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Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
VA St. Louis (Jefferson Barracks)

Summary

The position serves as the Supervisory Public Affairs Officer (PAO) at VA St. Louis Health Care System (VASTLHCS). The incumbent works with one large community, and several smaller communities, and their media to include print, television, and radio stations in promoting strong communication and logistics when positive and negative stories occur. The PAO must coordinate all efforts in a reactive and proactive mode.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/30/2026 to 02/09/2026
Salary
$109,137 to - $141,880 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Jefferson Barracks, MO
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBSS-12871601-26-AM
Control number
856053600

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Duties

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This position also serves as a regional communications consultant, Public Affairs Officer, and Veteran's outreach coordinator for a wide range of media, governmental, Non-Governmental Organizations, and public audiences. The VASTLHCS is a complexity level 1a facility serving veterans and their families across Missouri and Illinois. It is a two campus, full-service, tertiary referral center, with 8 Outpatient Clinics.

Duties include but are not limited to:

Oversees the VASTLHCS public affairs and strategic communication program with responsibility for planning, designing, and executing functions in the areas of public information, healthcare systems information, community relations, and marketing. Administers programs that are of regional and national scope. Establishes and maintains proactive contacts with media outlets, legislative offices, veteran service organizations, and health care affiliates. Final approver of a variety of materials and publications including print, visual, Web-based, multimedia and video materials to convey information about the VA to a variety of stakeholders.

Serves as the Director's key public affairs advisor and technical authority on public affairs and marketing initiatives, and as the Director's spokesperson with the media and other stakeholders. Advises senior level management on development of media campaigns and communication plans and strategies.

Oversees the production of news releases, fact sheets, brochures, exhibits, displays, outreach materials, and audiovisual presentations to publicize and inform a variety of internal and external audiences on the mission and capabilities of VASTLHCS. Approves promotional materials for VASTLHCS and oversees the editing of materials written by other staff members throughout the VASTLHCS. Markets stories written by VASTLHCS senior staff to outside entities.

Approves, or appoints a designee to approve, the content of the Medical Center's Internet and Intranet. Evaluates information from a variety of sources and provides feedback to senior management on public affairs trends and stakeholder attitudes to assess program effectiveness and make improvements. Serves as Agency spokesman for the facility including responding orally and in writing to questions about, or criticisms of, the Agency's activities or policies and explaining the VA's point of view.

Handles communication efforts when controversial, high-level issues impact the VA Medical Center, often during crisis and emergency situations. Serves as Public Information Officer under the Hospital Incident Command System in often highly complex incidents. Generates interest in the VA hospital and health care through coordination of speaking engagements by facility personnel, impromptu presentations, accommodation of requests for tours, participation in informational activities such as health fairs and other outreach events, and cooperation with other health agencies in public relations efforts.

Provides leadership for special events workgroups responsible for planning and executing special events for the facility including all public ceremonies, dedications, open houses, ground breakings, ribbon cuttings, and employee social events. Coordinates high profile visits at the facility as well as outreach to Veterans not enrolled in the VA health care system. Receives concerns and comments from Veterans and their families and provides follow-up and response as necessary. Represents the Director at local, State, and National Veteran Service Organization and other community organizational meetings and events. Accepts public affairs projects and assignments from the Office of Public Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, and the VA Heartland Network. Provides other administrative/staff assistance to senior management as required.

Travels to outlying areas and educates Veteran Service Organization representatives, staff of health care facilities, emergency responders, and other requesting organizations on a variety of topics, including but not limited to current VA initiatives, health care eligibility, present Medical Center operations, and future Medical Center plans.


Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: 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.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist/PD10028-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified applicants.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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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, 02/09/2026.

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: experience being responsible for and serving as a spokesperson conducting media interviews, applying advanced communication and analytical practices, methods and techniques to the solution of complex public affairs problems; advising leadership on the development of communication plans and strategies; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with local media representatives and community groups; crisis communication and responding to Congressional Inquiries, identifying communication needs and developing informational materials to inform internal and external stakeholders of policies, programs, services and activities; and coordinating and implementing special events, ceremonies, outreach campaigns, tours, and other activities to generate public awareness of organization's mission; and experience preparing newsletters and other professional publications. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Communications and Media
  • Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Organizational Awareness
  • Problem Solving


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 primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required.

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/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

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

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

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