Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the VA Northern California Health Care System (VANCHCS) and will work in partnership with the VISN 21 Public Affairs Specialist. The incumbent will promote VANCHCS services, inform the public, and foster a positive image by creating informative materials, such as news releases, articles, photographs, working with media and communication groups on current issues or crises impacting Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

06/28/2024 to 07/18/2024

• Salary

$114,332 - $148,636 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 13

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Mather AFB, CA

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

25% or less

• You may be expected to travel for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

Yes-You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.

• 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

CBSW-12447420-24-DA

• Control number

797669900

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This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

• Federal employees

• Competitive service

Current or former competitive service federal employees.

• Federal employees

• Excepted service

Current excepted service federal employees.

• Individuals with disabilities

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

• Veterans

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Duties

• Performs work related to public affairs activities, such as responding to inquiries, coordinating media interviews, developing communications plans, coordinating agency information programs, etc.

• Develops and writes information materials designed to reach selected national audiences through the news media, such as wire services, radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and internet/intranet.

• Performs administrative work in one or more of the following areas: budgeting and financial management, procurement and contracting, property management and /or supply as it relates to marketing/public affairs issues.

• Performs management and/or program support work relative to marketing and public affairs, such as program or office planning, evaluation of administrative programs or issues, program administration, correspondence control, liaison, special projects, or board or committee-related work.

• Manages and/or prepares responses to correspondence and/or acts as a liaison or handles the communication with person and/groups within and outside of the organization.

• Promotes and maintains community relations and awareness programs.

• Performs duties directly contributing to the administrative management of a health care delivery system.

• Provides full staff assistance on administrative matters affecting patient care, education, and organizational policy.

• Establishes and maintains good relations with other staff specialists at other VA or community medical centers, medical schools and other colleges and universities, accrediting agencies, public health organizations, volunteer work groups, news media, Veterans' groups, and the community at large.

• Acts as liaison or handles the communication with persons and/or groups within and outside of an organization or office.

• Develops informative materials aimed at publicizing and soliciting support for various programs.

• Organizes, coordinates, and/or collaborates with facility leaders on events that promotes programs that enhance the image of the facility such as opens houses, career fairs, health screening clinics, registration events and dedication and anniversary ceremonies.

• Providing technical and administrative supervision as it relates to central management of public affairs and relations, outreach/visual information/audiovisual services, and community partnership/relationship management.

• All other duties as assigned per Supervisor and listed in the Position Description.

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/PD113800

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): May be Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE MAY BE AUTHORIZED FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES

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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, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/18/2024.

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-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: applying advanced communication and analytical practices, methods and techniques to the solution of complex public affairs problems; planning, developing, and producing a variety of materials and publications (including print, visual, Web-based, multimedia, and video materials) to achieve understanding of various points of view or concepts; advising leadership on the development of communication plans and strategies; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with local media representatives and community groups; and coordinating and implementing special events, ceremonies, outreach campaigns, tours, and other activities to generate public awareness of organization's mission..

Preferred experience (must be shown on resume): Performs work related responding to inquiries, coordinating media/general interviews, develops communications plans, coordinating agency information programs, etc. Organizes and coordinates print and broadcast media interviews with key regional officials and oversees all arrangements with the media involving agency activities. Develops and writes information materials designed to reach selected local or national audiences through the news media, such as wire services, radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and internet/intranet.

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

• Administration and Management

• Budget Administration

• Communications

• Communications and Media

• Manages and Organizes Information

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 primarily 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.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or 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. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

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/.

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.

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.