Communications Specialist

Full Job Description

The Dayton, Ohio VAMC is looking for a Communication Specialist to serve as the facility champion for My Healthe Vet supporting existing and future Veteran communication initiatives, including the Virtual Health Resource Center.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/03/2026.

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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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: GS-9 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience in applying analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification, consideration, and resolution of issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature.

Experience in marketing, advertising, salesmanship ideas, concepts and tactics.

Skilled in audio-visual techniques to support the creation of speech materials, slide shows, radio, television, and other communication mediums.

-OR- Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B.

or J.D., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application.

Education cannot be credited without documentation.. -OR- Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond and successfully completion graduate education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the Communication Specialist, may be substituted to meet the experience requirements for GS-09 position.

For example, an applicant with 6 months of appropriate specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 (50 percent of the experience requirement for GS-09) and 1 year of successfully completed graduate education (18 semester hours), as described above, (50 percent of the education requirement for the GS-09) would qualify for a GS-09 position.

GS-11 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience in written and oral communication techniques to perform duties developing new information material and convey ideas and thoughts through both orally and in writing correspondences.

Experience in journalistic abilities required to create content that communicates information in a way that is usually regarded as appropriate by the audience.

Skilled in using social networking sites and create links. -OR- Education: 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 I have completed three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree and which demonstrates the competencies necessary to do the work.

NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation..

-OR- Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have combination of specialized experience and education.

Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at the GS-11 grade level.

(When crediting education that requires specific course work, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used.) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communication Communications and Media Customer Service Education and Training Organizational Performance Analysis Problem Solving Technical Competence 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: Work is primarily sedentary, but may require periods of standing during presentations, briefings, speeches, health fair activities, etc., 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/.

Major Duties:

Duties include but not limited to: Provides input and updates local facility specific My Healthe Vet (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.

Provides guidance involving workgroup transition issues. Makes recommendations for effective facility changes.

Assists projects by helping to plan and organize for My HealtheVet, Secure Messaging, social media, web page/site communication, and all other Connected Care projects.

Aids in the implementation of local facility plans and objectives for the enhancement, maintenance, and future advancement of operations for the MHV program.

Encourages facility personnel to expand usage of the My Healthe Vet Program in support of local facility, VISN and National performance goals.

Supports MHV program by using planned marketing strategy from research, reports, products and organizational data.

Guides the day-to-day operations of the Virtual Health Resource Center (VHRC) and ensures connected care support to Veterans, their family members and caregivers, and VA staff.

Helps train VHRC personnel to provide guidance, hands-on support, training, and help troubleshooting virtual care tools, such as VA Video Connect, My Healthe Vet, health apps, and devices.

Is an information resource for VA staff members looking for assistance in incorporating virtual care tools in their daily workflow or clinical practice.

Conducts regular training for staff to stay up to date on virtual care tools and technologies. Ensures staff is trained in soft skills and able to provide excellent customer service.

Researches and/or analyzes problems, issues, or program requirements related to My Healthe Vet as well as for all other areas for which the incumbent has responsibility.

Reviews reports, and provides recommendations, and proposals for the Facility Telehealth Coordinator to share with facility and VISN leadership in order to improve management knowledge of the program status, and to support needs assessments for program success.

The MHV Coordinator guides the local facility's efforts to integrate MHV and SM among staff and patients.

Serves as SM liaison and administrator to VISN and National MHV staff and is responsible for supporting and guiding local facility stakeholders about MHV.

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.

Conducts virtual and face-to-face meetings on a regular basis or as needed. Participates in and assists in the coordination of outreach events.

Represents the local facility at forums, conferences, and meetings. Delivers presentations to all levels of the local facility, service organizations, Veterans, family members and caregivers.

Helps develop multimedia campaign materials (e.g., printed articles, brochures, videos) to enlighten target population.

Distributes campaign materials throughout the local facility and all CBOCs to ensure Veterans and visitors are aware of the My Healthe Vet Program and the features available to assist patients manage their health care.

Conducts required coordination and obtains clearances as required for release of information.

Applies advertising and marketing techniques to material produced to include color dynamics, reading grade level, graphics and design, journalistic writing, etc.

Responsible for managing communications plans that identify target audiences, appropriate messages, activities, and resources needed for effective communication; plan for change; incorporate multiple channels to manage expectations and disseminate project progress.

Manages multi-disciplinary teams comprised of professional, technical and support personnel to coordinate clinical and business functions for the MHV program.

Maintains liaison with VISN and national MHV teams and coordinators to ensure the correct, current and accurate portrayal of information is provided.

Serves as the facility liaison to the MHV National Program Management Office and National Help Desk.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Communications Specialist/PD922610 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized