This position is for a Deputy/Assistant Chief Public Affairs Officer and is located at the VAMC Birmingham, Alabama. The incumbent is responsible for providing full assistance in the administrative and technical responsibility for the planning, organizing, directing, and managing of the day-to-day operations of comprehensive public affairs and medical media programs for the medical center and its CBOCs.

Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Supervises lower graded Public Affairs Specialists and Visual Information Specialist overseeing the planning, organization, direction, and overall management of Public Affairs programs. Collaborates with staff and Service Chiefs, identifying specific information needs to support in developing and disseminating appropriate materials. Prepares pamphlets, booklets, photo displays, fact sheets, video programs, and speeches which enhance internal and external perceptions of the Medical Center. Fields media queries and serves as spokesperson for the VAMC in the absence, and at the direction of, the Public Affairs Officer.. Drafts written materials that transmit information concerning the nature and purpose of medical facility programs, activities, operations and projects to the general public. Oversees development and implementation of web and social media content, ensuring alignment with the regional and agency's overall direction and objectives.. Assists in the drafting of news releases and articles regarding the medical facility mission, functions, programs and policies to print and broadcast media in a logical clear manner Gathers and evaluates the appropriateness of information communicated through media. Develops performance standards for subordinates, evaluates work performance, and provides counseling to employees regarding their performance. Works closely with Service Chiefs, clinical directors, Program Managers, as well as public, media outlets, key officials, industry representatives and community groups to build strong relationships.. Work Schedule: 8:00 amto 4:30 pm; Monday thru Friday Compressed/Flexible: Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist/PD111160 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/13/2023. 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: experience managing, planning and implementing public affairs and medical media functions; coordinating media interviews, managing, developing and implementing communications plans, planning of special events, writing a variety of informational materials such as articles, news stories, brochures, scripts, etc.; serving as leader for public information and medical media staff managing day-to-day operations, coaching team to complete projects on time and monitoring work progress to ensure completeness of work. You will be rated on the following competencies for this position: Communication and Media Interpersonal Skills Oral Communication Writing Leadership Preferred Experience: Prior experience and knowledge in public relations, community relations, advertising, and journalism. Knowledge of grammar, writing, and editing practices, and the style requirements of the media and publications Prior experience planning and developing news stories and feature articles in laying out a publication. Skill in evaluating the news value or communication potential of visual material, including photographic and illustration. Skill in interviewing a variety of people and gathering information from many different sources. Experience and skills in capturing images using industry photography equipment, both still and video, are also preferred. Experience using Facebook, Twitter and drafting and updating content for the organizational website required. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary in part involving writing at a desk, working at a computer terminal, conferring with others, and attending conferences, meetings and interviews. The incumbent must attend lengthy meetings, both during the regular scheduled hours as well as evenings and weekends. He/she is responsible for providing tours of Birmingham VAMC facilities. The incumbent travels to numerous community events to promote the Birmingham VAMC which involves carrying, lifting and setting up display materials. 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. 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 Birmingham VA Medical Center 700 South 19th Street Birmingham, AL 35233 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]