Public Affairs Specialist

This position serves as a public affairs specialist in the Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience (ODR&R) Field Operations Center - East (FOC-E) and Field Operations Center - West (FOC-W). The primary function is to provide information to ODR&R's internal and external customers and appropriate government offices at the Federal, State and local levels concerning the SBA Disaster Assistance Program.

As a/an Public Affairs Specialist at theGS- 1035-11, some of your typical work assignments may include: Plans, organizes, and prepares material (e.g., press releases, photographs, flyers, and formal/informal presentations). Prepares and disseminates news releases and articles for the print media, selecting photographs to accompany the written material. Assists the Lead and Senior Public Affairs Specialists in communicating with program managers to determine media, governmental and public information needs of the disaster program. Assists senior Public Affairs Specialists and Field Operations Specialists in preparing for media coverage of local events. IMPORTANT NOTES: The salary listed in the vacancy announcement is from the 2026 Rest of U.S. pay table, your actual salary amount will be dependent on your final duty station location. Your primary residence is considered your official duty station. TRAVEL STATEMENT- You may be required to travel to a disaster site during increased disaster activity for extended periods with little or no advanced notice. If so, you may encounter hazardous working and/or living conditions; i.e., no water or electricity and/or minimal lodging facilities. Travel expenses are compensated based on SBA policy and Federal regulations.This position works on an as needed basis. This means that employees are in a pay and duty status only when activated to respond to workload needs, especially in response to heightened disaster activity. When not needed, employees return to a non-pay status until the next event necessitates additional staff. However, depending on the workload and/or level of disaster activity, your work schedule may be changed to full-time. Subsequently, if the workload decreases, you may be placed in a NonPay Status.Mandatory Overtime: In order to respond quickly and efficiently to disaster survivors, substantial compensated overtime hours may be required while on assignment (up to seven days a week and twelve to fourteen hours a day).A valid driver's license may be required.

APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Verify School accreditation. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty. *** If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. *** For further information, click on: Foreign Education.