The Primary purpose of the position is to perform work, involved in establishing and maintaining mutual Communication between Federal and the general public and various other pertinent publics including internal or external, foreign or domestic audiences.

Duties

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-09. At the GS- 07 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-09. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. This position serves as a public affairs specialist, in an organization's Public Affairs Office, responsible for administering a small functional program in a facility or within an organizational department, with primary responsibility for collecting, assembling, preparing and disseminating information concerning the various programs of the organization, or assisting higher graded public affairs specialist develop and conduct public affairs programs for larger organizational segments within the organization or field office. Responds, in oral and written form, to request for information by determining the nature of the data required and collecting and assembling the material using the appropriate format and style based on needs and organization practices. This position works with print and broadcast media; drafts news stores/media releases, provides responses to queries, and provides media escort during visits to the organization and assists with other Public Affairs Office programs as needed. This position prepares a variety of written material, including news releases, news articles and other material. Gathers and receives verbal or written information and converts into material appropriate for a variety of publication venues. This position plans and executes information campaigns that disseminate results of successful projects in stimulating adoption of their impact or information disseminated. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00am - 4:30pm) Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized 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. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

A bachelor's degree and superior academic achievement S.A.A. (S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. 1. Class standing--Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. 2. Grade-point average (G.P.A.)--Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Grade-point averages are to be rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9. 3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society--Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed below. These honor societies are listed in the Association of College Honor Societies: Booklet of Information (1992-95) and/or Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (1991). Agencies considering eligibility based on any society not included in the following list must ensure that the honor society meets the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision. (Unofficial Transcripts required)-OR- One full year of graduate level study or possess a master's or higher degree, e.g., in a subject that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Unofficial Transcripts required) -OR- At least one year of specialized experience in presenting analyses of factual material in narrative form, such as writing news reports or magazine articles; conducting tours of facilities and explaining the work performed; market research activities; writing and developing materials for employees and public communications; arranging and coordinating interviews with local, regional, and national officials; or composing and preparing correspondence, reviews and clips/transcripts of print and electronic media, etc. This experience must be equivalent to the GS-5 in federal service. -OR- A combination or education and experience the full amount of graduate education described above and less than the amount of experience described in above, but I have a combination of the type of education and experience described above. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Educational Experience (ACWA)Mathematical Skills (ACWA)Rating (ACWA)Social Organizations (ACWA)Work Experience (ACWA) IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. Physical Requirements: Work is usually performed siting at a desk, in new conferences, briefings, meetings, etc or riding in an automobile or public transportation. There may be occasional brief visits to field sites; however, no special physical demands are involved in performing the work. 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

IMPORTANT: 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 VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System 2200 SW Gage Blvd Topeka, KS 66622 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]