AbbeBuckPR -in the business of "High-Viz-Ability": Washington Woman Magazine: Abbe Buck and HighViz Consulting Group

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Washington Woman Magazine: Abbe Buck and HighViz Consulting Group

AbbeBuckPR -in the business of "High-Viz-Ability": Abbe Buck and HighViz Consulting Group

1 comment:

Abbe Buck, PA, PR, PM, OM said...: Working for the Great Outdoors
PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
Do you have an interest in corporate communications? Do you have what
it takes to develop communication strategies that reach diverse audiences
dealing with complex natural resource issues? Does the thought of
standing in front of television cameras, answering tough questions from
reporters, motivate you? Would you like to be involved in public land
management? If so, a career as a public affairs specialist with the Forest
Service may be of interest to you.
The Work
Environment
Operating on the
Job
From the seashores of the Pacific to the Atlantic coast, the Forest Service
is responsible for some of the most scenic and picturesque places in the
Nation. With responsibility for nearly 193 million acres of public land,
Forest Service public affairs specialists play a critically important role in
the management of National Forest lands.
Keeping the many people who are interested in natural resource
management informed and involved is a daunting task. Our audiences
range from United States Senators to County Supervisors to members of
local service clubs. We tailor our communication efforts to reach different
audiences depending upon the issue. And the work is seldom the same
from day to day. The work of communication is challenging, demanding
and fast-paced. You won’t have a chance to get bored in this job! As a
public affairs specialist with the Forest Service, you will be involved in a
wide variety of natural resources projects and activities. Examples include:
􀂃 Briefing Members of Congress or their staff on Forest Service issues.
􀂃 Planning and implementing field briefings for a wide variety of people
and groups.
􀂃 Developing communication plans and strategies to inform both internal
and external audiences.
􀂃 Working on a day-to-day basis with both local and national media on
sometimes highly controversial and complex resource issues.
􀂃 Advising Agency leadership on communication strategies and
techniques.
Visit our website at www.fs.fed.us/fsjobs
􀂃 Writing articles for newspapers, writing (and delivering) speeches and
representing the Agency at public events.
􀂃 Facilitating and sometimes leading public meetings.
􀂃 Writing briefing papers and developing communications plans on
complex issues for a wide variety of audiences.
Career Paths and
Requirements
Forest Service public affairs specialists and other agency personnel work in
partnership with civic, advocacy and conservation groups; City, County,
State and Federal officials; print and electronic media; industry
representatives; and members of the community in developing land use
plans, on-the-ground projects, and long-term resource solutions.
Public affairs specialists are hired at many different grade levels. Recent
college graduates may be hired at the GS-5 or GS-7 grade level. Others
with advanced degrees and experience may be hired at higher grade levels,
and there is substantial opportunity for advancement! To begin a career as
a public affairs specialist in the Forest Service, you must meet the following
requirements:
For the GS-5 level, completion of a 4 year course of study leading to a
bachelor’s degree, preferably in the communications field,
OR
Three years general experience, 1 year of which is equivalent to at least a
GS-4.
For the GS-7 level, completion of 1 full year of graduate level education or
superior academic achievement
OR
1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-5.
At either grade level, combination of successfully completed post-high
school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification
requirements.
These qualification requirements have been summarized for convenience. Full
details are available at www.USAjobs.gov or the www.opm.gov subject index
under “Qualifications.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs
and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability,
political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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