Public Affairs Specialist

Full Job Description

The VHA public information program involves the presentation of the Medical Center mission.

services and activities to the staff, volunteers, members of the media, general public, veterans, local, state and federal officials and community groups in ways that most effectively achieve the VHA's goals while contributing to understanding and support of the Medical Center's caring for veterans.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/12/2026.

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: use of oral and written mass communication principles and techniques; analytical methods and effective interpersonal practices; develops strategies to communicate the Medical Center's objectives more effectively; establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of individuals; ability to conceive and coordinate slide shows, videotapes and other audiovisual products; knowledge of Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts.

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 three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED).

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education as described above.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Written communication Oral communication Communications & media Program Management Influencing/Negotiating 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.

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 are not limited to: Serving as the spokesperson, facilitator and coordinator to the media, congressional staffs and veterans service organizations, the community, VA and other governmental officials Developing campaigns and communication strategies that convey information to various publics and the staff about the Medical Center Developing and disseminating a wide range of information and data concerning the nature and objectives of Agency programs, employing all types of media, including radio, television, newspapers, magazines, professional and scientific journals, pictures, posters, and exhibits.

Coordinating news media interviews with staff and overseeing arrangements with media representatives involving organization activities; providing supporting materials as required Ensuring proper attribution of news stories between staff members holding joint appointments with the medical college Establishing and maintaining working relationships with local mass and specialized media representatives and with the special interest representatives concerned with veterans affairs within the geographic area Generating solid relationships by keeping media informed; being responsive to their requests; obtaining resources for media on various issues and programs; and by otherwise creating goodwill Responsible for assignment, distribution and reviewing of workload for his/her designated area of responsibility Planning and implementing training for any assigned clerical staff and acting as a resource person in providing input to this employees work performance Establishing and maintaining a speaker's bureau, distributing the list to media and interested organizations, coordinating speech requests and providing training and materials to speakers Assisting management in panning, developing and implementing various programs and projects to meet special needs of veterans' organizations, affiliated educational institutions, and other audiences that require public relations intervention Maintaining liaison with public affairs staffs of related health and educational organizations, service, civic and fraternal organizations on behalf of the Medical Center to maintain goodwill and information and facilitating joint projects or information gathering Having daily contact with top management and attending management meetings to contribute information about the public affairs milieu and to gain a proactive position on potential public relations issues Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:45pm Telework: This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework.

Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Public Affairs Specialist/PD012220 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized