.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: GS-5

You must have 3 years of general experience 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4 grade level in the Federal service. Experience with analyzing problems to identify significant factors, gathering pertinent data, and recognizing solutions; Planning and organizing work; and communicating effectively orally and in writing.

OR

Four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in any field.

OR

A combination of qualifying education and experience equivalent to that described above.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: GS-7

You must have one (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience with communications and program analysis technical rules, regulations, and precedents to apply to assigned portions of programs, projects and studies; Oral and written techniques in order to share factual information with public affairs staff and to document findings; Experience with basic objectives and policies governing various functional programs, operations and processes to assist in providing analysis and guidance.

OR

At least one (1) academic year of graduate education related field of study that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

OR

Superior Academic Achievement

• A Bachelors degree, with one of the following: A GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses or those completed in the last 2 years of study, or a GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all courses in the major field of study or those courses in the major completed in the last 2 years of study, or rank in the upper one third of the class in the college, university, or major subdivision, or membership in a national honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. Note: Grade point averages should be rounded to one decimal point. For example, 2.95 is rounded to 3.0, and 2.94 is rounded to 2.9. If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) was taken on a pass/fail or similar basis, your claim must be based on class standing or membership in an Honor Society.

OR

A combination of qualifying graduate education and experience equivalent to that described above.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: GS-9

You must have 1 year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience with written and oral communication techniques and methods to assist in providing guidance and oversight on assigned communication programs; Experience planning, gathering and verifying and editing digital photography and creating and developing computer graphics/desktop publishing; Analytical methods to evaluate data and make appropriate recommendations and interpersonal relation skills sufficient for establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.

OR

Master's or equivalent degree in any field of study that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work

OR

Two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in a related field of study that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

OR

LL.B or J.D., if related.

OR

An equivalent amount of combined graduate education and experience.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: GS-11

You must have 1 year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes: Experience with written and oral communication techniques, communications models and applications used to reach audiences effectively and the ability to write articles and releases; Experience developing content for print and web mediums directed at a diverse employee audience; Analytical methods to evaluate data and make appropriate recommendations and interpersonal relation skills sufficient for establishing and maintain effective working relationships.

OR

PH.D or equivalent doctoral degree in any field of study that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work

OR

Three (3) full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in any field of study that demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work

OR

LL.M., if related

OR

A combination of qualifying graduate education and experience as described above.

For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.

Education

This position has an education requirement. You MUST submit dated documentation showing completion or intended completion (if graduation is no more than 9 months from the date of application) of all educational requirements (e.g. letter from the registrar, unofficial transcripts). An official transcript will be required if you are selected. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click here for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions.

CERTIFICATE: If you are qualifying based on a certificate program, please refer to Treasury's Pathways Program for more information on qualifying certificate programs. A Certificate Program is a post-secondary educational program in a qualifying educational institution, equivalent to at least one full-time academic year of study, that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational or business school curriculum. For study at a business or technical school, 36 weeks of study (20+ classroom hours per week) is comparable to 1 academic year of full-time study. IF you are applying with a completed IT or Business Professional Certification you must submit a dated transcript or letter issued by the Academic Institution detailing your completed coursework and credit hours completed. If your Academic institution calculates a full-year of academic studies with fewer hours, or academic credits are expressed in contract months, units, or other terms that differ from the conventional hours, please have your academic advisor provide a letter certifying the Certificate program meets the regulatory definition.

For more information on education requirements go to Treasury's Pathways Program.

Additional information

• Pathways in an Excepted Service Appointment, Schedule D, 5 CFR Part 362. Selected applicants who occupy positions in the Competitive Service must acknowledge the outcome of voluntarily leaving the Competitive Service prior to accepting an Excepted Service Appointment in a Pathways Program. See 5 CFR 302.102(b)(2).

• All selectees must sign a Participant Agreement.

• An official transcript must be provided to confirm degree completion prior to appointment to the position.

• Subject to a 1-year trial period (unless already completed).

• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.

• We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. Additional jobs may be filled.

• The salary range indicated in this announcement reflects the minimum locality pay up to maximum locality pay for all duty locations listed. The range will be adjusted for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.

• This is a bargaining unit position.

• Tour of Duty: Day Shift hours ranging from 6:00am to 6:00pm

• Alternative work schedule, staggered work hours or telework may be available.

• In the event that a building is closed due to rent management, new hires may be placed in a local commuting location.

• Relocation expenses

• No

Though many locations may be listed, you will be limited to a maximum of 3 location choices. Please consider each location carefully when applying. If you are selected for a position at one of your location selections, that location will become your official post of duty.

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