Job Details:
Title:	Public Affairs Specialist	Annual Salary:	$67,963 - 105,897
Series:	1035	Respond By Date:	03/17/10
Grade:	GS-11 GS-12
Duties:	This outreach is running concurrent with the vacancy announcements; the vacancy announcement numbers are ADS10-R5-RO5PA-00238G (Merit Promotion - internal open to status eligibles) and ADS10-R5-RO5PA-00238DP (Demonstration Project - external open to US Citizens) and can be viewed on the OPM web site -USA Jobs- OR in AVUE. Applicants should print/review the announcement carefully and ensure that their application is filed on or before the closing date of March 17, 2010. To apply, go to OPM web site USA Jobs at: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov OR AVUE at: http://www.avuedigitalservices.com http://www.usajobs.opm.gov http://www.avuedigitalservices.com Click on --Search for Jobs-- on top of log-in page Click on --Search by Filters-- on right-hand side of screen Series: 1035 Grade: from 11 to 12 Agency: USDA Forest Service Announcement#: ADS10-R5-RO5PA-00238G and ADS10-R5-RO5PA-00238DP Click on --Find Jobs-- both vacancy announcements should appear • Serves as the principal staff assistant in providing support to the Regional Fire and Aviation Management Staff on Regional fire activities. • Has responsibility for planning, organizing, and directing regional Public Affairs programs and campaigns dealing with all aspects of current regional issues, anticipating and addressing critical fire issues, and establishing and maintaining a comprehensive media and communications program. • Communicates new initiatives/activities having a direct impact on public understanding and perception of USDA FS programs. Employs a variety of techniques to analyze effectiveness of products, orientations, and briefings. Advises managers and staff on methods to employ in communicating information regarding USDA FS programs, services, and policies. • Maintains effective relationships with and serves as liaison to USDA FS stakeholders and/or key officials including representatives of one or more of the following: City, County, State, or Federal legislators and elected officials; other federal, state, and local agencies; industry groups; non-governmental organizations; community groups; the news media; and/or members of the general public. Responds, in oral and written format, to requests for complex information requiring coordination with a variety of USDA FS offices. Determines the nature of the data required and independently prepares material based on the nature of request and USDA FS practices. Makes initial determination for the handling and processing of requests. • Applies and adapts guidelines to create moving and still images to communicate information about the programs, policies, and events of the agency organization to a variety of audiences, including all levels of media. Organizes and coordinates print and broadcast news and information media interviews with key agency officials, and oversees all arrangements with the media involving activities. Provides photographs, tapes, publications, and other materials and conducts briefings. • Prepares detailed statistical reports and analyses according to overall objectives as presented by supervisor. Researches, writes, and edits informational material concerning USDA FS activities. Develops complete articles for release to news media. Solicits material from management and staff for publication ideas. Prepares articles and assists in preparing news releases and event information. Prepares short speeches or sections of speeches and talking points covering various topics.
Job Location:
Forest:	Not Applicable
District:	Not Applicable
Location Other:	The Pacific Southwest Region of the USDA Forest Service manages National Forest lands in California and assists the State and Private forest landowners in California, Hawaii and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. The Pacific Southwest Region is commonly referred to as Region 5 (R5). The R5, Pacific Southwest Region is comprised of 18 National Forests with a combined size of over 20 million acres, or approximately one-fifth of California\\\'s land base. Information about the R5, Pacific Southwest Region can be found at website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/ The Regional Office is located on Mare Island in Vallejo, California. Vallejo is located at the north end of San Francisco Bay, 30 miles northeast of San Francisco, 60 miles west of Sacramento and approximately 20 miles from the Napa Valley. Mare Island lies within the area qualifying for Bay Area locality pay which is currently 35.15% above base pay. For those considering retirement in a few years, locality pay is included in the base considered for the High-3 in retirement calculations. Housing: The median price for a single family home is approximately $320,000 - $650,000. Rentals range from $800 - $3000 per month. For additional information on housing check the following website: http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/GovSite and http://www.visitvallejo.com Schools: Public schools kindergartens through grade12 are provided through the Vallejo City Unified School District. There are public and private schools, day care, preschool and after school care facilities located in the surrounding areas of Mare Island. Secondary and Post-secondary schools include: Touro University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine and School of Health and Science, located on Mare Island and Solano County Community College, which offers two-year vocational programs. In addition, the Bay Area is home to many world renowned schools including the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University in Palo Alto with other educational opportunities existing through colleges and universities within a short distance of Vallejo. Transportation: Vallejo is served by State Highways 29 and 37 and Interstate highways 80 and 780. The Vallejo Baylink Ferry operates daily between Vallejo and San Francisco, a one-way trip takes about 50 minutes. Greyhound, Continental Trailways and Baylink provides bus service to regional points from Vallejo. Nearby airports include Oakland International (30 miles southwest )and San Francisco International (40 miles southeast) also Sacramento International is (60 miles north) of Vallejo. Cultural and Recreation Opportunities: Vallejo\\\'s waterfront and municipal marina provide a spectacular backdrop for sailing, fishing, wind surfing, jet skiing and more. There are many golf courses in the area. Vallejo is located near the Pacific Ocean. It is two hours from the Sierra Nevada Mountains and less than an hour from the Napa Valley wine country. San Francisco and the greater Bay Area are home to several professional football, baseball, hockey and soccer teams. The Bay Area is famous for its many excellent restaurants and night clubs, its world-class ballet, symphony, opera, theaters and museums of many types and are available throughout the Bay Area.
City/State/Zip:	Vallejo, CA  94592
Location:	The Angeles National Forest is 640,000 acres in size located primarily in Los Angeles county in southern California. Predominate vegetation is chamise chaparral, mixed chaparral, coastal-sage scrub and mixed conifer. The Forest has a tremendous recreation, law enforcement, fire and watershed management workload and a complex urban/wildland interface. Annual wildfire acres average over 17,000 acres per year. Annual law enforcement incidents average about 2500. The Forest Emergency Operation Coordination Center (EOCC) provides Dispatching Services for the Angeles National Forest and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The supports over 5500 incidents per year. The EOCC is staffed 24 hours per day, seven days per year. Shift work will be required. Healthy and stable watersheds are extremely important to the over 12 million residents of the Los Angeles basin. The Forest maintains a high level of cooperation with over 20 fire agencies including the Los Angeles County Fire Department Los Angeles City Fire Department and many local municipal departments. The Forest also maintains high levels of cooperations with many Law Enforcement Agencies such as the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, the Department of Game and Fish, and the California Highway Patrol. The duty station is located in Lancaster, California. Lancaster is located in the Antelope Valley and enjoys a true High Desert climate. High temperatures in the summer average over 100 degrees and low temperatures in the mid-seventies. Temperatures in the winter range from the mid-seventies to the low thirties with occasional snow. Lancaster is centrally located at about equal distance to the beach and the Eastern Sierra Mountains. Housing cost in the Antelope Valley ranges from $70,000 to $200,000. Lancaster and nearby Palmdale are full service communities and offer a full range of entertainment, recreational and educational opportunities LOS ANGELES RIVER AND SAN GABRIEL RIVER RANGER DISTRICTS The Los Angeles River Ranger District represents the recent consolidation of the Tujunga and Arroyo Seco Districts of the Angeles National Forest. The LA River Ranger District makes up approximately one third of the land mass on the Angeles and adjoins the communities of the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys just north of the city Los Angeles. The San Gabriel District is located on the eastern end of the forest and is comprised of extensive wilderness along with significant urban interface issues. The two districts represent an extremely complex and challenging fire management work load. The program includes pre-suppression, suppression, fuels management, fire prevention, and facilities. The Angeles National Forest has an average in excess of 200+ fires annually and one of the most complex fuel and topography conditions of any national forest. Initial attacks can involve several jurisdictional agencies with numerous resources. The encumbant will be responsible for the supervision of a variety of suppression resources. This position also requires a knowledge of fuels management planning and execution. The Los Angeles basin provides an outstanding variety of activities for forest employees. World class beaches with scuba diving, sailing and surfing opportunities are less than one hour from the forest. Major league sporting events, live theater, museums and amusement parks all offer recreational activities for people of all interests. Educational opportunities abound near the forest. Local community colleges and state universities provide a broad spectrum of affordable upper division education. Local school systems, both public and private, provide parents with many choices for their children, while continuing education is available from private providers, as well as local community colleges. No government housing is available. Local housing costs range from $120,000 in the Antelope Valley to in excess of $200,000 in some San Fernando/San Gabriel Valley locations. Rentals can be found in all local communities and average between $800 and $1,100, for a three bedroom apartment.
For Further Information Please Contact:
Name:	Sherry Reckler
Phone:	707-562-9016
Fax:	707-562-9053
TTY:
Address 1:	USDA-Forest Service, R5
Address 2:	1323 Club Drive
City/State/Zip:	Vallejo CA 94592
Email:	sreckler@fs.fed.us
Vacancy Notice Url:	http://www.usajobs.opm.gov