This position is within the Office of the Under Secretary for Benefits (OUSB), Office of Communication, Executive Communication Team. OC is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and overseeing VBA's internal and external communication, messaging, marketing, and digital communications strategy. The incumbent serves as a Public Affairs Specialist, responsible for assisting in the development, coordination, and implementation of a sound public information program.

Duties

Specific duties include: Serves as an advisor to OC's senior leadership on all matters involving public information programs and communication policy. Supports OC's leadership with internal information needs and their appropriate means of dissemination. Works in close cooperation with VBA business lines and program offices, VBA executive officials, VA offices and administrations, and other federal agencies to create national communication products in support of Veterans benefit programs and services. Responsible for leading the coordination, development, and implementation of media outreach plans and accompanying products to include, blogs, responses to queries, press releases, social media content, articles, talking points, speeches, and presentation materials with minimal editing or re-writing. Formulates themes, and messages, and writes or edits speeches for key stakeholders, news releases, presentations, Congressional engagement, and related staff activities. Examines procedural aspects of VA programs, other agencies, and recently enacted or modified legislation on Service members' and Veterans' benefits. Evaluate their impact on the communications and marketing program, provide recommendations for necessary program actions, and propose directives as needed. Develops a baseline understanding of VBA policy to make extremely complex information consumable for everyday audiences. Works in collaboration with VBA business lines to develop and execute public appearances of senior leadership, before audiences in both the Federal and private sectors and national and international audiences. Assists the Director of the Office of Communication in formulating and advocating for strategic plans, acquisitions, investment strategies, and policies related to communication and marketing endeavors. Prepares and reviews materials for dissemination to various publics for security, propriety, and conformance to policy. Works with VBA offices and facilities nationwide to develop information and to assist with national and local needs. Leads coordination within the organization, other agencies, and requesting groups, as required, to determine issues to be addressed and the format of presentations. Analyzes and organizes information to be presented, determining the logical and most effective theme development and presentation. Analyze the overall level and tone of the presentation to meet objectives. Prepares final presentations for the Under Secretary for Benefits and Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits (USB). Plans, implements, and oversees national media activities with senior officials and the VA Office of Public Affairs to ensure clear, concise, and consistent information regarding VBA activities is disseminated. Collaborates with key stakeholders to decide which subjects and issues to emphasize and publicize based on review and interpretation of administration messages, new and revised program initiatives, and VBA policy issues. Promotion Potential: None Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday Compressed/Flexible: At the discretion of the agency. Telework: Yes Virtual: This is not a virtual position Position Description/PD#: Public Affairs Specialist; 41841-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:06/18/2024. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees, former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, or a current federal employee applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment must meet time in grade requirements. 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. NOTE: This does not apply to Non-Federal Applicants, or applicants applying for consideration under Non-Competitive Authority (i.e.... "30% or more Disability", VRA, and/or Schedule A). To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50 that indicates proof of status, and shows Time in Grade (for example, you were a career or career-conditional employee) and identifies your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). 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 also submit your most recent promotion or within-grade increase in addition to your recent SF-50. If you previously held a higher grade, you must also submit any SF-50 showing that grade. DO NOT submit Award SF-50's and/or General Adjustment SF-50's as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-13 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least a GS-12 that has equipped them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Candidates must show demonstrated experience and comprehensive knowledge in the development, coordination, and execution of major administrative program operations for a large government organization or senior departmental office. Examples include, but are not limited to: Experience in developing and implementing communication plans. This includes an understanding of messaging, targeting, measuring the effectiveness of communication strategies, and managing resources, and timelines. Demonstrated experience in effectively communicating VA programs, regulations, policies, and objectives to include the ability to articulate VA claims processes, regulations, and policy changes to the public. Experience in translating complex policy information into clear, concise, and easily understandable content to the public. Strong ability to provide oral and written communication to individuals or groups from diverse backgrounds in a variety of situations which may include influencing/negotiating, partnering, utilizing interpersonal skills, and being politically savvy. Exceptional writing and editing skills are essential for crafting speeches, press releases, articles, talking points, and other communication materials. Ability to navigate and work with intergovernmental agencies. A thorough understanding of ethical and legal considerations in public communication, including security, and policy compliance. Volunteer Experience: 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. Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require walking and standing in conjunction with attending meetings and conferences. Work may require carrying light items such as papers, books, or small parts. The work does not require any special physical effort. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address VBA Human Resources Center - Central Office 810 Vermont Ave NW Washington, DC 20420 US
• Name: Lakeisha Davis
• Phone: 410-230-4400
• Email: [email protected]