These positions will be located Defense Capabilities and Management; Education, Workforce, and Income Security; International Affairs and Trade; and Science, Technology, Assessment, and Analytics teams. You will be responsible for assisting in the development and production of reports, correspondence, testimonies & other products. The incumbent supports the team by helping to analyze data and develop the message of engagements, as well as revising sections of drafts and using team work papers.
Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower band CS-II, or level equivalent to the GS-13 in the federal service, or comparable private/public sector experience which has equipped the applicant with the skills and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience providing advice and guidance on graphic design principles, methodologies, and practices; implementing visual communications standards and practices; and analyzing written and analytical data (both qualitative and quantitative) and developing visual representations of data (e.g., charts, photos, interactive graphics, illustrations).
As a Senior Visual Communications Analyst your typical work assignments may include the following: Provide expert-level visual communications support concurrently to multiple engagement teams, agency officials, or other agency-wide initiatives that may require the support of a selected group of agency personnel. Serve as an agency expert responsible for guidance and leadership to Visual Communication Analysts (VCAs) at all levels and routinely advises engagement teams and management in the most effective methods to convey a message or idea visually. Participate in meetings with agency officials at all levels to facilitate product development, assist with message development during GAO engagements, and coordinate with teams and offices on matters involving visual information products. Analyze qualitative and quantitative data independently to determine the most significant information that will substantially enhance a product's message. Develop illustrations, infographics, photographs, maps, and other visual information products at an expert level that convey a clear message or idea; this may require researching a particular process (e.g., storing nuclear waste) or geographic region (e.g., a map of Yellowstone National Park). Develop new and innovative graphics for GAO reports, which may be reviewed and analyzed by Members of Congress and their staff and may be used by other federal agencies and departments. Coordinate the work efforts of engagement teams to develop superior visual information products and provide comments and suggestions to engagement teams. Serve as adjunct faculty in the GAO Learning Center or help develop visual-related training materials and curriculum. Support a learning environment for VCAs and analysts within mission teams (e.g., by providing informal training sessions). Work with those responsible for improving the design and usability of visual information products (e.g., Visual Communications Board) to help update GAO's visual communication standards when necessary. Organize and facilitate communities of practice GAO-wide for VCAs, which involves sharing best practices among VCAs and identifying concerns and opportunities for additional learning. Work with other VCAs to develop. mechanisms for reaching the VCA community and sharing new policies and resources to improve the skills of GAO's VCAs. Represent the VCA community on GAO-wide efforts involving communications strategies related to GAO reports, assessing the usability of new or emerging design technologies used by the VCA community and participating in discussions on the procurement of such technologies.