The primary purpose/function of this position is to assist the Quadrad with various projects that may impact the entire corporate Healthcare System, particularly in the arena of improving communications with staff, patients, media, communication organizations, VISN office and VA Central Office. The incumbent will function within a broad scope of latitude reporting to the Healthcare System Director on recommendations concerning program or process improvements.

Duties

Responds to media inquires and request for information, on behalf of the Healthcare System Director. Promote and schedule speaking engagements and maintain records of all speaking engagements. Develop speeches/talking points for the ELT, as necessary. Acts as a liaison between the Healthcare System, other government agencies, military and community entities in all matters relating to Public Affairs. The incumbent serves as a liaison with program offices to plan and execute short and long-term communication plans and associated tactics, such as press releases, responses to queries, media engagements, prepping spokespersons and more. The incumbent serves as a liaison with communications and public affairs professionals across VA to showcase products across digital platforms in a strategic, timely and accurate way. Performs other related duties as assigned. Establishes cooperative working relationships with representatives of the print and broadcast media, trade associations, industry representatives, government agencies and cooperating industries, non-profits, schools and more, and prepares and provides them with news, events and explanations of Healthcare System policies, updates, procedures, and regulations. Develop a proactive public information program by establishing and maintaining a positive relationship with members of the media and other public affairs officials (government and private sector). Prepares press releases. Coordinate all Healthcare System special activities/events and being the liaison for all non-Healthcare System special activities held on VA grounds. Evaluate the use of information releases through analysis of media contacts, coverage and public reaction; recommend appropriate action to correct errors and misunderstandings of Healthcare System statements. The incumbent generates content, writes and edits copy and creates graphics for newsletters, brochures, reports, audio-visual products, events, briefs, speeches, eBoards, fact sheets, social media, flyers, web, direct and digital mail pieces, displays and other collateral materials. The incumbent is responsible for the content, design, management, and monitoring of Healthcare Systems' digital presence across a variety of platforms, to include va.gov, VA's Intranet and internal blog, social media, GovDelivery, newsletters, MS Teams, SharePoint and more. Proficient in Associated Press writing style and writing in adherence to grammar rules, local style, and section 508 compliance. Assists Senior Leadership, in conjunction with the Planning Office, in communicating the mission, vision, values and objectives of the VA, VISN, and the facility to patients, patients' significant others, the public, and the media. Organizes, tracks, and handles multiple public affairs/media related projects simultaneously and initiates regular updates to the Director and others as appropriate on their progress. Uses critical thinking skills and decisive judgment, and the ability to work with minimal supervision in a collaborative, team environment. Provides technical assistance, using analytical and evaluative knowledge, conducts research, review and analyses on a wide variety of media/public relations topics as directed by the Senior Leadership Staff. Uses critical thinking skills and decisive judgment, and the ability to work with minimal supervision in a collaborative, team environment. Develops and implements changes and improvements to facilitate flow of work within the office. The incumbent aids program specialists who develop the program evaluation plan, determine the coverage, suggest methodology, and provide guidance on the handling of technical problems and internal relations issues as they arise. 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. A one year supervisory probation period may be required for this position. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Ad-Hoc Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PD100190 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/18/2024. 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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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. General Adjustment SF-50's do not provide the information to reflect time-in-grade requirement has been met and therefore cannot be the only SF-50. If you are currently serving in a Hybrid Title 38 position, your SF-50's must reflect you have been in the position longer than one year Preferred Experience: Experience directing highly complex, multi-faceted communications plans. Experience leading legislative affairs programs and solving complex problems with Members of Congress and their staff. Experience engaging with various stakeholder groups and managing relationships using communication and education principals. Experience representing large-scale organizations and advising senior executive staff members through times of crisis and change. Experience managing cross-functional teams through emergency situations. INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT (IOR) Basic Requirements Education Major study -- hospital administration, public health administration, or related fields such as business or public administration with course work in health care administration. Or Specialized Experience Progressively responsible analytical or administrative, or clinical management or supervisory experience in the health care field. This work may have been performed in an operating health care facility or a higher organizational echelon with advisory or directional authority over such facilities. Work must have involved a close working relationship with facility managers and analysis and/or coordination of administrative, clinical, or other service activities, and provided knowledge of the following: - Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems; - Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and - Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement. Special Provision for Inservice Placement: Successful completion of an agency-sponsored on-the-job training program may be substituted for qualifying experience, provided it included a formal individualized training plan. Such a training program must have been conducted in an operating health care system and included: - Assignments providing a knowledge of basic health system administration philosophies, practices, and procedures, and basic government administrative policies and requirements. - Practical assignments providing an opportunity to apply health system administration skills and principles (as the individual progresses, work assignments must be characteristic of the grade level to which he or she is assigned); and - Oversight by an experienced health system administrator with periodic evaluation of the individual's progress and appropriate adjustment of the training program. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience GS-12: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Acts as a liaison between the Healthcare System, other government agencies, military and community entities in all matters relating to Public Affairs. Responds to media inquires and request for information, on behalf of the Healthcare System Director. Develop a proactive public information program by establishing and maintaining a positive relationship with members of the media and other public affairs officials (government and private sector). Specialized Experience GS-13: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Acts as a liaison between the Healthcare System, other government agencies, military and community entities in all matters relating to Public Affairs. Responds to media inquires and request for information, on behalf of the Healthcare System Director. Develop a proactive public information program by establishing and maintaining a positive relationship with members of the media and other public affairs officials (government and private sector). Evaluate the use of information releases through analysis of media contacts, coverage and public reaction; recommend appropriate action to correct errors and misunderstandings of Healthcare System statements. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem SolvingCommunications and MediaCustomer ServiceOral CommunicationPlanning and Evaluating 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: The work is physically sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. 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.

Contacts

• Address CW Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 10000 Bay Pines Boulevard Bay Pines, FL 33744 US
• Name: Vilnalys Irizarry-Brisueno
• Phone: (787) 641-7582 X126196
• Email: [email protected]