Clarification from the agency

Open to Status Candidates (Federal/Veteran/Others) and Recent Graduates.

The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location. *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements.

This is a developmental position leading to a GS-11 performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

The Public Affairs Specialist is located in the Office of the Director at Alaska VA HealthCare System. The incumbent applies appropriate rules/regulations used in conducting Department of Veterans Affairs business as well as the TCF program guidelines. The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location.

As a Public Affairs Specialist, the incumbent's duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Plan and coordinate special events for various audiences.
• Write news releases, newsletters, and feature stories, information packets, media kits and fact sheets, and produces flyers and brochures.
• Perform work related to public affairs and communication activities such as responding to media queries, and generating media interests.
• Establish, maintain and update an events calendar for the Medical Center.
• Provide news clippings to the Regional and VISN PAO and other key VHA/VA officials in a timely manner.
• Research, prepare, and provide photos, video or audio, Medical Center data, publications, information papers and other materials as requested by media and/or leadership.
• Use a variety of communication techniques and methods including print, broadcast, electronic and social media, to convey the VA mission and it's role in the community to various stakeholders.

Work schedule: 8:00AM-4:30PM
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: May be authorized
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Position Description Title/PD#: Public Affairs Specialist (TCF)

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

*Selectee will be required to sign Mobility and Training Service Agreements.

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 a background/security investigation
• Training-Service Agreement and Mobility Agreement required
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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. 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.

What are the Eligibility Requirements for the TCF Recent Graduate Program? (This is eligibility only, not qualifications.)

In order to be eligible for an appointment under the TCF Recent Graduate Program you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be a recent graduate who has completed, within the previous two years, an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution such as an accredited technical or vocational school; a 2- or 4-year college or university; a graduate or professional school (e.g., law school, medical school); or a post-secondary home school curriculum. Note: Certificate program is defined as post-secondary education in a qualifying educational institution equal to at least one academic year of full-time study that's part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.

• Veterans (as defined in 5 USC 2108) who, due to military service obligation, were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period described above have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon their release or discharge from active duty; however, this eligibility period cannot extend beyond 6 years from the date of completion of the requirements of an academic course of study.

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

• Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: knowledge of public relations, community relations, advertising, and journalism including media technical requirements and practices. Knowledge of practices and techniques of oral communications in developing and presenting briefings to print and broadcast media. Knowledge of broadcast media production. Writing news releases and feature articles for dissemination through print media; effective interaction with news media representatives; gathering and evaluating the appropriateness of information communicated through media.

OR,

• Substitution of Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement (requires completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in a field of study related to the safety and occupational health field) that is directly related to the position being filled. (SAA is described below.)

OR,

• Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: Applicants may also combine education and specialized experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the GS-05 level of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree. (Note: To combine education and experience, first determine how much of the qualifying experience and education you have, as a percentage of what is required for each. Add the percentages together, and if the total is 100% or more, then the combined education and experience is qualifying for the position.)

***If substituting education for specialized experience or combining education with specialized experience, transcripts must be submitted at the time of application. Transcripts must reflect undergraduate degree conferred and number of hours for graduate level coursework. Transcripts must reflect coursework as graduate level, if applicable.***

S.A.A. is based on completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in a field of study related to the safety and occupational health field and have superior academic achievement (S.A.A.):
(1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.
1. Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.) -- Applicants must have a grade-point average of:a. 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better)as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; orb. 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Evidence of membership must be submitted.

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: Assignments regularly involve extended periods of walking, standing, bending, and stooping to execute logistics for special events or to accompany media crews or other special groups. Incumbent is also required to regularly pick up loads of 15 pounds such as boxes of newspapers and other literature and to push carts of supplies.

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.