Senior Public Affairs Officer
About This Position
This position is located in Office of Public Affairs. The supervisor is Hal Pittman. This position is not subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements. This position is not subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.
Qualifications
In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level GG-14 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as: the ability and demonstrated experience to regularly research and write news and informational materials-preferably on nuclear energy or other technical/scientific topics-and quickly assess scientific or technical information for news value. A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate should be addressed in your resume.
The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following: 1. Demonstrated experience researching news reports analyzing news coverage and preparing appropriate responses/rebuttals, writing news releases, communicating via social media and preparation of other written materials intended for the general public on technical matters, mostly in the nuclear energy and materials field. Demonstrated ability to effectively translate complex technical information into plain English using various mediums, including social media platforms.
Describe specific experience, training and accomplishments in the area of reporting and writing about technical and/or regulatory matters, including examples of products of a scientific and highly technical nature that were translated into "plain language" consumable by the general public.
- Demonstrated experience responding to oral or written media and general public inquiries whereby complex scientific, technical and/or regulatory information is translated into plain understandable language, appropriate to the level of expertise of the inquirer and/or their audience. Describe specific experience, training and accomplishments in the area of responding to media and general public inquiries regarding scientific, highly technical and/or regulatory matters, including examples of successfully transmitting plain language responses.
Describe specific experience, training and accomplishments in the area of responding to media and general public inquiries regarding scientific, highly technical and/or regulatory matters, including examples of successfully transmitting plain language responses.
- Demonstrated ability to develop timely and effective communication strategies for managing announcements and issues of interest to the media and general public, and emergent events or incidents. In-depth knowledge of current nuclear energy and materials issues and programs. Describe training and experience which demonstrate ability to consolidate complex and diverse views into a concise, balanced and well-founded recommended communication strategy. Indicate experience working with technical and/or scientific staff in the preparation of strategic communication initiatives.
- Demonstrated ability to interact and work effectively with colleagues, as well as managers and technical staff to obtain information necessary to support public affairs objectives. Demonstrated skills to search and generate stories and information electronically from various print and online information sources.
Describe instances that required the use of tact, diplomacy and negotiation skills to achieve cooperation and develop consensus, and techniques used to develop and maintain effective working relationships. Describe specific accomplishments when interfacing with various professional/technical staff members in order to obtain relevant information. A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate must be addressed in your resume.
The NRC encourages applicants to provide job experience details in your resume.
Applicants may also use the supplemental vacancy question to provide additional information pertaining to the specialized experience and ideal candidate criteria. PLEASE BE CLEAR AND CONCISE. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Major Duties
As a Senior Public Affairs Officer, assists in the formulation of public affairs policy and programs, and is responsible for strategic, region-wide messaging and public affairs operations, including day-to-day liaison activities between regional/field office management and Editorial Boards, columnists, news reporters, trade association leaders, and civic and editorial organizations. Writes or edits public information statements, news releases, special reports, bulletins, correspondence, etc. Establishes and maintains channels of communication through personal contacts with key members of the media (press, radio, television, blogs and influencers) as well as Federal, State and local government officials across the Northeastern United States.
Provides direction to the public affairs staff in the regional office. Obtains from NRC officials sufficient information to report promptly on any incident in the region, requiring immediate response and management of sensitive information, including notifying Headquarters as soon as possible and responding to press and public inquiries. Determines type and extent of information to furnish the public and media in response to inquiries of NRC programs based on broad knowledge of agency policy and procedures.
Conditions of Employment
You must meet the qualifications for this position by no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position. All information in your resume must be true and accurate. Conditions of Employment: This is a Drug Testing position Must be able to meet and maintain security & suitability requirements.
Education
There are no education requirements for this position.
How You Will Be Evaluated
When the application process is complete, your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the job requirements.
Your application will be evaluated based on the information provided in your resume and responses to any vacancy questions to determine your level of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the job requirements.
You must respond to all required application questions. If you are among the top candidates for this position, your application will be referred to the hiring manager for possible interview and selection based upon the number of available vacancies to be filled in each office.
Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to submit a concise resume that directly relates to this position.
Additional Information
The duty location of this position is Rockville, MD and King of Prussia, PA. This position may be eligible for telework in accordance with agency policy. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin an application. To be considered for this position, you must complete the online application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 05/14/2026. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. For a preview of the application questions, please see https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12937601.
Your complete application must include your resume, responses to all required vacancy questions, and any required documents that prove your eligibility to apply. To begin your application, select the "Apply" button located on the right side of this screen.
Follow the subsequent prompts to log in or register, submit all required documents, answer the questions, and complete the application process.
You may either select your required documents within your USAJOBS profile to upload with your application or directly upload them during the application process. The following types of document types can be uploaded: .gif, jpg., .jpeg, .png, .rtf, .pdf, .doc, and .docx. Important Considerations: Paper Applications: Paper applications will not be accepted unless you can demonstrate hardship circumstances through the agency contact listed below.
Application Extensions: Requests for application extensions will not be granted. Hardship Assistance: If you experience hardship applying online, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below for assistance.
You must reach out during business hours before the announcement closing date and speak with someone who can provide support for your online submission. The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the coordinator at (301) 415-5888 or TDD 240-482-3217. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Required Documents
The following documents are required for your application package to be complete. If you fail to provide any required documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further. Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); and 4) other qualifications.
Please limit your resume to 2 pages. See below for Additional Resume Information. SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action): You must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) to verify competitive status or reinstatement eligibility.
This SF-50 should not be an award SF-50. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English. Additional Resume Information: Your resume is crucial in our evaluation of your qualifications.
Resumes should clearly demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and abilities. Please limit your reΜsumeΜ to 2 pages. To ensure your resume contains all required information, we encourage you to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder.
If you choose to use your own resume, please ensure it contains all the required information, and you organize it so we can associate the following information with each experience/position: Job title Name of employer Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/year) format Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will pro-rate part-time employment in crediting experience.
Concise, results-focused language for job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable). Series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position). Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) or other inappropriate material on your resume or cover letter.
If your resume contains prohibited information as listed above, your application may be determined ineligible, and you will not receive consideration for this position. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter, links to social media such as LinkedIn, to determine your qualifications. Cover letters are optional.