The incumbent serves as a Public Affairs Specialist at Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). This position reports to the VISN Public Affairs Officer and, is the official responsible for promoting and coaching outreach in the VAMCs, sharing best practices, planning, and conducting a comprehensive outreach program, generating events, etc. in partnership with VAMC Public Affairs Officers for internal and external stakeholders.

Duties

The incumbent is assigned to provide toxic exposure outreach and other support for the Public Affairs program at a VISN or VA Medical Center 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. Establishes and maintains proactive contacts with media outlets, legislative offices, veteran service organizations, health care affiliates and community partners. Advises senior level management on development of outreach campaigns, communication plans and strategies. Plans, develops, and produces 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 a content manager of VA 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 related to the PACT ACT and toxic exposures. Serves as agency spokesperson in the absence of the Public Affairs Officer, including responding in writing and orally to questions about or criticisms of the agency's activities or policies and explaining the VA point of view. Executes special events, coordinates high profile visits, and supports outreach to veterans not enrolled in the VA health care system. Conducts special studies involving communications, organization, and operation of VISNs and Medical Center functions. Duties include developing reports along with recommendations to the VISN PA including implementation and monitoring strategies. Studies often consist of controversial and critical observations, interpretations, and findings that are independently presented with the resultant recommendations. The broad scope and depth of the studies require that the incumbent coordinate the project with numerous service areas. The incumbent must be fully aware of the impact, direct and indirect, that recommendations will have upon all involved. Analyzes internal communication needs and develops publications or other information materials for staff, patients, volunteers, and others who contribute to VA effectiveness and responsiveness. The incumbent works with staff and service chiefs in identifying their information needs and assisting them with the development and dissemination of appropriate materials. Undertakes other assignments, such as coordination of special projects, at the direction of VISN Public Affairs Officer. Special assignments could include coordination, participation and/or chairing special committees as assigned to meet stated objectives within a specific time frame. Has responsibility for the development, coordination, implementation and maintenance of public affairs and community relations programs that are designed to promote understanding, confidence and goodwill between VA Medical Centers, surrounding communities, individuals, volunteers and groups who are interested in and affected by the VA. Analyzes information needs, goals and resources and tailors' specific communication strategies using all media to reach target audiences both internal and external. Advises and makes recommendations to the VISN PAO director regarding the handling of media and community issues or concerns that have possible implications on the VA. Serves as a VISN point of contact for the media and public information inquiries and as the liaison with other medical centers, central office, and veteran organizations in the areas of public information and community relations. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 430pm EST 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#: Public Affairs Specialist/PD99476S Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/14/2023. 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 GS12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS11. 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 GS11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Ability to provide toxic exposure outreach and other support for the Public Affairs program at a VISN or VA Medical Center while displaying tact, common sense, diplomacy, initiative, and solid professional judgment; Ability to advise senior level management on development of outreach campaigns, communication plans and strategies; Knowledge of serving as a content manager of VA Medical Center's Internet and Intranet; Experience serving as agency spokesperson in the absence of the Public Affairs Officer, including responding in writing and orally to questions about or criticisms of the agency's activities or policies and explaining the VA point of view; Ability to execute special events, coordinates high profile visits, and supports outreach to veterans not enrolled in the VA health care system; Ability to analyze internal communication needs and develops publications or other information materials for staff, patients, volunteers, and others who contribute to VA effectiveness and responsiveness. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications and MediaDatabase AdministrationDecision Making 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: Work is generally sedentary with walking required during visits and tours of Medical Centers. Flexibility is required to accommodate events and activities occurring in other than normal duty hours. Mobility s required in terms of staging and assisting staff with equipment and other required materials. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Biomed - Syracuse VA Medical Center 800 Irving Ave Syracuse, NY 13210 US
• Name: Tara Lanigan
• Phone: 612-467-6517
• Email: [email protected]