Photographer (Medical)

Summary

This position is located within the Medical Media Service Office of the Atlanta VA Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The primary purpose of this position is to provide photographic expertise and assures the medical/scientific and administrative photographic and video requirement of the Medical Center and of VISN 7 are met.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

04/24/2024 to 05/03/2024

• Salary

$76,671 - $99,670 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 11

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Location

2 vacancies in the following location:

• Atlanta, GA

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Occasional travel

• Some travel is required to other sites and events.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Full-time -

• Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

1060 Photography

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

No

• Announcement number

CARZ-12393493-24-NDG

• Control number

788095300

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This job is open to

• The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Videos

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Duties

• THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*

• Maintains written technical procedures for all photographic activities and is responsible for the organization and daily functions of the photographic section;

• Uses imagination and creativity in the development/adaptation of photographic processes to meet new situations in the completion of medical requests and developments in scientific and research programs;

• Operates photographic still and digital cameras, video cameras, split lamp cameras and specialized cameras/equipment (i.e. photomicroscopes, fundus cameras, endoscopic cameras, bronchoscopic cameras, surgical operative photomacroscopes, etc.)

• Utilizes various editing software such as Adobe Photoshop software, non-linear video production software and CorelDraw Software;

• Determines what specific information will be presented to advance the informational or educational value of the photographic products;

• Uses imagination and creative ability in the coverage of events and developments in the scientific and research programs;

• Exercises control over the setting or action of events, when possible, by "staging" actions to improve the artistic effect of photographs;

• Uses artistic ability to create the illusion of real action to simulate events in unprecedented situations;

• Assists with or produces education/training videotape programs;

• Adjusts apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors (i.e. lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type and speed);

• Tests equipment prior to use to ensure it is in good working condition;

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am

• 4:30pm with availability on some evenings and weekends; may be subject to change based on agency needs.

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• 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

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must meet one of the following minimum qualification requirements:

Specialized Experience: One (1) year of specialized equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-10) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties this position. Specialized experience includes skill in operating standard and specialized cameras and videotaping/film processing equipment; knowledge of the subject-matter being photographed which may include using lighting equipment to enhance the subjects appearance; uses editing software to produce finished products; uses special effects photography where a high degree of ingenuity and imagination is required; keeps up-to-date of the most recent advancements in the digital photography field and the range of new equipment, experimental materials, techniques and/or processes to create photographic products. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. ~OR~

Education: Successful completion three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) with a major study of photography or other fields directly related to the position. This education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~

Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed progressively higher-level graduate education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. This education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Administration and Management

• Communications and Media

• Customer Service

• Technology Application

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 requires physical exertion such as long periods of standing in the operating room or autopsy suite, bending over specimens/subjects to obtain the proper photographic view transporting heavy photographic/video production equipment and travel to other facilities. The work involves moderate risks or discomforts such as working with the computer keyboard for extended periods of time and eyestrain can be contributed with viewing computer monitors. Work may be stressful due to the demands of a very high workload. The work requires moderate risks or discomforts such as working long hours within the operating room, performing duties in the autopsy suite, surgical cutting room, patient isolation rooms or research areas; you must exercise special safety/health precautionary measures and the use of protective clothing or gear.

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

IMPORTANT: 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities (i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities), and/or disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. For more information on how to apply using this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator within the office, contact the facility Human Resources Department at (404) 321-6111.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

Learn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;

• Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;

• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and

• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category (except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher).

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.