Washington, DC--Press Officer--U.S. Department of Agriculture

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is hiring a GS-12/13 Press Officer at the Washington, DC headquarters location.

The vacancy announcement is open from April 27 to May 18, 2009.

Apply online through USAJobs.gov at:

Status: http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/ftva.asp?seeker=1&JobID=80659699

Public: http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/ftva.asp?seeker=1&JobID=80659764

FSIS is the public health regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Our mission is to protect public health by ensuring that the commercial supply of meat, poultry and processed egg products are safe, wholesome and accurately labeled and packaged.

This position is located in the Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education (OPACE), Congressional and Public Affairs Office (CPAO). The mission of CPAO is to develop, implement and manage the Agency's public communication programs. CPAO develops and conducts informational campaigns to inform and educate a variety of audiences including Congress, consumers, industry and the media.

Serving as the Agency's Press Officer, you will utilize professional and personal skills, including the exceptional oral and written communication skills necessary to develop and cultivate productive, professional relationships with representatives of the media, and plan and facilitate media activities such as press conferences, interviews, and media inquiry responses.

You will respond to requests for information concerning Agency programs and policies from all media including the press, television, and radio at the local, national, and international levels. The information provided concerns recent events and news items, as well as background information for Agency policies and activities.

Serving as the Agency's Press Officer, you will be responsible for establishing professional and cordial relationships within USDA and the Agency, and with other stakeholders to facilitate dissemination of information through various channels. Additionally, you will develop and implement strategic communication programs.

Additionally, you will research, write and edit news releases, memos, articles, fact sheets, talking points and other internal and external documents to raise awareness of Agency goals, objectives and programs to various audiences.

At the GS-13 level, specialized experience includes representing the organization as a spokesperson to the media; providing strategic and technical expertise for the development of communication plans; establishing and maintaining avenues of communication with media outlets; and researching, writing and editing news releases, facts sheets, talking points and statement, etc.

At the GS-12 level, specialized experience includes providing guidance to officials concerning specific requests from the media. The successful candidate will have experience as an official spokesperson at previous occupations and have an advanced understanding of media relations and will also have experience assisting in the development of proactive public awareness and outreach campaigns, providing information to various public audiences, etc.