KEY REQUIREMENTS



• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Suitable adjudication of background/Security Investigation is required.
• Relocation expenses are not authorized.
• A probationary/trial period may be required.
• This is a non-bargaining unit position.

As a Communications Specialist you will:

Coordinate all aspects of monthly NCUA Report newsletter production, including writing articles, copy editing, and coordinating content and design.

Draft press releases, congressional testimony, congressional correspondence, speeches, op-eds, slide shows, frequently asked questions, and other materials distributed to external audiences.

Serve as content editor for NCUA’s websites by regularly reviewing available webpages and new material to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Plain Writing Act and consistency in Agency messaging.

Oversee all aspects of the development of the Agency’s annual report to Congress, including drafting the content, editing and design.

Develop and maintain Agency-wide external communication plans for continuity of government initiatives, including press release templates, public relations procedures, and communications contacts, and assist with the execution of comprehensive plans.

Monitor and analyze the ongoing effectiveness of current communication efforts within the organization to expand the visibility points of service to increase customers' awareness.

Represent the Agency by establishing and maintaining effective relationships with the press, public officials, credit unions, trade associations, and their members.

Develop and write informational materials and presentations with the purpose of educating and often persuading a diverse audience of internal and external customers and the public about NCUA’s programs and initiatives.

Field media inquiries on conservatorships, liquidations, and supervisory actions, and coordinate with the regions in reviewing materials distributed to external audiences from a conserved credit union and potential credit union service organizations of the conserved credit union.

Answer press calls and public inquiries on an as needed basis.

Serve NCUA contact for coordination with other Agency communications offices for interagency, Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), and Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) press releases and public notices.

For the CU-12 level, you must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the CU/GS-11 grade level in the federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as work experience involving credit union, consumer protection as it relates to financial services matters or financial services industry issues which included assisting in developing, organizing, and updating content that is used for a variety of communications, which may have included publications, letters and notices, webpages, press releases and/or other communications; developing visual and written communication products (such as presentations, speeches, policy messages, correspondence) to convey information about programs and initiatives; and responding to questions from reporters and/or external audiences about credit union, consumer protection, or financial services issues.

For the CU-13 level, you must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the CU/GS-12 grade level in the federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as work experience involving credit union, consumer protection as it relates to financial services matters or financial services industry issues which included developing, organizing, and updating content that is used for a variety of communications, including publications, letters and notices, webpages, press releases and other communications; developing visual and written communication products for senior executives (such as presentations, speeches, policy messages, correspondence, videos) to convey information about programs and initiatives; and responding to questions from reporters and external audiences about credit union, consumer protection, or financial services issues.

You must meet the qualifications for this position by the closing date of this announcement. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Skill in analyzing the communication needs of an organization and determining the best use of communication media to effectively deliver a consistent message.

2. Knowledge of financial services and consumer protection functions, philosophies, regulations and practices in order to develop and deliver agency messages on complex matters that are technically accurate, succinct, and understandable by non-technical audiences.

3. Knowledge of technical and professional guidelines applicable to communication initiatives such as libel and copyright laws, Privacy Act implications regarding the release of information, the Plain Writing Act, and relevant financial regulations and practices.

4. Skill in producing written materials conveying complex information to a variety of audiences.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

First, your application package will be reviewed for completeness (resume, completed assessment questionnaire, and supporting documentation).  You will not be considered if you fail to submit all the required documents as outlined in this vacancy announcement.  Second, if you have a complete application package, your RESUME will be reviewed to determine if you meet the basic qualifications and specialized experience requirements (see "Qualification and Evaluations" section).  You must provide specific details in your resume as to how your experience meets the specialized experience.  Third, if you are determined to be qualified for the position, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the assessment questions.  The numerical rating you received is based on your responses to the questions.  If upon review it is determined that your resume and supporting documentation do not support your responses to the questions, your numerical rating may be adjusted and you may be excluded from consideration for this position.

NCUA participates in all Federal Benefits programs including but not limited to: Leave, Health Benefits, Life Insurance, Retirement Benefits, Long Term Care and Flexible Spending Account.

OTHER INFORMATION:

If you are selected for this position at the CU-12 level, you may be non-competitively promoted to the CU-13 level provided that you have fulfilled the necessary qualification requirements including any applicable certification processes. Promotion is not automatic and is conditional on demonstrated ability to perform the higher grade level duties, a current written performance appraisal rating of "fully successful" or better, fulfillment of the necessary qualification requirements, and sufficient work at the higher grade level position.

SALARY: Pay will be set using NCUA's Compensation policy. The salary range shown is NCUA's Local Pay Rate (LPR) which includes a locality rate of  21.87 percent for the Alexandria, VA geographical area.

NCUA IS A COMPETITIVE SERVICE AGENCY.

YOUR APPLICATION AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY11:59:59 P.M. EST ON THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your resume.
2. Complete Occupational Questionnaire.

3. All required documents (see required documents section).

YOUR RESUME MUST provide specific details as to how your experience meets the qualifications requirements and supports your responses to the occupational questionnaire.Please ensure that your resume includes the month, year, and hours worked perweek for each position held. Failure to provide details may result in a loweror ineligible rating.

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create anaccount or login to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire. Please ensure you submit your answers atthe end of the process. NOTE: To return to a previously saved or incomplete application you may use the following link:  https://applicationmanager.gov/ 

To Fax supporting documents you are unable to upload, complete this cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf  using the following Vacancy ID:748149 . Fax your documents to 1-478-757-3144.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

VETERANS: If you wish to be considered under the VEOA OR 30% DISABLED Veteran's Authority, you must submit a copy of your Veteran's Documentation (DD-214 (Member 4 Copy), VA letter, SF-15).

SPECIAL EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATION:  To receive consideration for a special appointment authority (severely disabled, Peace Corps or Vista volunteers, certain military spouses, etc.) you must submit all required documents supporting your claim.

SF-50: Current and former federal employees must submit a Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50, that indicates grade, status, tenure and the full performance level (FPL) of the position held. Please do not submit an SF-50 for a cash/time off award.

ICTAP/CTAP: Federal employees seeking ICTAP/CTAP eligibility must submit proof of their eligibility:

·         Copy of agency notice;

·         Most recent performance rating; and

·         SF-50 noting current position, grade level and duty location.

To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must receive an 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position. For additional information, click CTAP.

PLEASE NOTE: You have three options for submitting your documentation: 1) you can upload documents from your USAJOBS account; 2) upload documents from your personal computer; 3) or fax documents.  Please follow the system prompts to submit your documents.  Not all documents will apply to you and you only need to submit those that are applicable to your situation.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

You will receive an email that your resume has been received from the USAJobs website. You can check the status of your application by logging back into your USAJobs account.