• U. S. Citizenship is required.
• Successful completion of a background check is required.
• Valid state driver’s license required.
• NPS uniform required.
• Relocation expenses will not be paid.

This position requires strong communication and organizational skills.  The duties of this job require superior organizational and office management skills, as well as creativity, discretion, tact, diplomacy, and good judgment.  The work includes frequent contact with the media, representatives of special interest groups, the general public, contractors, and staff of elected officials at the local, state, and federal level.
Major duties at the full performance level include, but are not limited to:
• Assist with FOIA requests and advise managers on FOIA issues and the impacts of FOIA requests.
• Prepare and coordinate press releases and media alerts, represent the park in interviews for print and broadcast media, and maintain media relationships concerning park events, programs, and incidents.
• Inform park employees and visitors of current park resources, facilities, services, policies, and procedures.
• Conduct background research in order to prepare responses to visitor and employee inquiries.
• Gather and consolidate data and statistics to revise and update informational handouts, reports, and summaries.

 QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 level, you must meet at least one of the following requirements (Please note: you must submit your transcripts if you are using education to qualify):

A. Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree and meet one of the following superior academic achievement provisions: 1) a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher for all completed undergraduate coursework or for all courses completed in the last two full years of undergraduate work; 2) a GPA of 3.5 or higher for all courses in the major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two full years of undergraduate work; 3) ranking in the upper one-third of your college, university, or major subdivision; or 4) membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.  OR

B. Successful completion of one full year (18 credits or equivalent) of graduate level study, or possess a master’s or higher degree, e.g., LL.B., J.D., LL.M., Ph.D., in a field that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.  Such fields include journalism, advertising, creative writing, radio and television, speech, public speaking, group dynamics, interviewing techniques, or questionnaire design.  OR

C. At least one year of full-time specialized experience or the equivalent, comparable to at least the GS-05 level in the Federal Service (obtained in either the public or private sector), performing duties such as: 1) writing news reports or magazine articles; 2) conducting tours of facilities and explaining the work performed; 3) researching policies and procedures to make decisions; and 4) communicating with various groups of people, including the general public, staff members, and the media.  OR

D. A combination of education and experience described in “B” and “C” above. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours or equivalent earned towards a graduate degree and divide by 18 semester hours or equivalent. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.

For any college courses, graduate work, research, thesis or other non-descript courses listed on your transcript (such as “Independent Research”), please indicate through your resume or attachment memorandum from an academic professor how each course fulfills the specific education requirement, i.e., state number of semester hours credited, topic of study, grade earned.

NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.

Special Instructions For Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

 Physical Demands: Work requires physical labor on an occasional basis. Event management requires the ability to lift up to 50 pounds repeatedly while loading or unloading equipment into or out of trucks. Event set-up may also require extensive standing or walking, for up to four hours at a time.

Working Conditions: The incumbent must be available for night and weekend meetings, and tours as necessary, sometimes on park trails. Some travel is necessary.

The appropriate NPS uniform must be worn at all times.

Additional information on the qualifications requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions.  It is available for your review on OPM’s website at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

 VETERANS PREFERENCE: A veteran is a person who: Entered the military service prior to October 14, 1976; served on active duty during the Gulf War between August 2, 1990 and January 2, 1992, regardless of where the person served; served on active duty for more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on the date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or by law as the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or, served in a military action for which they received a campaign badge or expeditionary medal. Medal holders and Gulf War veterans must have served continuously for at least 24 months or the full period for which called or ordered to active duty. Disabled veterans; Purple Heart recipients; spouses or mothers of a 100 percent disabled veteran; or the widows, widowers, or mothers of a deceased veteran are also granted preference.  See OPM’s website at http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp.

 HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

 Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job.  If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position.  Please follow all instructions carefully.  Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.  Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category.  The categories are defined as follows:

• Best Qualified – Demonstrates better overall or key knowledge, skills, or abilities for a specific position.
• Well Qualified – Possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities which clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position, but does not necessarily meet the definition of best qualified.
• Qualified – Meets the minimum qualifications standards, including any selective placement factors, for a specific position.

Application of Veterans’ Preference:  Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran’s preference above non-preference eligible within each category.  Veterans who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher.

The Federal Government offers a comprehensive benefits package.  Explore the major benefits offered to most Federal employees at

http://www.usajobs.gov/ResourceCenter/Index/Interactive/Benefits#icc

 OTHER INFORMATION:

 If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-points veterans’ preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 (must show character of service/discharge) or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans’ preference, you must also submit an SF-15, “Application for 10-Point Veterans’ Preference” plus the additional proof required by that form. For CP/CPS claims – VA decision letter or other document which shows final/combined percentage of the service connected disability. For more information on veterans’ preference see http://www.usajobs.gov/veterans

 Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.