Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is only open to current full-time permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

-Advises the executive management staff on all issues relating to community awareness, and public information regarding the VAPHS.
-Writes or supervises the writing of all speeches for the executive management staff.
-Designs briefings and training for all VAPHS employees before each media interview.
-Directly responsible dealing with all media representatives.
-Responsible for preparing, or directing the preparation of all news releases, media advisories, public service announcements, and feature articles about VAPHS.
-Evaluates the effectiveness of the VAPHS Public Affairs Program and makes changes as necessary to improve the public image of the facility.
-Makes regular visits with the local and regional media, to maintain a good working relationship.
-Responsible for the production of the VAPHS newsletters, brochures, annual reports, and all other PR/marketing brochures for the VAPHS.
-Supervises the maintenance of PR bulletin boards, electronic information systems, and social media websites.
-Responsible for developing or directing the development of positive news stories about the VAPHS, its programs, research, and patient care activities for local and national media exposure.
-Serves as the content manager for the VAPHS Website.
-Serves as the communication representative for VAPHS's major construction projects working with the veterans' community, congressional liaisons, VA employees and the community.
-Coordinates, supervises, and directs the planning of numerous special events to help promote the mission of the VAPHS.
-Serves as the official spokesperson for the VAPHS, for media interviews, events, or crisis situations.
-Serves on numerous committees and task forces outside of the medical center, to plan collaborative special events and PR projects with other organizations and to network with other PR representatives.
-Responsible for managing, supervising, and evaluating the entire Public Affairs Program.
-Maintains the Public Affairs budget.-Serves as the Congressional Liaison for the VAPHS, working with congressional and senatorial offices and staff members.
-Responsible for answering congressional inquiries that come from veterans, community organizations and other constituents.
-Makes regular face-to-face visits with congressional staff, and sets up meetings and visits with the Director of the facility and other pertinent staff.

This position is at the full performance level

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:00a - 4:30p
Compressed/Flexible: Not available
Telework: May be available.
*Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist (Public Affairs Officer)/PDPD 037190
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
This is not a bargaining unit position

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• This vacancy is only open to current full-time permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/27/2019.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Developing, coordinating and managing a comprehensive Public Affairs Program through utilization of public affairs resources, methods, and techniques; feature stories, news releases and patient correspondence for a complex health care system that requires an above average understanding and usage of medical terminology; writing, editing, layout and design; communication techniques, and developing crisis communication involving technical, controversial, and sensitive issues in a health care setting with the news media and other internal and external audiences; a complete understanding of patient privacy and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) regulations.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
1. Planning and Evaluating
2. Communications and Media
3. Customer Service
4. Problem Solving
5. Manages and Organizes Information
6. External Awareness

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary in part involving writing at a desk, working at a computer terminal, conferring with others, and attending conferences, meetings and interviews. Considerable standing and walking throughout the VAPHS and the grounds of each medical center is required. Driving or riding in a vehicle is also required on a routine basis to attend outside meetings, interviews, and special events. The incumbent must attend lengthy meetings, both during and after regular scheduled work hours as well as weekends. The incumbent is also responsible for providing tours of each VAPHS facility. This involves a great deal of walking throughout the VAPHS and also on construction site areas. In addition, the incumbent travels to numerous conventions, community meetings, and conferences to promote the VAPHS. This involves carrying, lifting, and erecting bulky display panels. Travel to other VISN facilities is also occasionally for meetings and education.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.