The Communications Specialist position is located in Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS). The position coordinates the marketing, recruiting, and process improvement efforts for outreach throughout the TRACTS network nationwide. This action involves research, reports, products, and organization data needed to design, conduct, and evaluate innovative means to advertise and market the short-term and long-term benefits of Veteran participation in TRACTS research.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** NOTE: This is a TERM appointment (not-to-exceed 4 years). Term appointments are non-status, nonpermanent appointments of limited duration. Term employees are eligible to earn leave and generally have the same benefits as permanent employees including health and life insurance, within-grade increases and Federal Employees Retirement System and Thrift Savings Plan coverage. Term appointments may be extended without further competition. Major duties and responsibilities include: Responsible for identifying venues/activities/entities throughout the Massachusetts and New England areas where Service Members and Veterans of Post 9/11 can be introduced to the study and be screened for inclusion/exclusion as human research participants. Developing recruitment strategies with the TRACTS Principal Investigators to plan, develop, and implement human subject recruitment that complies with existing governing regulations and guidelines. Maintaining transactional tracking database and overseeing data entry for contacts and related actions for all research participants. Analyzing participation trends, customer markets, and customer needs to develop a comprehensive, fact-based outreach and recruitment plan to accomplish the research effort systematically and effectively. Assisting participants in scheduling study related testing and procedures. Assisting the administrative officer in budget formulation, billing, fiscal management, operations, information technology, acquisitions, contracting, logistics, administration, safety, and strategic planning. Maintaining contact with study participants with regular and multiple reminders about study participation dates as well as navigate them through the study process. Performing other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved 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

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-9 YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess 1 year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-8 level in the Federal service, that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) needed to successfully perform the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to this Communications Specialist position to be filled. Specialized experience for the position includes planning, implementing, managing, orchestrating, and analyzing the comprehensive outreach and human subject recruitment actions for medical research studies; maintaining tracking database for research participants; developing advertising media to recruit participants; gathering, recording, reporting, and analyzing statistical data for process improvements and outreach efforts. (THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME TO BE CREDITABLE.) You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Administration and ManagementAnalytical ReasoningCommunicationsOrganizational AwarenessResearch 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 primarily sedentary. There may be some walking, bending, and occasionally may require lifting of light office equipment and materials. The work is primarily conducted in a typical office environment. Regular and recurring travel is required throughout the New England catchment area along with travel throughout the TRACTS Research Network. 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.

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 Boston ORD VISN 1 JFK Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury St Boston, MA 02203-9928 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]