This position is located within the Public and Congressional Affairs (PCA) Office at the VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) in Portland, OR.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** The primary purpose of the Public Affairs Specialist - Outreach Specialist is developing, managing, and executing the VAPORHCS outreach program which includes providing oversight of outreach activities as well as developing and producing promotional and exhibited materials that reflect VAPORHCS in an accurate and professional manner that furthers the mission, goals, and objectives of VAPORHCS. The secondary purpose is to conduct and support work related to public affairs communication activities such as writing stories, taking photos/videos, generating media interest, responding to media queries, creating and posting content on social media and web-based platforms, and other related tasks/activities to convey information about VAPORHCS' mission, services, and activities. The major duties include but are not limited to: Ensures Veterans of all eras 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 and VAPORHCS; Identifies, creates, promotes, and/or supports community events, speaking opportunities, and Veteran stand downs and such as well as coordinating for staff support/participation; Responds to media inquiries, generates media interest, and coordinates agency information; Organizes and coordinates print and broadcast media interviews and news conferences with subject matter experts; Works in coordination/collaboration with the VAPORHCS leadership team, Veterans Integrated Service Network (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; Facilitates meetings as required and provides other support as needed to promoted engagement and the sharing of VA related information to tribal audiences; and, Performs all other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 level, you must meet one of the following: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Public Affairs Specialist - Outreach Specialist, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is implementing and managing an outreach program and activities for an organization to promote available services and mission; performing work related to public affairs communication activities such as writing stories, taking photos/videos, generating media interest, creating and posting content on social media and web-based platforms, and other related tasks/activities to convey information; communicating with groups and/or individuals with varying levels of understanding and different interests and perspectives. 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: Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related, from an accredited college or university. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Public Affairs Specialist - Outreach Specialist position. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as described above, which may be used to meet total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Public Affairs Specialist - Outreach Specialist position and must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA ORAL COMMUNICATION WRITING IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. Physical Requirements: The person in this position 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. Also required to regularly pick up loads of 15 pounds such as boxes of newspapers and other literature and to push carts of supplies. Will regularly need to operate specialized equipment such and digital cameras or audio equipment. The work of the position involves everyday risks or discomforts requiring normal safety precautions typical of office settings, in venues such as parks, parking lots, college campuses, trade shows, or other venues where Veterans may be in attendance. This also includes environments associated with travel to/from events in automobiles. Work may occasionally require to escort media crews, VIPs, or other groups on tours of VA facilities, or to manage/support crisis communication efforts. Primary work location is at PVAMC, but may be required to work at other VAPORHCS of off-site locations for short durations to support events or activities. 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

IMPORTANT: 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Contacts

• Address VA Portland Health Care System 3710 Southwest US Veterans Hospital Road Portland, OR 97239 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]