Communications internship jobs in Kokomo, IN

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Enterprise Services (ES) Immediate Office of the Executive Assistant Commissioner (EAC), located in one of the following locations: * Washington, DC * Indianapolis, IN . Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above. Summary Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Enterprise Services (ES) Immediate Office of the Executive Assistant Commissioner (EAC), located in one of the following locations: * Washington, DC * Indianapolis, IN . Additional selections may be made to include other organizational divisions and/or units within the duty location(s) listed above. Overview Help Accepting applications Open & closing dates 12/01/2025 to 12/12/2025 Salary $88,621 to - $137,000 per year Salary reflects the Rest of U.S. scale and will be adjusted to meet the locality pay of the duty location upon selection. Pay scale & grade GS 12 - 13 Locations 1 vacancy in the following locations: Washington, DC Indianapolis, IN Remote job No Telework eligible No Travel Required 25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position. Relocation expenses reimbursed No Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Full-time Service Competitive Promotion potential 13 Job family (Series) * 1001 General Arts And Information Supervisory status No Security clearance Not Required Drug test No Financial disclosure No Bargaining unit status No Announcement number EAC-IMP-12836003-LLL Control number 851057000 This job is open to Help Internal to an agency Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement. Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants. Clarification from the agency Current U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees who are currently working in a permanent competitive service position; Career Transition Assistance Plan CBP employees. Duties Help Joining Customs & Border Protection (CBP),Immediate Office of the Executive Assistant Commissioner (EAC), will allow you to utilize your expertise to provide leadership with advice and assistance in writing and developing communication materials and vehicles to ensure coordination and communication throughout the office. This position starts at a salary of $88,621.00 (GS-12, Step 1) to $137,000.00 (GS-13, Step 10) with promotion potential to $137,000 (GS-13 Step 10). Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen the Department's ability to perform homeland security functions by providing clear solutions to complex communication problems and provide management with communication tools for disseminating information about new programs and initiatives. In this Strategic Communications Specialist position, you will become a key team member of Homeland Security professionals involved in complex and diverse assignments that involve some independent projects or program areas; developing new methods, strategies, and communication plans covering the complete spectrum of EAC programs; analyzing communication challenges; and the development of communication solutions and long-range plans. Typical Work assignments include: * Planning, researching, writing, and editing internal and external publications to keep employees informed about current ES programs, priorities, and initiatives within ES. * Preparing talking points and anticipated questions and answers for senior leadership to ensure stakeholders' concerns are addressed in a wide variety of external engagement forums. * Developing, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of EAC communications strategies, materials and programs that support and promote enhanced engagement with EAC stakeholder communities. * Analyzing organizational specific policy issues to identify and to anticipate communication needs and potential reaction from employees. * Identifying and carrying out internal communication requirements needed to support leadership. GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table. Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position.Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts. Requirements Help Conditions of employment * You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position * Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service * Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below) * All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English * You may be required to pass a background investigation * CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures. * As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link. * DHS uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities. * Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit. Qualifications Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: * Developing new information materials aimed at enhancing employees' understanding of the significant programs and initiatives of the office and agency. * Writing senior executive-level correspondence and presentations. * Researching and verifying the accuracy of various source documents. * Tailoring written and oral communications for diverse audiences, including senior leadership and external partners, to convey intricate topics, influence decisions, and cultivate strong collaborative working relationships. Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: * Creating and developing written products that are compliant with either agency or standardized writing practices for style and formatting of various types of written materials. * Developing and evaluating the effectiveness of communications strategies leveraging diverse communication mediums, e.g., email, intranet, social media, printed materials, etc. * Performing detailed analysis of organizational policy issues, including their operational and employee impact, to accurately predict communication challenges and potential employee sentiment. * Developing and evaluating information programs that enhance understanding among stakeholders, including those who may be opposed or indifferent to agency programs. NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must: * Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and * Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 12/12/2025. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions: * Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military * A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government * Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university * Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period. Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP eligible. View information about CTAP eligibilityon OPM's Career Transition Resources website. You must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement. To be considered well qualified under CTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. Education Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position. Additional information Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here. Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. Expand Hide additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered. How you will be evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Applicants will only be considered for the Eligibilities for which they claim in the job questionnaire AND must provide the supporting documentation. Applicants will not be considered for Eligibilities for which they did not claim, regardless of the documentation submitted with the application. ******************************************************** 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), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics). To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The USA Hire Assessment will be used to assess the following general competencies: * Attention to Detail * Customer Service * Flexibility * Integrity/Honesty * Interpersonal Skills * Reading * Self-Management * Stress Tolerance * Teamwork If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be contacted for an interview. As a part of the interview process, additional selection criteria may be administered by the hiring manager. Preview ******************************************************** In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Benefits Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered. Required documents Required Documents Help * Your resume: A resume describing your job-related qualifications is required and will be used for the purpose of reviewing your qualifications and determining what training, if any, would be required when placed. A resume in English is required. It must contain your full legal name, address, phone number, complete work history including a detailed description of your duties, the dates you performed those duties (MM/DD/YY), your hours worked per week, job title, as well as series, grade, and salary (if applicable). For additional required items, see the link. *Note- It is recommended that you upload your resume as a PDF instead of a Word document to ensure document quality. Ensure that your uploaded resume is not a password protected document, to include Office 365 passwords. Your resume must only be two pages or less and uploaded under the document type - Resume. No additional document types will be reviewed as part of your resume, only the most recently uploaded version of your resume will be reviewed. * Your responses to the job questionnaire: ******************************************************** * Your responses to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment * Are you a current or former federal employee? ALL CURRENT AND FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST SUBMIT THE MOST RECENT COPY OF THEIR SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing competitive status: Tenure 1 or 2 in Block 24 and Position Occupied 1 in Block 34. Additionally, applicants should also submit a SF-50 reflecting the highest grade held on a permanent basis in the competitive service or the full performance level of your current position, whichever is higher, AND an SF-50 to support having met the time-in-grade requirement of having served 52 weeks at the grade level (or equivalent) below the grade level(s) for this position. Current CBP Employees are encouraged, but not required, to submit an SF-50(s) for CBP experience; however, additional SF-50(s) are required when using federal experience outside of CBP to receive credit towards the requirements above. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases, and accessions. * Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)? You must submit a separation notice; your most recent SF-50 (noting your current position, grade level and duty location); a copy of your most recent performance rating; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; or a Military Department of National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456. * Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your initial and termination SF-50s, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment. * If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here. * You may be asked to provide a copy of your recent performance appraisal and/or incentive awards. * Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3).