The Lead Public Affairs Specialist is responsible for assuring that the work of their assigned team is carried out by performing a range of coordinating and supportive duties and responsibilities, utilizing a variety of coordinating, coaching, facilitating, consensus-building and planning techniques.

Duties

Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Articulates and communicates to the team the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, milestones, and/or program issues under review, and deadlines and time frames for completion. Coaches the team in the selection and application of appropriate problem-solving methods and techniques, provide advice on work methods, practices and procedures, and assist the team and/or individual members in identifying the parameters of a viable solution. Leads the team in: identifying, distributing and balancing workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established work flow, skill level and/or occupational specialization; making adjustments to accomplish the workload in accordance with established priorities to ensure timely accomplishment of assigned team tasks; and ensuring that each employee has an integral role in developing the final team product. Trains or arranges for the training of team members in methods and techniques of team building and working in teams to accomplish tasks or projects, and provide or arrange for specific administrative or technical training necessary for accomplishment of individual and team tasks. Maintains program and administrative reference materials, project files and relevant background documents and make available policies, procedures and written instructions from the supervisor; maintain current knowledge to answer questions from team members on procedures, policies, directives. Researches, learns and applies a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to identifies, assesses, analyzes, and improves team effectiveness, efficiency and work products. Assists in production and supervision of weekly/daily Director's News, Director's Suite, and Director's News Flash digital newsletters, deputy editor of Pulse magazine, all social media content platforms, and Gov Delivery publications, in addition to the Faces of VA and Faces of Service Veteran daily portrait and special event programs. Serves as primary liaison between VA North Texas public affairs activities and subsequent communications and partnerships with North Texas Veteran Service Officers and Service Organizations via Veteran Outreach and Engagement function. Manages oversight and script development of internal and external patient education, technical and medical videos, and relations with Medical Media, North Texas media outlets and the Arlington Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (OPIA). Develops and disseminates a wide range of information and data concerning the nature of VHA programs, employing all types of media, including radio, television, newspapers, magazines, professional and scientific journals, pictures, posters, social media, and exhibits. Manages internal public affairs program designed to enhance employee knowledge and retention, including the use of new employee orientation materials, newsletters, booklets, fact sheets, podcasts, video stories, and imagery displays. Maintains daily contact with top management and attend meetings to contribute public affairs options to all projects/programs while maintaining and growing positive positions within the public media realm and among VHA and VA audiences. Manages digital media presence of VA North Texas to include social media platforms, internet, intranet, SharePoint, iTunes, and other podcast platforms to inform, educate, and motivate internal and external audiences. Uses knowledge of a variety of software programs such as MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, In Design, Hootsuite, and other social media host platforms to create projects, programs, special event materials, and reports to build and grow audience membership and participation. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 07:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Available. 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 might be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Lead Public Affairs Specialist/PDHA549-00258-0 Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the 11/20/2023. 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. AND 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 where you were responsible for applying advanced communication and analytical practices, methods and techniques to the solution of complex public affairs problems; planning, developing, and producing a variety of materials and publications (including print, visual, Web-based, multimedia, and video materials) to achieve understanding of various points of view or concepts; advising leadership on the development of communication plans and strategies; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with local media representatives and community groups; and coordinating and implementing special events, ceremonies, outreach campaigns, tours, and other activities to generate public awareness of organization's mission. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:Communications and MediaMultimedia TechnologiesOral CommunicationWritten Communication 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, with walking required during visits and tours of the Medical Center and in the performance of duties capturing the stories of employees, Veterans and VA North Texas services at the 90-acre Dallas campus and associated community-based outpatient clinics. Flexibility is required to accommodate events and activities occurring in other than normal duty hours. Mobility is required in terms of staging and assisting staff with equipment and other required materials. 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

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Dallas VA Medical Center 4500 South Lancaster Road Dallas, TX 75216 US
• Name: Jaekoo Kang
• Phone: (562) 826-2920
• Email: [email protected]