Manages the Visual Information/Graphics section of a service that is tasked with supporting the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs by furnishing a full range of photographic, graphic, audiovisual, communications and library services for medical care, medical and dental education, allied and associated health care education, research, and employee/public affairs programs. Plans, directs, coordinates and supervises the Visual Information/Graphics section staff of the service.

Duties

Duties: Researches and justifies new software/equipment purchases for graphic section develops new and improved methods to complete projects. Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy act of 1974, HIPAA, VHA Records Control Schedule 10-1, and other applicable laws and regulations. Serves as a project manager and works with customers to design and develop new graphic products that effectively deliver the content and meet multiple objectives. Production standards are equal to those of large commercial graphic design companies and are widely disseminated in both print and electronic media formats at the local, regional, PAO, and VISN levels. Provides instruction to other staff. Contacts are routinely established; contacts are for diverse purposes and other different circumstances. Confers with managers and officials to provide recommendations on concepts and designs that foster or improve the effectiveness of their program or initiative. Supports the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs by furnishing a full range of photographic, graphic, audiovisual, communications for medical care, medical and dental education, allied and associated health care education, research, and employee/public affairs programs. Ensures adherence to facility policies, federal guidelines, and regulations; including, but not limited to Veteran literacy guidelines, communication standards, Joint Commission standards, Section 508 compliance, copyright laws, and VA Guidelines. Makes the initial decisions on such design matters as size, layout, kind and quality of materials, medium, color schemes, typography, specific visual elements or materials to be incorporated, e.g., photos, illustrations, etc. Uses graphic art techniques such as typesetting, copy layout, desktop publishing, trimming and paste-up of copy using a variety of materials. Ensures patient consent has been obtained for medical photography and video. Plans work and establishes priorities, sets schedules for completion of work and defines objectives and goals for the graphics staff. Assigns projects to staff based on existing workloads, priorities, difficulty of assignments and skill level of employees. Decide which images, views, or artifacts to present and how to give particular visual emphasis to some of them through size, color, texture, variations in the degree of detail, typography, lighting, or location. Design visual products characterized by their novelty and unusual scale involving a multiplicity of media or individual visual components. Uses interpersonal skills when interacting with patients, employees, visitors and representatives of service organizations. Advises on or develops the most effective way to communicate information and develops cost estimates for products at various levels of format and/or distribution/printing for customers. Directs administrative services (personnel, supply management, budget, facilities management, or similar) which support and directly affect the operations of a bureau or a major military command headquarters; a large or complex multi-mission military installation. Understands organizational functions, procedures and mission of the service in order to establish priorities and perform duties. Interacts with outside vendors, professional associates and senior staff members as regional public affairs personnel. Advises on technical advantages and disadvantages of various styles, formats, media and methods of reproduction. Resolves most differences that arise with clients and other production personnel on artistic and technical considerations. Skills with operating digital photography still cameras to include the use of filters, lenses and lighting equipment. Collaborates with subject matter experts to plan and design visual products, translates concepts and makes decision on size, style, fabrication method, quality, colors, typography, use of visual elements. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday through Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM, subject to change based on the needs of the agency Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Visual Information Specialist/PD036570 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/17/2023. 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 GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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. The 1084 series requires specific education or experience to be met in order to be appointed into a position of this series. You must meet one of the pre-determined Education or Experience. Individual Occupational Requirements listed below as set by Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, drafting, interior design, photography, visual communication, or other fields related to the position. Some positions may also require subject-matter knowledge of medicine, science, or technical equipment. Advanced training in a vocational school, technical institute, or art institute above the high school level in one of the fields listed above is creditable as general experience on a month-for-month basis. OR Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience in the actual type of work for which application is made. Unpaid experience is creditable, provided the work done was of a quality level and demonstrated the ability required for the position. This includes planning the preparation and use of photographs, illustrations, drawings, and other art work, charts, diagrams, dioramas, maps, slides, overlays, and other kinds of visual material for use in communicating information through visual means. In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirements, 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-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of a variety of methods, techniques, and materials used in the design, production, and reproduction of visual products to plan the technical details of, or produce visual information. Creativity is a must....ability to design flyers, infographics, etc. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. in a field related to this position that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond graduate level education (in excess of the first two years or 36 semester hours) and specialized experience to meet total experience requirements. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required. Analytical ThinkingFlexibilityInformation AssuranceInterpersonal SkillsMental VisualizationProblem SolvingVeteran and Customer Focus When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience and education are subject to verification by investigation. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience or education as proof to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task. Preferred Experience: Knowledge of the highly technical methods and techniques required to plan, design, layout and fabricate original graphic products, such as booklets, flyers, pamphlets, posters, newsletters, etc., and to ensure products adhere to VA graphic guidelines and 508 compliance requirements. Broad knowledge of desktop publishing, based on extensive experience with specialized software, such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, etc. Able to evaluate the use of proper graphic design and production techniques by subordinates, as well as providing guidance and instruction as required. Knowledge and experience in the operation of digital still cameras in performing public affairs and/or clinical photography. 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: Physical demands include walking, bending, stooping, and standing for extended periods of time. On occasion, lifting and transportation of moderately heavy equipment (40 lb.) is 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.

Contacts

• Address Biloxi VA Medical Center 400 Veterans Avenue Biloxi, MS 39531 US
• Name: Lesa Lang
• Phone: 804-675-5000
• Email: [email protected]