Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Communications Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System is recruiting for one (1) full-time Communication Specialist for the Learning Resource Service Line. This position is located at the Omaha VA Medical Center.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/24/2021 to 09/13/2021
Salary
$64,861 to - $84,324 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
Omaha, NE
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
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
11
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBSY-11213633-21-KA
Control number
611952000

Videos

Duties

Help

The Connected Health Program contains a range of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) sponsored programs, websites, communication tools, and smartphone applications to support health care for Veterans, their families, advocates, and VA employees. Connected Health modalities currently include the following: Secure Messaging, Veteran care portal (My HealtheVet}, VA Anywhere to Anywhere real ­time video communication, Broadcast Communication (Text Messaging), Integrated Automated Clinical Support (Annie), Veteran online scheduling and other apps on web, iOS and Android, the Virtual Medical Center, new patient health monitoring technologies, and other tools and technologies yet to be deployed. Current and future Connected Health Modalities are important components of the VA's transformation.

The Connected Health Coordinator serves as facility champion for Connected Health, leads facility teams to support existing and future Veteran communication initiatives, coordinates local implementation, training, communications, outreach, and support efforts, and evaluates and reports on Connected Health actions and activities.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Leading the facility's efforts to integrate current and future Connected Health Modalities with healthcare providers and patients and serves as liaison and administrator to VISN and National teams.
  • Establishing and managing communications plans that identify target audiences including appropriate messages, activities, and resources.
  • Oversees Connected Health's online presence and web content and leads innovations to keep facility Connected Health on the cutting-edge. Ensures accountability via written communication as it relates to Connected Health.
  • Establishes and manages the training plans and designs and performs needs assessments within the project relative to functional and training needs and project effectiveness. Works with EES to coordinate personnel and resources to develop educational and training programs/classes with the intent of increasing adoption of the various Connected Health modalities.
  • Based on the VISN and national Program, develops and updates a facility-specific implementation plan that includes developing a mission/vision statement, establishing a focal team, leading team efforts, identifying local providers as champions, and developing roles and responsibilities.
  • Formulates a marketing strategy from research, reports, products and organizational data. Designs, conducts and evaluates innovative means to advertise and market Connected Health products. This includes creative writing and direct communication with all levels of personnel internal and external to the VAMC/HCS. Analyzes participation trends, customer markets, needs of the consumer and advises the VAMC/HCS leadership team on concerns and trends.
  • Recommends specific approaches for managing special issues and findings. Represents the VAMC/HCS at forums, conferences, and meetings. Delivers presentations to all levels of the VAMC/HCS, service organizations, and veterans, family members and caregivers.
  • Develops multimedia campaign materials (e.g., printed articles, brochures, videos) to enlighten target population. Researches and writes articles, news releases and briefs for inclusion in publications and for release to other media.
  • Maintains liaison with VISN and national Connected Health teams and coordinators to ensure correct, current and accurate portrayal of information is provided to meet objectives.
  • Analyzes functional clinical and business process changes or impact to clinical guidelines in terms of policies, procedures, and user behaviors.
  • Works with senior functional subject matter experts to identify and manage significant changes in the way employees integrate Connected Health in the fabric of VA care and the Patient-Centered Medical Home.
  • Manages multiple projects by planning and organizing activities. Proposes, develops, and implements strategic plans and objectives for the enhancement, maintenance, and future advancement of operations for the Connected Health program.
  • Identifies problems and applies analytical techniques for the purpose of resolving issues. Negotiates conflicting demands and manages multiple projects with tight deadlines.
  • Directs the daily activities and evaluates the performance of one or two Connected Health Technicians who are tasked with training staff, patients, patient families, and caregivers on the various technologies within Connected Health.
  • Directs the Veteran Health Education Coordinators work and evaluates their performance.

PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Telework: Ad Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Communications Specialist/PD23359A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
  • 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
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination programs are requirements for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/13/2021.

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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

  • Identifying problems and applying analytical techniques for the purpose of resolving issues;
  • Developing educational materials to convey information;
  • Supervising, leading, or training staff;
  • Managing projects with short deadlines;
  • Communicating ideas and thoughts effectively through written correspondence and oral presentation.
(This experience must be well documented in your application package. We cannot make assumptions when reviewing applications.)

OR

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related, that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. (One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one (1) year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours will be considered as satisfying the one (1) year of full-time study requirement).

OR

Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and graduate education in excess of master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B or J.D., if related

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Administration and Management
  • Communications
  • Customer Service
  • Technical Competence


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: Work is primarily sedentary, but may require periods of standing during presentations, briefings, speeches, health fair activities, etc., although some slight physical effort may be required.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.