The Public Affairs Officer serves as the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System's specialist in increasing internal and external awareness of VA programs, services, special events and projects, technologies, personnel, and research accomplishments. The Public Affairs Officer oversees and supervises the work of the, Outreach/Public Affairs Specialist, Public Affairs Specialist (TCF Intern), and a Program Specialist (Graphic Design/Webmaster).

Duties

Major Duties- Provides leadership and direction for the Public Affairs program at a VA Healthcare System while displaying tact, common sense, diplomacy, initiative, and solid professional judgment. The goal of the position is to increase internal and external awareness of VA programs, services, special events and projects, technologies, personnel, and research accomplishments. Establishes and maintains proactive contacts with media outlets, legislative and congressional offices, veteran service organizations, and health care affiliates. Actively pitches and places stories with media outlets. Advises senior level management on development of media campaigns and communication plans and strategies. Plans, develops, and produces a variety of materials and publications including print, visual, Web-based, multimedia, and video materials to convey information about the VA to a variety of stakeholders. Evaluates information from a variety of sources and provides feedback to senior management on public affairs trends and stakeholder attitudes to assess program effectiveness and make improvements. Serves as agency spokesman for the facility including responding in writing and orally to questions about or criticisms of the agency's activities or policies and explaining the VA point of view. Handles communication efforts when controversial, high level issues impact the VA Healthcare System, often during crisis and emergency situations. Serves as Public Information Officer under Hospital Incident Command System. Plans and executes special events, coordinates high profile visits, and supports outreach to Veterans not enrolled in the VA health care system. Incumbent serves as back up to the Executive Assistant/Director on congressional correspondence as necessary. Develops budgets, writes statements of work, and directs, coordinates, and supervises activities of supporting staff and contractors. The Public Affairs Officer oversees and supervises the work of the Public Affairs Specialist, Outreach Specialist, and the Media Services Section consisting of a Webmaster, and two Visual Information Specialists. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday 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#: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist/PD061450 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 all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/11/2024. 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-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. Note: You must submit a copy of your most recent personnel action/SF50. Additionally, 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. Interchange Agreement: Applicants must be eligible under the VA Interchange Agreement, having served continuously for at least one year in the other merit system under this interchange agreement. For more information regarding the VA Interchange Agreement please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/competitive-hiring/.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: Ability to work independently and employ knowledge of public affairs techniques and strategies in order to meet programmatic needs, i.e., responding to media inquiries, using communication techniques and methods to convey the VA mission and its role in the community, etc. Performs public affairs duties in regard to crisis situations in a timely and efficient manner. Promote transparency with deliberate public communication of quality information regarding VA benefits and programs to internal and external stakeholders in an accurate and timely manner. Writes and prepares quality materials such as news releases, feature stories, speeches, information packets, media kits, and fact sheets designed to improve the public's understanding and awareness of VAAAHS activities and VA missions. Develop detailed plans, goals, and objectives for the implementation, administration, and evaluation of the effectiveness of the Public Affairs Program for the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System , and community based outpatient sites. Duties include analyzing the productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency of program operations to resolve problems affecting administrative or medical staff. Position is directly responsible for maintaining contacts with media outlets, legislative offices, veteran service organizations, and health care affiliates. Incumbent also oversees and monitors the facilities social media sites, and sharepoint sites. Directly manages Public Affairs Department staff who maintains the responsibility of communicating principles, methods, practices, techniques, analytical methods, and interpersonal relations with VA and non-VA entities. The work directly affects the facility's mission by communicating VA's work with the local and national media, congressional staff, VA, and other government agencies that have direct interest in VA operations. Preferred experience (not required): Knowledge of the production, communication and dissemination of information and ideas to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media. Works and communicates with clients and customers (e.g., any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit provides, including individuals who work in your agency or in other agencies or organizations outside the Government) to satisfy their expectations. Committed to quality services. 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationsCommunications and MediaCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical) 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. 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Ann Arbor VA Medical Center 2215 Fuller Road Ann Arbor, MI 48105 US
• Name: Autumn Snyder
• Phone: 989-306-3612
• Email: [email protected]