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Visual Information Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Martinsburg, WV - VA Medical Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position will serve as a Visual Information Specialist in the Public Affairs Office and will be responsible for supporting the Public Affairs program for the Martinsburg VA Medical Center. This position will provide web content management, graphic design, and writing support for the Public Affairs Office in an effort to improve access to care, enhance direct communication to Veterans, foster good public perceptions, promote good news stories, and enhance employee communication.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/11/2022 to 08/31/2022
Salary
$61,947 to - $80,532 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Location
Martinsburg, WV
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
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
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBTF-11603699-22-MJT-TeamJA
Control number
670977800

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Duties

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The Visual Information Specialist is responsible for the content, functionality, maintenance, and design of the Intranet and Internet web site and all electronic communication resources including identifying needs for new materials and enhancing existing design and content. The incumbent is also responsible for supporting all public affairs and communication activities for the health care system including, internal and external communications, special events, and writing news releases, feature stories, speeches, newsletters, and messages to employees, patients and stakeholders.Duties for the position include but are not limited to:

  • Responsible for all editorial and technical management of content, quality, design and style of the Intranet and Internet websites. This includes identifying needs for new materials and enhancing existing web sites.
  • Ensure Internet and Intranet websites comply with all VA and Federal web policies and accessibility regulations
  • Serve as the Webmaster for the facility and provide oversight of the Internet and Intranet sites for compliance with web content policies, and to ensure published information is valid and current.
  • Publish web content, graphics, videos and photos, and provide support to various program areas on special web related and electronic communication projects.
  • Write, develop, edit and maintain website content to keep the public informed of the organization's programs, services, accomplishments and point of view to improve access to VA health care.
  • Seek out content users to gather feedback for website improvement and enhancements.
  • Reviews and approve all requests for placement of information on the organization's Intranet and Internet sites; place new pages in appropriate locations on the web site by testing new pages to ensure correct formatting; verify optimum display of graphics, video, other multimedia formats; check for properly functioning links; and assure that all information is grammatically correct, authoritative, and appropriate for release to the general public.
  • Independently research and evaluate new and emerging methods for Web product development and Web project management. Assess these methods with respect to their suitability for potential costs and benefits and adaptability to organization requirements.
  • Locate linked files; and use proper syntax to prevent future occurrences.
  • Responsible for creating design solutions that have a high visual impact, including listening to clients and understanding their needs before making design decisions. The designs are required for a variety of products and activities, such as websites, electronic messaging signs, advertising materials, posters/flyers and publications.
  • Develop creative ideas and concepts, choosing the appropriate media and style to meet the needs of the facility and its target audiences.
  • Advise senior level management on the development of media campaigns and communication plans and strategies.
  • Provide support for the Public Affairs program, including external and internal communication to ensure appropriate branding and messaging for the Martinsburg VA Medical Center.
  • Responding to and staffing media inquiries, organizing and coordinating print and broadcast media interviews and news conferences, identifying subject matter experts to respond to media requests, preparing subject matter experts/staff members for media interviews, pitching stories to the media, and writing news releases and features stories about health care, research and human interest activities throughout the medical center.
  • Full Position Description available to review via the department
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 07:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Visual Information Specialist/PD613-20017-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Required
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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
  • 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 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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/31/2022.

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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: oversight of Internet and Intranet sites for compliance with Federal web content policies, including serving as a webmaster and writing, developing, editing, posting and maintaining website content to keep the public informed of the organization's programs, services, accomplishments and point of view; creating design solutions that have a high visual impact; developing creative ideas and concepts, choosing the appropriate media and style to meet the needs of the facility and its target audiences; identifying needs for new materials and enhancing existing web sites; public affairs and communication activities for a health care system including, internal and external communications, special events, and writing news releases, feature stories, speeches, newsletters, and messages to employees, patients and stakeholders.
OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. However, such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or possess a LL.B., J.D., Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. (Must submit copy of official transcript with application package if qualifying for this position via education or a combination of education and experience.)
OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond one full year of higher-level graduate education.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Communications and Media
  • Creative Thinking
  • Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
  • Interpersonal Skills


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 walking and standing in conjunction with travel and to attendance at meetings and conferences away from the work site. The employee may carry light items such as papers, books, or small parts, or drive a motor vehicle. The work does not require any special physical effort. Travel 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

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

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. 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.

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/.

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

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.


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.

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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