Public Affairs Specialist

Department of State Headquarters (DOS); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 122,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of State Headquarters (DOS) seeks a chief digital media specialist to coordinate EUR's public diplomacy digital programs. The role drives digital engagement strategies across platforms, including photos, video, streaming media, and social media technologies, aligning with foreign policy objectives.

The incumbent serves as a subject matter expert on emerging digital diplomacy tools, advises leadership, and represents EUR at external events and collaborations with embassies and tech

Qualifications

• Experience developing strategic outreach plans to communicate U.S. foreign policy objectives to key audiences.
• Experience managing digital media programs to amplify messaging and advance foreign policy objectives.
• Experience advising on digital media strategies, platforms, and audience engagement.
• Experience analyzing digital engagement metrics to measure effectiveness and optimize outreach.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the Bureau’s lead authority on integrating digital communications into regional public diplomacy and foreign policy objectives.
• Serves as the primary liaison between the regional bureau and overseas posts to ensure Department policy and Bureau priorities are effectively translated into digital content, campaigns, and engagement opportunities.
• Analyzes regional media environments, audience behavior, digital trends, and competitor activity to identify engagement opportunities and develops new ways of gathering input from individuals and groups holding conflicting or divergent views.
• Serves as a principal advisor to Bureau leadership and overseas missions on digital communications and supports timely, coordinated public messaging.
• Represents EUR interests for digital PD initiatives with regional and functional bureaus, and at Department-hosted digital diplomacy events, as well as events hosted by foreign Embassies, technology companies, and other external experts.

Skills

Digital media strategy

Public diplomacy

Stakeholder liaison

Data analysis

Media monitoring

Job description

Summary

The incumbent serves as EUR’s chief digital media specialist and is the primary point of coordination for all of EUR’s digital media public diplomacy (PD) programs. In this capacity, the incumbent serves as a subject matter expert on existing and emerging strategies and tools of digital diplomacy, e.g. digital engagement platforms, including visual and interactive engagement via photos and video, streaming media, and social media technologies.

Overview

Location: Washington, DC

Telework eligible: Yes—If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval.

Remote job: No

Relocation expenses reimbursed: No

Salary: $121,785 – $158,322 per year

Pay scale & grade: GS 13

Promotion potential: 13

Work schedule: Full-time

Travel Required: Occasional domestic and/or international travel may be required.

Appointment type: Permanent

Supervisory status: No

Federal service type: Competitive Service

Drug test: Yes

Security clearance: Top Secret

Position sensitivity and risk: Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Background Check

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness
• National security

Announcement

Announcement number: P/EUR-MPI-2027-0007

Control number: 890805700

Open to

• Internal to an agency
• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
• Clarification from the agency

Duties

• Serves as the Bureau’s lead authority on integrating digital communications into regional public diplomacy and foreign policy objectives.
• Serves as the primary liaison between the regional bureau and overseas posts to ensure Department policy and Bureau priorities are effectively translated into digital content, campaigns, and engagement opportunities.
• Analyzes regional media environments, audience behavior, digital trends, and competitor activity to identify engagement opportunities and develops new ways of gathering input from individuals and groups holding conflicting or divergent views.
• Serves as a principal advisor to Bureau leadership and overseas missions on digital communications and supports timely, coordinated public messaging.
• Represents EUR interests for digital PD initiatives with regional and functional bureaus, and at Department-hosted digital diplomacy events, as well as events hosted by foreign Embassies, technology companies, and other external experts.

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement.

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F.

Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

• Experience developing strategic outreach plans to communicate U.S. foreign policy objectives to key audiences.
• Experience managing digital media programs to amplify messaging and advance foreign policy objectives.
• Experience advising on digital media strategies, platforms, and audience engagement.
• Experience analyzing digital engagement metrics to measure effectiveness and optimize outreach.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

Additional Information

• To request a reasonable accommodation for additional time on the timed sections of the assessment, please submit your request using the “Request a Reasonable Accommodation” button within the Assessment Application.
• For all other reasonable accommodations at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) at [e-mail].
• RA requests cover additional time on timed sections only.
• Applicants submitting a RA request MUST attach supporting medical documentation signed by a licensed, treating medical provider. The documentation should describe the nature, severity, and expected duration of the condition, identify the relevant medical condition or diagnosis, and explain the basis for the requested extension. RA requests that do not contain supporting medical documentation attachments at the time of initial request may be subject to further review.
• Note: the following documents do not, on their own, qualify for automatic approval of the RA request: Schedule A letters, VA benefits letters, or SSA letters.
• Applicants MUST submit their application before the vacancy closes, even if pending an accommodation decision.
• Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow instructions related to medical documentation provided in the vacancy announcement prior to beginning the RA process.
• Applicants will have 48 hours after their RA request is adjudicated to complete the assessment battery. Scores generated after the allotted timeframe will not be admissible and the applicant will not be considered further for the vacancy.
• If a different type of RA is needed, please contact OAA directly at [e-mail].
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in this Bureau for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.
• Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM’s CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full‑time, part‑time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The evaluation process consists of the ApplyGov Competency Based Assessments for which applicants will be assigned a score between 70 and 100. A resume review will be conducted for minimum qualification requirements, as described in the “Qualifications” section of this announcement, of applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates based on assessment scores. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.

You will be assessed on the following job‑related competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Non‑Supervisory: Oral Communication, Writing, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Technology Orientation, Customer Service, Attention to Detail and Self‑Management.
• Set aside at least 2 hours to take the external assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. There are timed sections that must be completed within the allotted timeframe.
• Your score from the external assessment (Non‑supervisory) will remain on file for 180 days, allowing you to apply for multiple DOS‑announced positions without needing to retake the assessments.
• Top applicants may be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies:
• Knowledge of U.S. society, foreign relations, and world events.
• Ability to understand trends in public and media attitudes.
• Ability to establish and maintain liaison throughout the foreign affairs community.
• Ability to identify problems and recommend solutions.
• In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We do not make assumptions regarding your experience. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials may result in your removal from consideration.
• Applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview. Qualified non‑competitive candidates must be deemed best qualified based on the applicant assessment in order to be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview.
• You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

1. Resume limited to two pages showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must support your answers to the completed online assessment questions. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.

2. Most recent SF-50s (Notification of Personnel Actions), if you are a current eligible DOS employee (per 3 FAM 2313.4(a)(5)), including current employees applying under a non‑competitive hiring authority. The SF-50s must show: effective date, position title, series, grade, salary, tenure, position occupied, full promotion potential, and name of agency. Multiple SF-50s may be needed to show all required information (e.g., promotion, within‑grade increase, and separation SF-50s). Award SF-50s often do not show the required information.

3. Performance appraisal, strongly encouraged for current eligible DOS employees. Submit a copy of your most recent (i.e., usually within the last 18 months) final (i.e., not a mid‑year review) official (i.e., signed by the rating official and in original format) annual performance appraisal for the hiring manager’s consideration. If a performance appraisal is not available, you may provide a statement and/or a statement from your supervisor explaining the reason one is not available and your servicing HR Office contact information (name, email address, phone number).

4. Non‑competitive hiring authority eligibility documentation, if applicable. If you are a current eligible DOS employee applying under a non‑competitive hiring authority (e.g, FS tenured employees, USUN reinstatement eligibles, Schedule A), you must submit proof of non‑competitive eligibility with your application. For information related to Schedule A hiring authority for individuals with disabilities visit OPM’s hiring information site.

5. CTAP documentation, if applicable (e.g., reduction‑in‑force (RIF) separation notice, certification of expected separation, etc.). In addition submit a copy of your current (or last) performance rating of record which must be at least fully successful or equivalent and submit all required documents listed above that apply to you (e.g., resume, transcripts, SF-50, etc.).

Agency contact information

Candice D. Hanna

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Address: U.S. Department of State, Charleston, South Carolina 29405, United States

Next steps

After all application packages are received, we will review applications and evaluate applicants’ qualifications. Then, in approximately two weeks after this announcement closes, we will refer candidates, as described in the “How You Will Be Evaluated” section, to the hiring manager for selection consideration. Your application status will be updated up to four times during the following hiring phases:

1. After applications are received.
2. After applications are assessed to determine qualifications.
3. After candidates are referred to the hiring manager.
4. After a selection is made.

For the selected candidates who receive a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability review and/or security background investigation that generally takes an average of at least two to six months.

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Financial suitability New employee probationary period Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy Selective Service Signature and false statements Social security number request