The incumbent is a member of the VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) Public and Congressional Affairs (PCA) Office and based out of the Portland VA Medical Center (PVAMC) with regular travel within the 26-county, two-state area of responsibility (Washington and Oregon).

Duties

Major duties include but are not limited to: Outreach Program Coordinator - 45% Plans the development and implementation of VAPORHCS outreach programs and activities across the VAPORHCS catchment area that helps ensure Veterans of all era's and demographics are aware of VA services they may be eligible for and enable them to receive those services. Collaborates closely with a variety of clinical and non-clinical service lines and program staff to maximize the impact, efficiency and effectiveness of their outreach activities, requests or requirements while capitalizing on synergistic opportunities. Works closely with and fosters meaningful working relationships with other government, non-government, non-profit and for profit organizations to advance the mission of VA, VAPORHCS and to meet the objectives of this position. This includes, but is not limited to identifying, creating, promoting and/or supporting community events, speaking opportunities, and Veteran stand downs and such as well as coordinating for staff support/participation. Public Affairs Specialist - 45% Performs work related to public affairs communication activities such as responding to media inquiries, generating media interest, and coordinating agency information. Researches, prepares, and takes/provides photographs, video or audio tapes, medical center operation data, publications, information papers, and other materials as requested by media outlets or VA staff. Organizes and coordinates print and broadcast media interviews and news conferences with subject matter experts. Uses a variety of communication techniques and methods including social media, web, print, broadcast, and other electronic media to convey the VA mission and its role in the community to various stakeholders. Writes news releases, feature stories, extended captions, speeches, social media and web posts/stories, prepares information packets, media kits, fact sheets, and produces various graphic materials such as newsletters, flyers, and brochures. Tribal Liaison and Outreach Coordinator - 10% Works in coordination/collaboration with the VAPORHCS leadership team, VISN 20 Tribal Liaison, and the Office of Tribal Government Relations (OTGR) regional Tribal Government Relations Specialist to strengthen and build closer relations between VAPORHCS and tribal governments in the VAPORHCS catchment area to facilitate effective and respectful delivery of VAPORHCS services to Native American Veterans. The efforts focus on facilitating VA's Tribal Consultation Policy and facilitating increased access to health care. Facilitates meetings as required and provides other support as needed to promoted engagement and the sharing of VA related information to tribal audiences. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30a.m. - 4:00p.m. Telework: This is not a telework position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Public Affairs Specialist/PD214040 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not 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 time-in-grade and specialized experience requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 12/04/2023. 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 within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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: 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Responsible for general media relations and other critical public affairs duties, such as crisis communications, development and implementation of outreach programs and activities, research publicity, building relationships with service organizations, congressional offices and other community stakeholders; Researches, develops, and disseminates information materials (press releases, advisories, briefing documents, and talking points); Planning, initiating and implementing comprehensive public affairs activities by preparing and disseminating information that is proactive, consistent, timely and appropriate for the intended target audience with a high quality, customer-centric focus. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education in excess of a master's or equivalent graduate education may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-11 level. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications and MediaOral CommunicationWriting 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: He/she must be able to physically attend events in the community in indoor and outdoor venues and be able to stand/sit for up to 6 hours at a time. Assignments regularly involve working in an office environment that includes working at a desk with a computer, attending meetings, periods of walking, standing, bending, and stooping, executing logistical needs to support events or to accompany/escort visitors, media crews, or other special groups. Incumbent is also required to regularly pick up loads of 15 pounds such as boxes of newspapers and other literature and to push carts of supplies. Incumbent will regularly need to operate specialized equipment such and digital cameras or audio equipment. 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 VA Portland Health Care System 3710 Southwest US Veterans Hospital Road Portland, OR 97239 US
• Name: Simone Ball
• Phone: 541-440-1000 X44275
• Email: [email protected]