US Forest Service Service Public Affairs Assistant

Position:​ Public Affairs Assistant

Term of Position: ​2021-2022 Academic year

Hours of Position: TBA

The National Forests in North Carolina is seeking creative, dynamic candidates with skills in

writing, editing, social media, and video storytelling to fill a Public Affairs intern position. The

intern assists with planning and implementing a comprehensive public affairs program for

internal and external audiences. Public Affairs staff keep the public informed about Forest

Service activities and information, establish and maintain effective working relationships with

the media, act as spokespersons for the Forest Service, write and edit articles and talking

points, analyze and evaluate Forest programs to identify controversial issues, and

recommend to leadership action on potential and existing issues.

• Gathers information from a variety of sources including interviews, reading, study,

research, and observation and develops written materials such as news releases,

feature stories, and social media posts concerning the nature and purpose of Forest

Service programs, projects, policies, and activities

• Assists feature writers, reporters, and photographers on assignments and helps them

write stories on Forest Service programs and activities

• Responds, in oral and written form, to requests for information from the public

• Identifies issues to be addressed, characteristics and needs of the target audience, and

most appropriate communication techniques

• Prepares and may make presentations to Forest Service employees, special interest

groups, schools, and the public

• Assists in evaluation and analysis of public comments on Forest Service management

issues

• Ensures that the Forest website and social media accounts are up to date and

informative and creates engaging content

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Graphic design and/or video storytelling skills

• Experience in social media

Internship will mirror the University of North Carolina – Asheville academic calendar.

In addition, professional development opportunities will include:

• A virtual panel with USFS employees around diverse career paths within the Forest Service

• Webinars overviewing post-graduate opportunities, pathways to hire into the Forest

Service, and ways to increase your competitiveness for Forest Service and federal jobs.

• Opportunities to present to a Regional or National audience on the program and

deliverables

• Connections with the Southern Region’s Recruitment Team to support job skills like

building a federal resume, navigating USAJobs, and interviewing for federal jobs

• Mentors will provide endorsement of skills & recommendations on LinkedIn following a

VSFS’s interns successful completion of the program/academic year

All interns are required to record their hours worked on this project and will be reported in

the Volunteer & Service Programs Accomplishments Database (VSReports), the Forest

Service’s official national reporting database.

Interns engaged through this work-study partnership will earn hours toward the Public Land Corps

(PLC) hiring authority. Eligible interns who achieve PLC status will be able to apply to merit vacancy

announcements with USFS for two years. Those interested in working with National Forests in North

Carolina for multiple years are strongly encouraged to apply.