Clarification from the agency

Open to all CTAP candidates and current permanent employees of the Department of Veteran Affairs.

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Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provides leadership and direction for the communications program at the CTVHCS (a category high complexity, 1A medical facility) while displaying tact, common sense, diplomacy, initiative, and solid professional judgment. The goal of the position is to increase internal and external awareness of VA programs, services, special events and projects, technologies, personnel, and research accomplishments.
• Plans, develops, and produces a variety of materials and publications including print, visual, Web-based, multimedia, social media, and video materials to convey information about the VA to a variety of stakeholders. Serves as content manager of VA Medical Center's Internet and Intranet.
• Serves as facility spokesperson including responding in writing and orally to questions about criticisms of the agency's activities or policies and explaining the VA point of view. Handles communication efforts when controversial, high-level issues impact the VA Medical Center, often during crisis, negative media, and emergency situations.
• Oversees public affairs activity that encompasses social media, media relations, crisis communications, marketing, Veteran/community engagement, special events, communications, graphics, photography and videography support via medical media.
• Manages media, public affairs, advertising, media relations, marketing, communications, public relations, congressional liaison, Veteran/Community engagement, special events, and social media activities for the Medical Center.
• Independently analyzes and evaluates, on a quantitative and/or qualitative basis, the effectiveness of programs or operations in meeting established goals and objectives. Analyzes program performance data and prepares regular status reports and recommendations for review at all levels for local and VISN leadership.
• Develops long range and short-term goals and programs required to meet stated objectives. Directs the planning and operations to complement attainment of established goals and objectives.
• Independently develops and implements a communications plan to enhance the understanding of benefits, services, and practices of the CTVHCS for the appropriate and efficient delivery of VA's mission.
• Creates a public and community engagement program for the CTVHCS which promotes a positive image, elevates public opinion, provides informative and timely external and internal communications mediums, and strives to foster stakeholder and patient satisfaction and positive employee morale.
• Analyzes new and proposed legislation or regulations to determine the impact on program operations and management.
• Provides program direction and guidance to subordinate staff, effectively delegating authority and responsibility needed in order to carry out assigned tasks. Exercises appropriate controls to evaluate effectiveness of work output in meeting goals and objectives.

Work Schedule:
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist/PD08584O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/02/2026.

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 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: directing, developing, implementing, and overseeing the Public Affairs Program for media relations, outreach, public affairs, social media, advises senior level management on development of media campaigns, establish and maintain proactive contacts with medial outlets, national, local, state, and federal legislative offices, serves as public information officer, primary liaison with congressional members, evaluates information from different sources, supervises, plans work, and evaluates employee performance.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Administration and Management
• Communications and Media
• Multimedia Technologies
• Organizational 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. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.