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This position reports to the Secretary with responsibility for the Office of Communications and External Affairs (OCEA) which oversees four departments: the Office of Public Affairs (OPA), the Office of Government Relations (OGR), the Office of Visitor Services (OVS), and the Office of Special Events and Protocol (OSEP). The Assistant Secretary advances the understanding of the Smithsonian's mission, programs and activities through a comprehensive communications strategy intended for the Institution's various publics. Additionally, the incumbent serves as the principal media spokesperson for the Smithsonian. The incumbent serves as adviser to the Secretary, Assistant Secretaries and other officials on matters of the Institution's policies, programs and activities that have a public impact. This involves keeping these officials apprised of especially controversial, critical, or sensitive problems or issues relative to the Institution's public image and suggests alternatives for action. The Assistant Secretary participates with the Secretary and other senior staff in establishing policies, goals, objectives and overall public affairs planning for the Smithsonian Institution (SI).
Learn more about this agency05/23/2017 to 06/06/2017
$135,603 - $203,830 per year
SY 00
Permanent
Full-Time
00
Yes
EX-17-11
470544100
Develops and implements a communications strategy to present SI's mission, philosophy, programs and activities in a comprehensive, coordinated and sustained manner in order to advance the understanding of SI by its various stakeholders.
Leads SI-wide internal communications efforts with a sophisticated, multi-faceted approach incorporating a variety of communications techniques tailored to specific audiences.
Formulates and recommends public affairs policy and program goals, and develops and executes short- and long-range plans for accomplishing program objectives.
Serves as principal adviser to the Secretary, the Assistant Secretaries and other senior staff on all aspects of public affairs.
Serves as principal media spokesperson, speaking with authority about many specialized fields represented at SI.
Provides guidance and direction on the policies, planning, and programs of OVS. Oversees the visitors’ experience by administering products and services that broaden visitor access to SI public programs and services.
Supervises and manages the staff of OCEA, OPA, OGR, OSEP, and OVS, and about 1700 volunteers.
Communications Strategy
Formulates and executes a strategic plan for communicating to and with various stakeholders to advance the understanding of SI's mission and its broad spectrum of programs and activities, and increase the understanding of the Institution’s public-private partnerships.
Stays informed and informs senior management of public attitudes toward the Institution as reflected in the media. Recommends such changes in SI's public posture as may be appropriate in light of public reactions.
Proposes public affairs programs for long-range events affecting SI.
Works closely with the Office of Advancement on publicity aspects of long-range capital campaigns and recommends effective strategies for accomplishing Institutional development goals.
Confers regularly with museum and office heads, their public information officers and other senior staff in order to take their views into consideration in formulation of institutional public information programs, and to keep them informed of public attitudes concerning their areas of responsibility.
Policy Development
Formulates and initiates policies on SI public information activities. Sets standards to ensure that these programs reflect SI's image, encourage public understanding, support, and visitations, and meet the needs of a broad, diverse constituency throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Advises the Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, and senior staff on sensitive and controversial matters concerning policy, planning, and execution of public information programs.
Serves as adviser to museum and office directors and their public information officers, providing daily guidance on public information problems and policies, thereby coordinating museum public information operations with overall Institutional policies and activities.
Establishes and maintains relations with public information officers and senior management officials at government agencies, museums, corporations, universities, and other organizations of interest to the Institution. Approves and coordinates jointly sponsored public information programs to ensure that they are in the interests of the Institution and accurately reflect its policies.
Media Relations
Represents the Institution as principal media spokesperson.
Arranges media interviews for the Secretary and other key senior staff, advising them in advance on the nature of the interview and strategies for response.
Develops and maintains relations with print and electronic media representatives. Responds to media requests for information, story concepts, and interviews with senior staff. Organizes news conferences and briefings. Stimulates in-depth media coverage of pan-Institutional projects and museum activities, and supervises OCEA and museum support of such coverage.
Develops and leads a process for the submission, review and approval of all op-ed articles, and cultivates active relationships with editorial boards to facilitate publications.
Assigns and supervises OCEA staff to handle public information programs for pan-Institutional activities and other events, directed by SI offices lacking public information officers.
Development and Dissemination of Publicity & Public Information Materials
Formulates and directs public information programs dealing with Smithsonian research, exhibitions and other activities suitable for use by general circulation newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, and networks and other media outlets.
Assigns and/or supervises preparation, editing, and distribution of news materials by museum public information officers, OCEA staff, and others involved in such production and advises them.
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SUPERVISORY CONTROLS
The incumbent reports to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Within broad policy guidelines, the incumbent plans and carries out assigned responsibilities, exercising substantial professional knowledge of communications, public information, and media relations as well as substantial managerial knowledge and ability. Periodically meets with the Secretary and the Under Secretaries and keeps them informed of major policy and program decisions and especially critical and controversial problems or issues. Work performance is evaluated primarily in terms of overall effectiveness in attaining program goals and objectives.
SECURITY LEVEL
This position has been reviewed to determine the level of POSITION SENSITIVITY. Based on the nature of the work, the position has been determined to be Public Trust/HIGH RISK. This designation will require 1) a pre-employment Security Agency Check (SAC) for the prospective incumbent; and 2) a subsequent comprehensive background investigation and favorable adjudication in order to continue in the position.
EEO
The Smithsonian Institution does not discriminate against any employee or any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization or other non-merit factors.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
The Smithsonian provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need an accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the contact person listed in this announcement. The decision on granting a reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
RELOCATION
Relocation expenses will not be paid.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The qualifications listed in this document will be used along with your resume and your responses to the questions posed in the electronic application process to determine the candidates who will move forward in the evaluation process. When crafting your responses to the questions, please provide concise, detailed information on your background and experience.
Important Note:
Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to the major duties and qualifications criteria listed for this position.
PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the average number of hours per week spent in such employment.
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Your Resume
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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. Please Note:
After you apply and the position has closed, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. We usually have a large response to senior level positions and it may take some time to effectively review application packages. We will contact you by email as decisions are made.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/470544100. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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