The incumbent serves as the Public Affairs Specialist and Outreach Coordinator for the Erie VAMC. Erie VAMC is a complexity level 3 facility with five community based outpatient clinics serving nearly 22,000 Veterans in northwestern Pennsylvania, northeastern Ohio and western New York. Incumbent works independently on various public affairs and outreach duties, initiatives and programs.

Duties

Major duties and responsibilities include: The incumbent plans the development and implementation of all outreach programs and activities that are appropriate for expanding the patient base of the Erie VAMC and increasing the number of Veterans who receive care at the Erie V AMC and its CBOCs. Works closely with clinical service lines, Suicide Prevention Coordinators, Homeless Program staff, Eligibility, Veterans Experience Office, Transition & Care Management program staff, Women Veterans Program staff, and others to enhance outreach methods to maximize the growth potential of the Erie VAMC. Identifies outreach opportunities and work independently to coordinate staff, communication materials, and logistics including preparing outreach bins for community outreach events to maximize exposure of the Erie VAMC to Veterans and other stakeholders within the Erie VAMC catchment area. Develops public involvement events that target concerned communities, establishes methods for reaching and eliciting input from targeted communities. Utilization of analytical techniques to evaluate input and public comments regarding program issues. Incumbent will collect, summarize and analyze public sentiment to develop recommendations for program improvements. Communicate effectively with diverse Veteran audiences about VA healthcare; works diplomatically with internal and external constituents. Performs work related to public affairs and communication activities such as generating media interest and coordinating agency information in support of outreach and public affairs programs. Uses a variety of communication techniques and methods including print, broadcast, and electronic media to convey the VA mission and outreach efforts. Produces written materials that transmit information concerning the nature and purpose of various outreach activities and Erie VAMC programs, activities and projects to the public. Develops relationships with business and community leaders to foster communication and a favorable reputation within the community. Assists in supporting media, community, and staff relations. Researches, prepares, and provides photographs, video or audio tapes, medical center operation data, publications, information papers, and other materials as requested by media outlets or management staff in collaboration with Visual Communication Specialist. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30am 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. Position Description/PD#: Public Affairs Specialist/PD00057O Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/02/2024. 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-9. 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. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: 1) Works diplomatically with internal and external constituents. 2) Knowledgeable of public relations, community relations, advertising, and journalism including media technical requirements and practices. 3) Knowledgeable of grammar, writing, and editing practices, and the style requirements of the media and publications used: OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a PH.D degree or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level 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 a combination of specialized experience and education beyond two full years of graduate education. . You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications and MediaOrganizational AwarenessPartneringProblem SolvingVeteran and Customer FocusWriting 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: Assignments regularly involve extended periods of walking, standing, bending, and stooping to execute logistics for special events or to accompany media crews or other special groups. Incumbent is also required to regularly pick up loads of 15 pounds such as boxes of outreach supplies and other literature and to push carts of supplies. 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 Erie VA Medical Center 135 East 38th Street Erie, PA 16504 US
• Name: Tanisha Graves
• Phone: (614) 747-4049
• Email: [email protected]