The Public Affairs Specialist position serves within the Director's Office and is responsible for all aspects of the Public Affairs Program at the Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Functions as the senior public affairs specialist who is responsible for designing, planning, executing, and evaluating the public affairs program for VHA and the Medical Center. Designs, plans, executes, and evaluates the public affairs program for VHA and the Medical Center. Functions as a portion of VHA's national "strike force" to provide expertise and resources on urgent and sensitive issues for all public affairs specialists in the field and for top Medical Center management throughout the VHA. Performs such duties as conducting communication audits of medical centers, providing advice and support in media relations to Medical Center Directors, other PAOs, providing on-site support and guidance during special events or crises. Develops occasionally specific information materials, programs, training modules, program policies, etc., by direction and with support of the VHA and OPA. Analyzes internal communication needs and develops publications or other information materials for staff, patients, volunteers, and others who contribute to VA effectiveness and responsiveness. Analyzes information needs, goals and resources and tailors' specific communication strategies using all media to reach target audiences both internal and external. Advises and makes recommendations to the Medical Center Director regarding the handling of media and community issues or concerns that have possible implications on the VA. Interacts with top officials of public and private sector to enhance understanding among VAMCs and VHA's many publics, strengthening relationships. Plans, initiates, and implements comprehensive public affairs activities to enhance the understanding of the VA's programs among the public and specialized groups and organizations. Assignments may be in one of several specialty areas, including internal communications, public affairs program management, broadcast media, training, audiovisual presentations, or media relations. Serves as mentor to lesser-experienced and junior PAOs. Represents the Medical Center Director at events of a public, civic, or social nature and participates in variety of events dealing with improving the perception of the VA, the VHA and the Medical Center. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Yes, incentives are authorized. 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. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes having comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the health care environment as well as the research mission within healthcare; expertise and skill to analyze media and other's reaction to the agency programs and policies in developing significant input to those programs and policies; mastery of the principles and techniques of written, oral, and visual communications to implement a comprehensive public affairs program involving public information, internal communication and community relations which includes a yearly annual report, familiarity and implementation of emerging technologies and techniques for communication through social media and other emerging concepts; skills in making oral presentations and training others to conduct meetings designed to obtain public input on program issues and develop a consensus position from among divergent viewpoints; understands fiscal operations and contractual operations to adequately respond to the various publics who inquire regarding resource issues; capable of coordinating news conferences and briefings, after appropriate discussion and counsel; versed in how to determine the best strategy to use when responding to negative media inquiries; and experience in developing a public relations and communications plan, considering topics, the emphasis to place on them, need to know requirements of various groups and the most effective media to use in communicating information to their intended audiences. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Administration and ManagementCreative ThinkingOral Communication 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 work is generally sedentary with walking, standing, and bending required during presentations, visits, and tours of the health care system. Flexibility is required to accommodate events and activities occurring during other than normal business hours. Mobility is required in terms of staging and assisting staff with equipment and other 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

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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 Bruce W Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1201 Northwest 16th Street Miami, FL 33125 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]