The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) public information program involves the presentation of the Medical Center mission. services and activities to the staff, volunteers, members of the media, general public, veterans, local, state and federal officials and community groups in ways that most effectively achieve the VHA's goals while contributing to understanding and support of the Medical Center's caring for veterans.

Duties

Major Duties Develops and disseminates a wide range of information and data concerning the nature and objectives of Agency programs, employing all types of media, including radio, television, newspapers, magazines, professional and scientific journals, pictures, posters, and exhibits. Coordinates news media interviews with staff and oversees arrangements with media representatives involving organization activities; provides supporting materials as required. Ensures proper attribution of news stories between staff members holding joint appointments with the medical college. Establishes and maintains working relationships with local mass and specialized media representatives and with the special interest representatives concerned with veterans affairs within the geographic area He/she generates solid relationships by keeping media informed; being responsive to their requests; obtaining resources for media on various issues and programs; and by otherwise creating goodwill. Is responsible for assignment, distribution, and review of workload for his/her designated area of responsibility. Plans and implements training for any assigned clerical staff and acts as a resource person in providing input to this employees work performance. Establishes and maintains a speaker's bureau, distributing the list to media and interested organizations, coordinating speech requests and providing training and materials to speakers. Assists management in panning, developing and implementing various programs and projects to meet special needs of veterans' organizations, affiliated educational institutions, and other audiences that require public relations intervention. Maintains liaison with public affairs staffs of related health and educational organizations, service, civic and fraternal organizations on behalf of the Medical Center to maintain goodwill and information and facilitate joint projects or information gathering. Constantly evaluates public affairs programs while helping to track effectiveness of activities in the Medical Center. Develops beats to gather information for possible dissemination, such as news stories involving station activities or personnel and is always alert for opportunities to explore potential for participation in exhibits, conventions and professional meetings. 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. Establishes effective relationships with local media and veterans organizations, community groups and management officials. The incumbent meets with a variety of these groups to disseminate information, enhance relationships, and communicate Medical Center and VHA policies and information about specialized programs and initiatives. Develops and maintains an internal public affairs program designed to enhance employee knowledge of and pride in the Medical Center health care organization. This may include publication of a newsletter, participation in new employee orientation, preparation of pamphlets, booklets, fait sheets, video programs, etc., which enhance internal and external perceptions of the Medical Center. Has daily 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. 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 Medical Center Director. Actively participates in appropriate management committees; conducts special projects and analysis involving specific problems; coordinates activities for special projects; and analyzes the impact or implications of events, proposals or directives. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: 8:00 am to 4:30 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#: Public Affairs Specialist/PD92071O 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, 05/31/2024. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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. 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 and/or education as described below: General Experience: For positions for which individual occupational requirements do not specify otherwise, general experience is 3 years of progressively responsible experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4, that demonstrates the ability to: Analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; Plan and organize work; and Communicate effectively orally and in writing. GS-9 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: The position requires full knowledge and skillful use of oral and written mass communication principles and techniques; analytical methods and effective interpersonal practices; the ability to develop and evaluate new strategies to solve public affairs problems and to analyze public reaction to Medical Center policies and actions. Requires knowledge of VA/VHA Region/ VAMC personnel, policy and procedures. The incumbent must be able to encourage communication interchanges land new ways of gathering input. He/she must be imaginative to develop strategies to communicate the Medical Center's objectives more effectively, at the same time being sensitive to the public's understanding and reaction. OR Education: master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education as described above. GS-11 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: The position requires full knowledge and skillful use of oral and written mass communication principles and techniques; analytical methods and effective interpersonal practices; the ability to develop and evaluate new strategies to solve public affairs problems and to analyze public reaction to Medical Center policies and actions. Requires knowledge of VA/VHA Region/ VAMC personnel, policy and procedures. The incumbent must be able to encourage communication interchanges land new ways of gathering input. He/she must be imaginative to develop strategies to communicate the Medical Center's objectives more effectively, at the same time being sensitive to the public's understanding and reaction. Also, must possess knowledge of: Principles and techniques of written, oral, visual and personal communications that enable the incumbent to implement a comprehensive public affairs program involving public information, internal communication and community relations. This knowledge is needed to act as the resource within the Medial Center to counsel management and staff on the appropriate and most effective application of the public affairs initiatives and the evaluation of the impact of public issues, - how to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of individuals to be effective in obtaining support for program implementation and maintenance, -designing and implementing a marketing plan for the Medical Center and the ability to conceive and coordinate slide shows, videotapes and other audiovisual products. -Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, OR Three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, OR LL.M., if related. OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. Preferred experience (not required): Knowledge of public relations, community relations, advertising, and journalism including media technical requirements and practices. Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers (Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. The ability to comprehend and explain numerous complex government laws, directives, and policies in order to provide information to individuals of different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Effectively expresses information to multiple audiences through clear, convincing oral and written communications; demonstrates logical thinking when describing facts and concepts; 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) 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

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