The Program Specialist serves as the Community Relations and Outreach Specialist for the Associate Director, Resources organizationally identified as the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing Service of the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System.

Duties

The incumbent is assigned as the Community Relations and Outreach Specialist and provides leadership in integrating the functions of the Community Relations program within the context of a comprehensive Strategic Communications and Marketing Program. The Community Relations and Outreach Specialist position is critical as it establishes and maintains relationships with stakeholders to connect Veterans with VA services they are entitled to. The incumbent takes a case management approach and plays an important role in the healthcare delivery process. Major duties include but are not limited to: Independently plans special events related to community outreach, coordinates logistics communication materials, volunteers, and financial resources. Identifies, creates, promotes and supports community events, speaking opportunities, and Veteran stand downs and coordination of staff support and/or participation. Develops and fosters meaningful working relationships with media outlets, legislative offices, Veteran Service Organizations (VSO), health care affiliates and other government, non-government, non-profit and for-profit organizations. Plans, coordinates, and attends community stakeholder meetings as an agency representative on behalf of or in conjunction with healthcare system leadership. Leverages partnerships to meet VA and healthcare system goals and strategic objectives. Increases external awareness of VA programs, services, special events and projects, technologies, personnel, to ensure Veterans of all eras and demographics are aware of VA services they may be eligible for. Develops and executes actions items and corrective actions, investigates and analyzes quality trends or conditions from cases, focus groups, and feedback from rounding sessions and focus groups, to improve customer service and quality. Submits written reports based off findings. Consults with facility leadership to identify opportunities for improvement. Conducts and participates in training focused on process improvement. Controls the use of allocated financial resources and advises management of forecasted needs. Prepares written requests with full justification for funding approval. Requests must conform according to local and VACO guidelines. Develops an annual fiscal plan that will ensure the meeting of the programs mission and objectives performing supply usage studies, analyzing current workload, reviewing inflation trends and other market factors. Serves as the Chair of the Outreach Committee responsible for leading and providing direct oversight of all Outreach efforts across the healthcare system. In the absence of the Public Affairs Officer, undertakes all assignments of the position, when assigned. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00AM-4:30PM, tour frequently includes evenings and weekends. 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#: Program Specialist (Community Relations and Outreach Specialist)/PD030380 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, 04/15/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement (For temporary promotions): 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. 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-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: Developing, managing and/or implementing outreach programs and activities for an organization involving Veteran-related organizations, health care organizations, VA programs, tribal organizations, colleges and universities, other government non-profit or for-profit organizations, Veterans, staff and other stakeholders; Planning/organizing/managing multi-faceted community events/activities involving multiple services and organizations; Communicating verbally and in writing in a professional, clear, effective and confident manner with diverse audiences including Veterans, patients, VA executive leaders, staff, stakeholders and the media that enable/enhances the development of trust and positive relationships; Thorough knowledge of the unique characteristics of the VA health care delivery systems, organizational structure, resources, programs and eligibility in general; Interviewing, gathering and presenting pertinent program information from various sources; Conducting detailed analyses and navigating complex functions and work practices. Note: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Verbiage displayed on your resume or application must contain your own words. You may refer to the specialized experience located within the vacancy announcement, to assist with describing work experiences; however, resumes or applications received that copied verbatim from the announcement will be evaluated and may be reviewed as falsifying your experience or application. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationCustomer ServiceOrganizational AwarenessStakeholder Management 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 incumbent 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 35 pounds such as boxes of literature, tents, tables, chairs and to push carts of supplies on a daily basis. Incumbent will operate a government vehicle on a daily basis. 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 West Palm Beach VA Medical Center 7305 North Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33410 US
• Name: Jennifer McCullar
• Phone: 727-398-6661 X64697
• Email: [email protected]