The Public Affairs Specialist serves as the spokesperson, facilitator, and coordinator to the media, congressional staffs and veterans service organizations, the community, VA and other governmental officials. The position develops campaigns and communication strategies that convey information to various publics and the staff about the Medical Center.

Duties

Duties include: Maintains contact with top management and attends management meetings to contribute information about the public affairs milieu and to gain a proactive position on potential public relations issues. Develops campaigns and communication strategies that convey information to various publics and the staff about the organization. Determines the best strategy to use when responding to negative media inquiries; and continuously evaluates campaign strategies and positions and monitors their effectiveness. Maintains effective relationships with service chiefs and their staffs to refer and evaluate inquires made by the media as well as identifying newsworthy or feature events. Actively participates in appropriate management committees to analyzes the impact or implications of events, proposals or directives. Initiates public affairs correspondence, prepares information packages, conducts tours and other related tasks for special visitors and dignitaries, organizes select ceremonies and writes speeches for the organization. Advises on national issues and national media of changes in public affairs strategies and keeps them informed of potential complications, problems and resolutions. Calls news conferences and briefings after appropriate discussion and counsel. Develops beats to gather information for possible dissemination, such as news stories involving station activities or personnel (i.e., research initiatives). Prepares pamphlets, booklets, photo displays, fact sheets, video programs, and speeches, which enhance internal and external perceptions of the organization. Coordinates news media interviews with staff, and oversees arrangements with media representatives involving organization activities; provides supporting materials as required. Assists management in planning, developing and implementing various programs and projects to meet special needs of the organizations, affiliated educational institutions, and other audiences that require public relations intervention. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm; subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Telework: Yes, Ad-hoc, Telework Eligible. 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#: Public Affairs Specialist/PD074360 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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, 04/16/2024. 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-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: Gathers and interprets data and make recommendations on public affairs strategies and policies Compose and edit various material, such as speeches, news releases, feature articles, and internet/intranet content Advise senior level management on development of media campaigns, communication plans, and strategies Communicate with a variety of individuals, such as news media representatives and government officials Manage software, such as Adobe Create Suite, as well as photography/videography applications OR, Education: 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 (transcripts required). OR, Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: I have equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (in excess of the first two years or 36 semester hours) and specialized experience to meet total experience requirements. 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 MediaInterpersonal SkillsOral 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: 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 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

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

Contacts

• Address Overton Brooks VA Medical Center 510 East Stoner Avenue Shreveport, LA 71101 US
• Name: Anastasia Dixon
• Phone: (254) 755-0470
• Email: [email protected]