Communications Specialist

Full Job Description

The incumbent serves as the local facility My HealtheVet Coordinator and Secure Messaging Administrator.

The incumbent serves as the facility champion and subject matter expert (SME), and leads facility teams to support existing and future Veteran communication initiatives.

Coordinates local implementation, training, communications, outreach, web health content and support efforts related the the My HealtheVet (MHV) Program.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/06/2026.

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.

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 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 normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Analyzes functional business and clinical process changes or impact to clinical guidelines in terms of policies, procedures, and user behaviors.

Collaborates with other service lines/programs to problem solve and develop action plans to improve service delivery. Maintains regular customer-facing interactions and assistance.

Project Management for MyHealtheVet. 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 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related.

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

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/.

Major Duties:

Duties include but, not limited to: Oversees MHV's online presence and web content and leads innovations to keep the local facility's My HealtheVet Program on the cutting-edge.

Ensures accountability via written communications as it relates to MHV as each of these communication skills contributes importantly to the way VHA communicates with Veterans, Congress, our dedicated volunteers, the public and employees.

Based on the national MHV Program, updates and revises local facility-specific MHV Program plans to ensure the relevancy of the program to meet and exceed Patient needs, Connected Care Program goals, and National MHV Program initiatives.

Establishes local MHV-related initiatives, strategies to meet goals, identifies responsible parties, track progress including monitoring activity status, and reports status/progress to Connected Care Program and Medical Center Management.

Manages multiple projects by planning and organizing activities for MHV, Secure Messaging, social media, web page/site communication, and all other Connected Care projects.

Proposes, develops, and implements local facility plans and objectives for the enhancement, maintenance, and future advancement of operations for the MHV program.

Manages, administers, and encourages (influences) leadership to expand usage and improve capabilities of the MHV Program in support of local facility, VISN and National performance goals.

Ability to plan, schedule and coordinate work operations to ensure the success of the MHV Program, including the development of business plans in support of the strategic program goals.

Analyzes functional business and clinical process changes or impact to the clinical guidelines in terms of policies, procedures, and user behaviors.

Collaborates with other virtual modality teams to support integration and expand the use of MHV and SM into facility Connected Care efforts and initiatives for both patients and staff.

Participates in and assists in the coordination of outreach events that promote not on MHV, but all aspects of Connected Care to our Veteran population and supports other initiatives by the local facility.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0800-1630 Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Communications Specialist/PD00955A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized