The VHA public information program involves the presentation of the Medical Center mission. The Public Affairs Specialist serves as the spokesperson, facilitator and coordinator to the media, congressional staffs and veterans service organizations, the community, VA and other governmental officials. Develops campaigns and communication strategies that convey information to various publics and the staff about the Medical Center.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: Develops and disseminates a wide range of information and data concerning the nature and objectives of Agency programs, employing all types of media, including radio, television, newspapers, magazines, professional and scientific journals, pictures, posters, and exhibits. Coordinates news media interviews with staff, and oversees arrangements with media representatives involving organization activities; provides supporting materials as required. The incumbent ensures proper attribution of news stories between staff members holding joint appointments with the medical college. Establishes and maintains working relationships with local mass and specialized media representatives and with the special interest representatives concerned with veterans affairs within the geographic area. Generates solid relationships by keeping media informed; being responsive to their requests; obtaining resources for media on various issues and programs; and by otherwise creating goodwill. Establishes and maintains a speaker's bureau, distributing the list to media and interested organizations, coordinating speech requests and providing training and materials to speakers. Maintains liaison with public affairs staffs of related health and educational organizations, service, civic and fraternal organizations on behalf of the Medical Center to maintain goodwill and information and facilitate joint projects or information gathering. Constantly evaluates public affairs programs while helping to track effectiveness of activities in the Medical Center. Develops beats to gather information for possible dissemination, such as news stories involving station activities or personnel (i.e., research initiatives) and is always alert for opportunities to explore potential for participation in exhibits, conventions and professional meetings. Maintains effective relationships with service chiefs and their staffs to refer and evaluate inquires made by the media as well as identifying newsworthy or feature events. Establishes effective relationships with local media and veterans organizations, community groups and management officials. The incumbent meets with a variety of these groups to disseminate information, enhance relationships, and communicate Medical Center and VHA policies and information about specialized programs and initiatives. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position. Position Description/PD#: Public Affairs Specialist/PD504120 and PD504040 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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, 09/29/2023. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-09 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. You must demonstrate 3 of the 4 statements of specialized experience within your resume: Utilizing various office automation software programs to prepare news releases; Informing the public about current programs through multiple media outlets; Communicating information with knowledge of current agency regulations and policies; Printing material to be widely distributed. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. 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. GS-11 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. You must demonstrate 3 of the 4 statements of specialized experience within your resume: Coordinating organizational events for completing purpose of mission; Establishing working relationships with local media with special interest representatives concerned with local agency within the geographic area; Conduct tours and other related tasks for special visitors and dignitaries; Planning budgetary forecast to remain fiscally responsible. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related, that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications and MediaCustomer ServiceManages and Organizes InformationPartneringPlanning and Evaluating 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

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 Iowa City VA Health Care System 601 Highway 6 West Iowa City, IA 52246 US
• Name: Michael Kelly
• Phone: 612-467-3398
• Email: [email protected]