The Public Affairs Specialist applies the appropriate rules/regulations used in conducting Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) business guidelines. They independently perform work related to public affairs and communication activities, such as responding to media inquiries, generating media interest, and coordinating agency information and outreach programs.

Duties

Major duties include but are not limited to: Organize and coordinate print and broadcast media interviews and news conferences with subject matter experts. Use a variety of communication techniques and methods to convey the VA mission and its role in the community to various stakeholders. Coordinate, execute, and evaluate special events. Review news coverage on VA-related topics to keep staff apprised of relevant issues. Write news releases, conduct interviews, solicit and contribute articles for website and VA Insider. Capture real-time photo/video content for posting on all social medial platforms. Select visual materials to be used in the communication of information. Draft responses to congressional, media, or specialized and general public inquiries. Keep accurate reports and react to the results in order to keep audience captured. Ensure the HCS has policies and procedures in place that ensure the organizational operations are in accordance with requirements. Interact with a variety of contacts including high level internal and external persons. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm 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. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Public Affairs Specialist/PD608470 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/12/2024. 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-09. 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. Minimum Qualifications: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-09) in the federal service; experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: developing information tailored to specific audiences; writing and editing news and feature articles; gathering information from a variety or sources; laying out stories/articles for publication; and developing designs, concepts, or visual styles for publications, exhibits, or presentation materials. 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., or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related, that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) 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 a master's or equivalent graduate education. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationCommunications and MediaSelf-DirectionStrategic Thinking 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 can be done primarily while seated, as at a drawing board or computer keyboard, and requires no special physical demands. Must be able to lift 20 pounds, camera/video equipment to facilitate and promote opportunities to capture content. Work Environment: The work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office and requires no special safety precautions. Some travel 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

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 Minneapolis VA Medical Center One Veterans Drive Minneapolis, MN 55417 US
• Name: Sarah Watson
• Phone: 319-339-7183
• Email: [email protected]