In order to effectively communicate VA's position on any given issue and avoid damaging relations with the public, the incumbent must employ advanced communications skills to develop and present information that will achieve varying levels of understanding of the same or different points of view. The information may be sensitive to opposing points of view, conflicting interests, and misunderstandings.

Duties

Public Affairs Specialist Contributes to public affairs activities which support JEVZ Medical Center's strategic mission. Suggests changes as necessary to improve the public image of the facility and to improve media exposure of programs and activities. At the request of the PAO, processes and coordinates media queries submitted to JEVZ Medical Center. Works with VISN, regional, and national teams (VA Offices of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs and Media Relations and VHA program offices) to ensure compliance with all policies relative to media and media inquiries. Administrative Accepts and supports the Mission and Vision of this healthcare system. Performs assigned duties in a manner that promotes outstanding customer service and the maintenance of an environment committed to serving the Veteran. Actively supports the team concept and functions as a team player continuously. Contributes to department initiatives and continuously strives to improve the effectiveness of the department. 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-Friday 8AM to 4:30PM (Will be determined by the hiring manager) Telework: AD-HOC; the 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/PD022490 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary. Some work may require walking and standing at events, meetings and conferences including some off-site. The employee may carry light items (papers, books) OR moderately heavy items such as file boxes, may push carts of supplies or drive a motor vehicle. The work requires manual dexterity, hand and eye coordination, and the ability to accurately perceive and sense color hues and chroma. May require bending, stooping, kneeling. May be needed to lift and transport delicate graphic, photographic and audiovisual equipment. Work Environment: Work is primarily performed in an office setting. The work area is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions. The employee may occasionally be exposed to uncomfortable conditions in such places as research, laboratory, and production facilities. Work does occasionally require incumbent to be outdoors, as for special events or interviews. Work environment may be stressful due to high workload volume and short deadline demands. Occasional travel may be required.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/24/2023. 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. 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. Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience, are not required by this standard to have general experience, education above the high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements. Graduate Education: Education at the graduate level in an accredited college or university in the amounts shown in the table meets the requirements for positions at GS-7 through GS-11. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. GS-7: You must have one year of specialized experience at the lower grade level GS-5. Specialized experience may include but not limited to: processing media inquires; improve media exposure of programs and activities, works independently on various public affairs and outreach duties, initiatives, and programs; communicate effectively with diverse Veteran audiences about VA healthcare. OR, One full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement. GS-9: You must have one year of specialized experience at the lower grade level GS-7. Specialized experience may include but not limited to: processing media inquires; improve media exposure of programs and activities, works independently on various public affairs and outreach duties, initiatives, and programs; communicate effectively with diverse Veteran audiences about VA healthcare; works diplomatically with internal and external constituents; applies problem-solving techniques and conducts research; maintains effective and cooperative work relationships with representatives of local media, Veterans Service Organizations, and event organizers. OR, 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. GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience at the lower grade level GS-9. Specialized experience may include but not limited to: processing media inquires; improve media exposure of programs and activities, works independently on various public affairs and outreach duties, initiatives, and programs; communicate effectively with diverse Veteran audiences about VA healthcare; Works diplomatically with internal and external constituents; Applies problem-solving techniques and conducts research; maintains effective and cooperative work relationships with representatives of local media, Veterans Service Organizations, and event organizers; skilled in interviewing a variety of people and gathering information from multiple sources; skilled in communicating orally at various levels to meet respective audience needs; produces professional written and oral presentations. OR, Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified above, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11. (When crediting education that requires specific course work, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used.)

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Superior Academic Achievement: The superior academic achievement provision is applicable to all occupations covered by this standard. See the "General Policies and Instructions" for specific guidance on applying the superior academic achievement provision.

Graduate Education: Education at the graduate level in an accredited college or university meets the requirements for positions at GS-7 through GS-11. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement.

Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.

NOTE: Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable.

Contacts

• Address James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center 2907 Pleasant Valley Boulevard Altoona, PA 16602 US
• Name: Zeeshan Sandhu
• Email: [email protected]