Clarification from the agency

First consideration will be granted to permanent, current employees of VISN 22.

Videos

The CEPC is responsible for community capacity development for suicide prevention by serving in a leadership role in communicating with and organizing community partners and coalitions to implement suicide prevention programs aimed at reducing Veteran suicide at the community, state, and Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) levels. Seasoned communicator content matter expert for suicide prevention and public health and facilitate integration of suicide prevention education throughout the community by developing and organizing community partners and coalitions aimed at reducing Veteran suicide at the state and Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) level.

Major duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Develops and writes communication products that articulate VA's National Strategy for Suicide Prevention to support the development of community coalition.
• Develops information that ensures public understanding, appreciation and support of Suicide Prevention 2.0 community-based suicide prevention programs.
• Research communication requirements to determine the nature of the audience and other special considerations to enhance the development of suicide prevention coalition building.
• Coordinates any emerging issues related to the topic of communication as necessary.
• Implements VHA Community-Based Interventions for Suicide Prevention including collaborating with community, Veteran, and state partners to develop, conduct, and/or support community-based suicide prevention programs as defined and supported by the VHA Suicide Prevention Program.
• Oversees outreach to educate community partners, the media, VA and other government stakeholders (including Members of Congress) to enhance the development of suicide prevention coalitions. Identifies the specific needs and interests of each group, determines the strategy for providing information, and tailors the communications to be effective to each group. Monitors feedback and adjusts the communication and education plans accordingly.
• Uses an interactive approach that: identifies the type of information that is necessary; provides information on a timely basis; and tracks and assesses the response of all parties so that potential problem areas can be identified, avoided, and/or corrected.
• Develops and coordinates graphics requirements, including databases, tables and spreadsheets to complement communications materials.
• Develops and implements a comprehensive suicide prevention communications plan to support community coalition development for local suicide prevention efforts.
• Works with Public Affairs Officers, VHA Communications and external VA partners to plan, develop and disseminate suicide prevention outreach communications to enhance the work of community coalitions.
• Through proactive communication strategies, promotes partnership development - meet with prospective community partners and/or establish formal relationships between the VHA and local partners to facilitate suicide prevention in the community.
• Develops and provides suicide prevention related media/marketing, including interviews (print or broadcast), social media postings, and communication campaigns (Paid/PSAs).
• Serves as a subject matter expert in public health and suicide prevention.
• Provides leadership for coalition management -- leads alignment of community coalition goals with VA goals, collaborates with non-VA coalition leaders (remote or in person), attends coalition meetings (general) and coalition subcommittee meetings, manages and attends coalition sponsored events/public meetings, conducts and/or supports coalition evaluation activities (survey distribution, data collection, key informant interviews, etc.); and leads other coalition activities defined in a coalition action plan.
• Develops materials and training programs, in coordination with the SP team members, other facility and VISN stakeholders, and the National OMHSP office/MIRECC for staff and external stakeholders regarding suicide prevention in VHA and the facility.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education and Experience. Candidates must meet one of the following requirements:
  • Successful completion of a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. The degree must be in a behavioral health or social science related field appropriate to the work of the position (e.g., psychology, social work, sociology, family counseling, mental health counseling, nursing, ministry and criminal justice); OR,
  • Two years of specialized experience as a first responder (e.g., Police, Medic, Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Dispatch, etc.) or in a social science related field that included behavioral health crisis response, and two years of higher education (i.e., above the high school level) from an accredited college or university in a behavioral health or social science related field appropriate to the work of the position (e.g., psychology, social work, sociology, family counseling, mental health counseling, nursing, ministry and criminal justice); OR,
  • Successful completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in any field and, one year of specialized experience that included behavioral health crisis response or mental health counseling.

• Experience or Education. Candidates must meet one of the following requirements:
  • Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level which is directly related to the position; OR,
  • Education. Ph.D. or equivalent in a behavioral health field appropriate to the work of the position (e.g., psychology, social work, sociology, or family counseling).
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
  1. Ability to provide an evidenced based crisis intervention through a variety of modalities (e.g., telephone interviews, chat/text services, or social media forums).
  2. Ability to carry out crisis management steps while withholding judgment on controversial behaviors and not imposing one's values during the contact.
  3. Ability to effectively prioritize complex problems quickly and respond appropriately in a crisis situation.

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 MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

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

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.