The Communications Officer/Public Affairs Officer (CO/PAO) is responsible for planning, directing and executing the strategic communication plan for the Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System (SAVACHS), and must continually promote and expand the reach and impact of approved messaging and public education. The incumbent serves as the principle staff advisor on all communication matters for the healthcare delivery system.

Duties

Major duties include: Serves as the expert consultant to management for the development of communication plans and implementation strategies that broaden the reach and deepen the impact of the services provided by SAVAHCS. Advises senior leadership on potential public reactions to complex and controversial programs, policies, and plans, devising strategic stakeholder communications to maximize transparency and mitigate risk to the organization. Develops and executes a communication plan with consistent messaging to Veterans, employees, and the public, establishing both short and long-term goals and objectives. Creates and develops support materials for communication campaigns. Identifies emerging issues to capitalize on opportunities and minimize negative response which may impact program management. Serves as the staff advisor on all public affairs matters and exercises staff responsibility over those functions and activities. Makes recommendations regarding actions and relationships with other federal and state agencies, special interest groups, individuals and various media. Manages the public affairs program, with responsibility for planning, designing and executing all program activities to inform and education the general and specialized public groups regarding National, Network and facility programs, activities, issues and services. Functions as a subject matter leader and adviser in public affairs, communications, and marketing/branding to all facility leaders. Serves as Congressional liaison for SAVAHCS. Participates in network workgroup/committee, comprised of facility PAO and other stakeholders, sharing best practices, responding to emergent issues, and participating in strategic planning activities. Plans, directs, and executes campaigns to convey complex information concerning the VA's programs, program related activities, responsibilities, and action. Develops communications strategies in a wide variety of media to inform and educate employees, visitors, citizens, elected officials, educational institutions, media, interest groups, promoting a message of mutual understanding and minimizing adverse reactions for VA policies, programs and decisions. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with members of the media, Congressional and legislative representatives, Veteran Service Organizations and other specialized groups interested in the organization's programs and field offices. Keeps stakeholders informed of VA activity; maintains knowledge of sensitive issues likely to cause reactions if appropriate groups are not notified in a timely and transparent fashion. Coordinates news conferences, special media events, press releases, and facilitates feature stories as appropriate. Responds to requests for information from the news media, elected officials, special interest groups and the general public, providing detailed responses and explanations of negative comments, answering questions regarding negative publicity and potentially controversial activities or performance issues in written or oral form. Represents the VA in numerous publics and private forums and events, including but not limited to federal, state, and local government agencies; private organizations; educational institutions; and other entities. Works with nationally elected officials, international groups, dignitaries, media organizations, and constituency groups that may or may not view the VA or SAVAHCS in a positive manner. Establishes regular communication schedules with Congressional staff and replies to all requests for information to the Network in an expeditious, professional and courteous manner. Oversees the SAVAHCS Outreach Program, identifying underserved areas throughout southern Arizona to increase visibility and market penetration. Serves as a purchase card approving official and ensures that cardholders comply with Federal and VA Acquisition Regulation and policies as well as local procedures, including but not limited to the following: socioeconomic goals, mandatory sources, Central Contractor Registration (CCR), Federal Procurement Data Systems(FPOS),Item Master File, Vendor File and Unauthorized Commitment and Delinquent Obligation. Monitors purchases to ensure that cardholders conduct daily purchase card reconciliation within the required timeframe and that reconciliations are correct. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist/PD13725O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be 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, 10/30/2023. 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-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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. Preferred experience: Veterans Health Administration Public Affairs, written communication editor. 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-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is experience in managing a public affairs program, coordinating effective communication activities, programs and policies across multiple organizations, public speaking, and serving as a consultant to management for the development of communication plans and implementation strategies. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications and MediaInterpersonal EffectivenessPerformance Management 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: Work is generally sedentary but may require some walking, standing, bending, carrying/traveling with items such as books and portable laptop. 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 Tucson VA Medical Center 3601 South Sixth Avenue Tucson, AZ 85723 US
• Name: Cherie Mennel
• Phone: 520-792-1450 X6213
• Email: [email protected]