Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist

Summary

The Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist serves as the Chief of Communications, Outreach Service Officer, and Public Affairs Officer at the VA New Jersey Health Care System (VANJHCS) and holds delegated authority for making local VANJHCS determinations regarding Public Affairs and Outreach activities within the framework of established laws, regulations and local policies of VA and the VANJHCS.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

06/27/2024 to 07/05/2024

• Salary

$121,485 - $157,934 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 13

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Lyons, NJ 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy (ad-hoc basis).

• Travel Required

50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position to the East Orange VA Medical Center as needed.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

1035 Public Affairs

• Supervisory status

Yes

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

Moderate Risk (MR)

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBTE-12459727-24-AMG

• Control number

797469300

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This job is open to

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

First Area of Consideration: Current, Permanent Employees of the New Jersey VA HCS-all campuses. Second Area of Consideration: Current, Permanent Employees of the VHA. Third Area of Consideration: Current, Permanent Employees of the VA.

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Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for assessing effectiveness of internal and external communications and developing programs to address changing needs.

• Managing and executing the facility's Crisis Communication plan in the event of an emergency.

• Responding to media inquiries in a timely manner with allowable, accurate, transparent information is critical.

• Resolve issues between stakeholders and VA programs and services.

• Work with any staff or member of the New Jersey congressional delegation or other elected officials by providing updates, communication, or formal responses to constituent issues relevant to VA services and programs, as necessary, following proper requests and clearances.

• Responsible for Medial Media Services and should demonstrate management abilities for this service as well as a working knowledge of public announcement systems, audio visual systems, electronic information boards as well as graphic design across mediums such as print, electronic, web and photo.

• Lead, execute and brief the facility's leadership team on all aspects of event planning, or high-level visits across all VANJHCS departments and services and understand appropriate protocols.

• Be engaged in and with the community as well as with VA stakeholders to advise the Leadership Team on topics that may impact VANJHC's mission.

• Support Veterans of New Jersey and its catchment area in understanding any and all VA benefits they may be eligible and entitled to.

• Be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to media inquiries, disasters, social media informational posts and senior management requests.

• Responsible for the public affairs, audiovisual and photographic products and information, social media content, printing production, network marketing, community outreach programs, media support and media products used in communication.

• Oversees the daily operation of the unit, ensures that agency policies and priorities are being followed; develops performance standards; and evaluates work performance of subordinates.

• Gives advice, counsel, and instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters.

• Carries out Equal Employment Opportunity policies and program activities.

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#: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist/PD24051O

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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)

• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/05/2024.

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-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. 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.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience: 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: providing leadership and direction for the Public Affairs program; increasing internal and external awareness of programs, services, special events, technologies, personnel and research accomplishments; establishing and maintaining contacts with media outlets, legislative offices, veteran service organizations, and health care affiliates; advising senior level management on development of media campaigns and communication plans and strategies; planning, developing, and producing a variety of materials and publications to convey information about the VA to a variety of stakeholders; serving as the agency spokesman for the facility including responding in writing and orally to questions about or criticisms of the agency's activities or policies and explaining the VA point of view; and developing budgets, writing statements of work, and directing, coordinating, supervising activities of supporting staff and contractors; planning the work to be accomplished by subordinates, setting and adjusting short term priorities, and preparing schedules for completion of work; assigning work to subordinates based on priorities, difficulty of assignments and capabilities of subordinates; evaluating work performance of subordinates; and giving advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Communications and Media

• Partnering

• Planning and Evaluating

• Systems 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 is generally sedentary and does not require unusual physical effort.

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.

Additional information

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. 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/.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

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.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

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.