The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is committed to fostering a corporate culture that embraces diverse values and sustains a management framework that supports a diverse, inclusive environment as a business imperative. The primary purpose of the position is to serve as a Program Manager for the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I).

Duties

This position entails the development, advancement, and promulgation of DE&I strategies, training, and enlightenment to drive cultural shifts in VHA's approach, and application of DE&I principles. The incumbent performs the following major duties and responsibilities: Coordinates promotion of VHA program communications and products among intended audiences, utilizing a variety of platforms including social media. Creates, writes, and presents media content for VHA and assigned program services for social media sites, including blogs, Twitter, and Facebook, and responds to comments posted by site visitors. Develops and disseminates a wide range of content for VHA. Works closely with VHA stakeholders on organizing content, identifying current and future communications needs, and other duties involved in communications management. Develops Web content, and other documents that articulate the position of VHA and, as required, other key VHA officials on an entire spectrum of potentially sensitive issues for a wide variety of audiences and occasions. Independently makes determinations and judgments as to the importance and sensitivity of the material being presented and ensuring appropriate tone and emphasis for effectiveness. Advises officials, for whom the communication is being prepared, on effective presentation and the sensitivities of the targeted audience. Maintains files with background materials of written documents, presentations (PowerPoint), and previous articles, speeches, events and other pertinent information. Develops and coordinates graphic requirements, including databases, tables, and spreadsheets to complement speeches as appropriate. Confers extensively with VHA subject matter experts to learn as much as possible before beginning to write, and as necessary to produce an accurate document. Researches and reads written material previously used by VHA and VHA project stakeholders to develop a variety of products. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00a.m.-4:30p.m. Compressed/Flexible: May be available upon supervisors discretion Telework: 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#: Communications Specialist/PD464420 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, 02/08/2024. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and preferred 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:: Knowledge of diversity, equity and inclusion laws, policies, programs and processes; developing communications and outreach plans; ability to write, edit and proofread content that is culturally sensitive, inclusive and respectful of diverse audiences; project management skills to manage content creation and publication schedules effectively. Specialized/Preferred Experience: Knowledge of diversity, equity and inclusion laws, policies, programs and processes; developing communications and outreach plans; ability to write, edit and proofread content that is culturally sensitive, inclusive and respectful of diverse audiences; project management skills to manage content creation and publication schedules effectively; ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, subject matter experts and stakeholders; proficiency in various software and digital programs, such as content management systems, SharePoint and other digital platforms. COMPENTNECIES: Communications: Effectively expresses information to multiple audiences through clear, convincing oral and written communications; demonstrates logical thinking when describing facts and concepts, and shapes communications to meet the needs of a specific audience; actively listens to others and demonstrates understanding of their comments and/or questions. Writing: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience. Applies Technology to Tasks: Knowledge of computer and information systems to identify and manage impact of newly designed business processes and delivery systems on current information systems at facilities. Project Management: Knowledge of organizational theory, lean principles, fiscal management principles, and project management is necessary to develop and manage complex projects with cost implications and time constraints in a complex Healthcare setting. Organizational Awareness: Knowledge of missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems in general and in the VA at large. Strategic Planning: Organizational knowledge for strategic planning, analysis and evaluative methods to effectively provide program recommendations. 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: The work is sedentary and does not require any special physical effort. Some work may require walking and standing in conjunction with travel and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the work site. 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.


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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VHA Servicing Human Resources Office - 1 2402 Wildwood Ave Suite 301 Sherwood, AR 72120 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]