Senior Media Advisor
About This Position
This position is located in the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Office of Communications (OC). As a Public Affairs Specialist, GS-1035-15, referred to here as Senior Media Advisor, you will serve as a senior advisor to leadership on key mission-critical issues, enterprise-wide initiatives, and other high-level functions associated with media relations activities.
Qualifications
ALL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
Your resume (limited to no more than 2 pages) must include detailed information as it relates to the responsibilities and specialized experience for this position. Evidence of copying and pasting directly from the vacancy announcement without clearly documenting supplemental information to describe your experience will result in an ineligible rating. This will prevent you from being considered further.
In order to qualify for the GS-15 grade level, you must meet the following: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one year (52 weeks) of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal government, obtained in either the private or public sector, to include: 1) Developing, writing, reviewing, and editing various communications documents, i.e., news releases, media advisories, speeches, and talking points; AND 2) Coordinating with various offices on responses to media queries; AND 3) Speaking directly to the media to convey program messaging and develop relationships; AND 4) Formulating proactive media strategies and tactics to pitch TV, radio, online and print media. 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. Time-in-Grade: To be eligible, current or former Federal employees and current or former Federal employees applying under the VEOA eligibility who hold or have held a permanent General Schedule position in the previous year must have served at least 52 weeks (one year) at the next lower grade level from the position/grade level(s) to which they are applying.
Click the following link to view the occupational questionnaire: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12919141
Major Duties
Serve as primary senior advisor to OC’s Deputy Director for Communications on all matters concerning official agency responses to media queries that directly impact the perception of vital CMS policies that are of national interest and scope.
Give technical direction across CMS on responses to media queries and ensure release of information is timed to achieve maximum utilization, having regard in general for the total news situation.
Serve as a subject-matter expert on media relations; plan, prepare, coordinate, and edit press releases, news and feature materials, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and briefings for the press and other news media representatives.
Brief the Agency leadership regularly and create high-level media query tracking documents.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement.
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and the responses you provide on the application questionnaire. A Subject Matter Expert may assist in the resume review process to help determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications. Please follow all instructions carefully.
Errors or omissions may affect your rating. A Crediting Plan will be used to determine insofar as to how you meet the following Factors/Competencies: Communications and Media Planning and Evaluating Political Savvy Public Affairs In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.
Additional Information
Bargaining Unit Position: Yes-American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1923 Tour of Duty: Flexible Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure: Not Required Workplace Flexibility at CMS: This position has a regular and recurring reporting requirement to the CMS office listed in this announcement. CMS offers flexible working arrangements and allows employees the opportunity to participate in alternative work schedules at the manager's discretion. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced federal employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.
To be qualified you must submit the required documentation and be rated well-qualified for this vacancy.
Click here for a detailed description of the required supporting documents. A well-qualified applicant is one whose knowledge, skills and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements of the position. Additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents sections.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/09/2026. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/09/2026. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.
Your application status page is where you can view your application status and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please send an email to [email protected].
The decision to grant reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Commissioned Corps Officers (including Commissioned Corps professionally boarded applicants) who are interested in applying to this position must send their 1-page cover letter and 2-page ONLY professional resume (not PHS Curriculum Vitae) to [email protected] in lieu of applying through this announcement. The resume should specifically explain how you are qualified for this position and draw specific attention to your skills and experiences that demonstrate these qualifications.
Also, send any transcripts, licenses, or certifications as requested in this announcement. Please send all documents in 1 PDF file. In the subject line of your e-mail, include only the Job Announcement Number.
In the body of your e-mail, include your current rank name and serial number. Failure to provide this information may impact your consideration for this position. Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement.
By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: 1. Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional.
NOTE: As of September 27, 2025, federal agencies will only accept resumes that are two pages or less in length.
Your resume must indicate your citizenship and whether you are registered with the Selective Service if you are a male born after December 31, 1959.
Your resume must also list your work experience and education (if applicable), including the start and end dates (mm/yyyy) of each employment, along with the number of hours worked per week. For work in the Federal service, you must include the series and grade level for the position(s). For resume and application tips, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE OR EDUCATION. We strongly encourage applicants to utilize the USAJOBS resume builder in the creation of resumes. Determining length of general or specialized experience is dependent on the below information and failure to provide ALL information WILL result in a finding of ineligible.
Official Position Title (include series and grade if Federal job) Duties (be specific in describing your duties) Employer's name and address Supervisor name and phone number Start and end dates in the month and year format (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008) Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week) Salary
- CMS Required Documents (e.g., SF-50, DD-214, SF-15, etc.). Required documents may be necessary to be considered for this vacancy announcement.
Click here for a detailed description of the required documents. Failure to provide the required documentation WILL result in an ineligible rating OR non-consideration.
- RPL Eligibility Required Documents: If you are claiming RPL eligibility, the following documents are required to verify your RPL eligibility:1) Your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), or equivalent, as stated in the job announcement that shows position occupied (block #34 of your SF-50), tenure, grade and step, salary, and full performance level; 2) Your SF-50 showing Separation - RIF. If that is not available yet, then official documentation of your Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a proposed removal/separation notice; AND 3) Your latest performance rating and rating of record (if separate documents) showing your rating score as at least fully successful or equivalent.