Public Affairs Specialist (PILLAR) (Kansas City, MO)

POSITION: Public Affairs Specialist

LOCATION: Kansas City, MO

STARTING SALARY: $51,283 - $98,671 per year

PAY PROGRESSION: 

• 1st Year Salary $51,283-$66,670
• 2nd Year Salary $62,729-$81,553
• 3rd Year Salary $75,897-$98,671

Apply here: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/866550900

*This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. 

NOTE: Must apply on both Handshake and USAJOBS. Please click “apply externally” to view full announcement details. Please include resume and resume and transcript (unofficial is acceptable) when you apply.  U.S. citizenship is required in order to qualify. 

We are seeking driven, high-performing teammates, and we will provide opportunities to apply your talent to make a positive difference through meaningful work. You’ll also learn and grow through a structured but flexible two-year developmental program that accounts for your existing knowledge, skills, behaviors, and preferences and for your career field’s professional competencies.

This position as a Public Affairs Specialist is part of the Army Fellows Program and is a CIVILIAN position with the Department of the Army.

The Army Fellows Program is a two-year fellowship as a federal civilian. We hire fellows as permanent, full-time employees with full pay and benefits. Guaranteed placement is offered after the fellowship for those who meet requirements.

 In this role you will

• Responding to written or verbal media/public queries.
• Drafting news releases or articles for print and electronic use.
• Developing and posting content on digital communications platforms, including social media channels.
• Drafting and executing communications plans for agency initiatives or events.
• Preparing speeches and presentations.
• Planning and executing outreach events.

QUALIFICATIONS

*Must be a US Citizen

Basic Requirement for Public Affairs Specialist:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes assisting in the creation of news releases for print and electronic use; or, responding to written or verbal media/public queries; or, assisting in outreach planning and coordination of communication campaigns; or, assisting in planning and executing community relations events; or, conducting social media communications. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05).

OR

Education: One full year of graduate level education (or will have completed one full year by June 2026) in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: public affairs, communications, marketing, event planning/management, radio and television production, journalism, writing, English, political science, government, philosophy, psychology, cognitive science, and business (any field).

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

Your resume:

• Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
• For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employer's name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position.
• Use plain language. Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood. The hiring agency will not make assumptions about what's in your resume.
• If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
• For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume.

Note: If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.