Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist

As a Public Affairs Supervisor at the GS-14 level, some of your typical work assignments may include: Plans, directs, and manages the Communications and Public Affairs Branch by developing long range plans, program goals and objectives for the organization. Maintains oversight of significant developments related to assigned program areas, prepares analysis of the implications of these developments, and recommends modifications. Develops national strategies and policies to ensure programmatic goals are met. Serves as advisor to field personnel regarding engagement with and development of media contacts, development of social media posts, and written communications. Coordinates timely information to the appropriate officials, media outlets, and staff throughout the course of a disaster declaration. Performs supervisory duties. Some examples include, manages workload, establishes work assignments, develops performance standards, and develops and maintains systems to monitor the performance of staff activities. The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the federal government's leading advocate for small businesses, we empower job creators with the essential resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. Our services reach communities nationwide through a robust network of SBA field offices and partnerships with both public and private organizations. If you're seeking more than just a job - if you desire purpose, impact, and the chance to contribute to something truly meaningful - this is your opportunity. Small businesses are our nation's backbone, driving innovation, creating jobs, and fueling prosperity. At the SBA, you'll directly help empower these vital businesses and ignite economic growth under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Administrator Kelly Loeffler. For over 70 years, the SBA has fueled America's small business success by providing crucial access to capital, federal contracts, and expert guidance. Beyond our critical disaster recovery efforts, where we deploy aid and expertise to help communities rebuild, your role will directly contribute to the start, growth, and expansion of businesses nationwide, creating jobs and strengthening the economic fabric of our communities. Find your WHY working for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience. As a member of the Policy, Planning, Partnerships, and Public Affairs team, the work you accomplish supports SBA's disaster work in the following: Rapid Relief: When disasters strike, the SBA mobilizes quickly to provide low-interest, long-term disaster loans to businesses, homeowners, renters, and nonprofits. These funds help repair damage, recover lost revenue, and preserve local jobs. Rebuilding with Resilience: We don't just rebuild-we help communities prepare for the next crisis. SBA disaster loans often include additional funds for mitigation improvements, such as storm proofing or elevating key infrastructure, to strengthen long-term recovery. Supporting America's Backbone: Whether it's a family-owned bakery in Texas or a childcare provider in Florida, SBA's mission is to empower those who power our economy, especially during their greatest time of need. Innovative & Adaptive: We're modernizing how we deliver assistance-embracing new technology, streamlining loan processing, and ensuring more access to every disaster survivor who needs us. Collaborative Culture: SBA works together with local and state governments, other federal partners, and community-based organizations to deliver coordinated recovery assistance when it matters most. What You'll Gain: Impactful Leadership: Influence organizational structures and ensure the efficiency of SBA's disaster assistance programs. Professional Growth: Join a forward-thinking team that values innovation and continuous improvement. Mission-Driven Work: Your role will directly contribute to helping Americans recover and rebuild their businesses, homes, and communities after disasters. Field-to-Headquarters Impact: SBA deploys employees to support communities on the ground and manages national operations from its Washington, D.C., headquarters, and regional centers. Wherever you serve, your work matters.

Education may not be substituted for experience for this position.

Your application and resume will be compared to the answer you give to the minimum qualification question (s) on the assessment questionnaire. Your resume should not exceed two pages and must demonstrate the specialized experience related to the position for which you are applying. If your resume goes beyond two pages, we will only consider the first two pages for the required experience as outline in the specialized experience. Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet all the Specialized Experience required. If you do not, you will be rated "Ineligible". In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The qualifications and assessments relate to the following competencies required to do the work of this position: Strategic Communication and Media Relations Planning and Organizing Policy Messaging and Stakeholder Engagement Written Communication Oral Communication Leadership Accountability Customer Service Decisiveness Flexibility Interpersonal Skills Problem Solving Resilience The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you have a disability (physical or mental) covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990, that would interfere with completing the USAHire Assessments, you will have the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation (RA) in your online application. Requests for RA for the USAHire Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation must be received prior to starting the assessments. Decisions on requests are made on a case-by-case basis. After notification of the adjudication of your request, if you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USAHire Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the invitation, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need an RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) helps "surplus" or "displaced" federal employees improve their chances of finding a new job in their current agency (intra-agency, i.e. SBA employees only). Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) applies to employees who have been or will be involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position (score of 85 or better) based on your responses to the assessment; 3) the position to which you are applying MUST BE in the Local Commuting Area of the position of record from which you are being displaced; and 4) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. Click here for more information. You MUST submit a copy of your separation notice or other proof of eligibility. EEO Statement: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. For additional information visit www.sss.gov. Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements: Persons with Disabilities - Schedule A Special Hiring Authority for Veterans Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses Other Special Appointment Authorities - Subpart F Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) -VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This position was previously open under announcement# MP-26-DPPPD-12849124-MTL and is being readvertised due to an administrative error. To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 02/13/2026 to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account. You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application. You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: 1. Your Resume showing hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed. Your resume should not exceed two pages and must demonstrate the specialized experience related to the position for which you are applying. If your resume goes beyond two pages, we will only consider the first two pages for the required experience as outlined in the specialized experience. 2. Other supporting documents, such as: College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted during the application process; however, official transcripts will be required if selected. Veterans' documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 or other Member Copy showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.) Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) If you are a current or former Federal employee, submit a copy of your official SF-50 or other official "Notification of Personnel Action" document that shows the following information to verify your eligibility for consideration as a status applicant: your appointment in the competitive or excepted service tenure grade, step and salary highest grade held or full performance level of current or prior position (as applicable). DO NOT SEND YOUR RESUME OR ANY APPLICATION DOCUMENTS TO THE AGENCY CONTACT. Your latest resume submitted for this position will be used for qualification determinations and supersedes previous submissions. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: 1. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) or Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, provide a copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal (which must show at least a "fully successful" rating or equivalent), and proof of eligibility, i.e., a RIF separation notice or Certification of Expected Separation, and SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. In addition to meeting all qualification requirements and selective placement factors (if applicable), CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must meet the Well-Qualified criteria with a score of 85 or above based on the competencies listed above for the position in order to be given priority consideration. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is also on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at: CTAP/ICTAP http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp. 2. If you are a veteran applying under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) Appointing Authority or for any other Appointment based on your military service, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 copy showing type of discharge/character of service or other proof of creditable service. 3. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered, or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Agency Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP eligible. View information about CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. You must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.