The Public Affairs Specialist (PAO) directs the public affairs program for the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System and the Dakotas Regional Office of Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) with full responsibility for planning, developing, and communicating the organization's programs, policies, and activities to the regional publics. **A Relocation/Recruitment Incentive has been authorized for highly qualified and eligible candidates**

Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to: Develops and transmits information materials to a variety of publics to enhance the understanding of programmatic changes/updates and practices administered by the agency for all Veteran benefits programs including a complex and ever expanding health care benefit. Analyzes and evaluates regional program needs to advise the health care system director and VBA regional office director and other executive leadership officials of what information should be made available to the public, appropriate notification processed for Veteran Service Organizations and congressional offices prior to public release and program goal achievement. Provides consultation to executive leadership in developing direction in public affairs activities to support the total management effort and establishes and maintains effective working relationships with representatives of the print and broadcast media and national organizations interested in Veteran programs, benefits, access to health care and tribal Veteran issues. Serves as congressional liaison and receives, tracks, monitors, and controls congressional inquiries for all Veteran issues for the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System. Analyzes written and telephonic inquiries to identify relevant issues, research required, and sources of information and facts required for resolution of inquiries. Performs other duties as assigned. 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 Ad Hoc only telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Public Affairs Specialist/PD801870 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified eligible candidates Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/01/2023. 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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: serving as a facility spokesperson; responding to media inquiries; developing and managing internal and external communications, web site content, publications, etc.; briefing members of the general public, media, etc.; resolving complex public affairs problems; and coordinating special events, press conferences, etc. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Interpersonal SkillsOral CommunicationOrganizational AwarenessWriting 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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. 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.

Contacts

• Address Royal C Johnson Veterans Memorial Hospital 2501 West 22nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57105 US
• Name: Amanda Martin
• Phone: 313-576-3024
• Email: [email protected]