Public Affairs Specialist

Full Job Description

The position serves as the Public Affairs Officer and a communications expert for the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center.

The incumbent directs the development of and capture of data; provides expertise; and secures technical and legal opinions from higher levels.

The incumbent works closely with senior management officials as well as external leaders from external community stakeholder groups to implement and evaluate policies, plans, and internal operational systems.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/05/2026.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the following: 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: Experience designing, planning, and executing a public affairs program.

Knowledge of graphic, audiovisual, and photographic theories, principles, and practices not only impart information but also to attract and maintain audience attention and to emphasize certain points through the creative use of special production techniques.

Current intranet/internet technologies and protocols and accessibility factors knowledge, including pertinent guidelines and government regulations, such as Section 508, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Including knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite software and all included programs, Microsoft Office software and all programs including SharePoint.

OR, Education: 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.

You must have an combination of successfully completed higher level education and specialized experience directly related to the position to meet the total experience requirement for the GS-11.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Communication Communications and Media Creative 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: Work regularly involves extended periods of walking, standing, bending, and stooping to execute logistics for special events or to accompany media personal or other special groups.

Considerable standing and walking throughout the main medical center and the grounds of the facility/CBOCs is required.

Driving or riding in a vehicle is also required on a routine basis to attend outside meetings, interviews, and special events.

The incumbent must attend lengthy meetings, both during the regular scheduled hours as well as weekends and evenings. The incumbent travels to numerous community events to promote the Lt. Col.

Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center which involves carrying, lifting, and erecting display panels and media equipment which can weigh over 25lbs.

The work requires manual dexterity, hand and eye coordination, and the ability to accurately perceive and sense color hues and chroma.

Incumbent is also required to pick up loads of up to 15 pounds such as boxes and equipment. Work Environment: Work is primarily performed in an office setting.

The work area is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions.

The employee may occasionally be exposed to uncomfortable conditions in such places as research, laboratory and production facilities.

Work does occasionally require incumbent to be outdoors, as for special events or interviews. Work environment may be stressful due to high workload volume and short deadline demands.

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:

*****Vacancy will close after 1st 50 applications or closing date 03/05/2026.***** Memphis, Tennessee.

The primary purpose of this position is to collect, assemble, prepare, and disseminate information concerning the various programs of the organization; to include media operations, community relations, and assisting with Medical Media operations & Reproduction Services.

Duties include but are not limited to: Ability to utilize a variety of analytical methods and practices to prepare and present reports at both the facility and network levels.

Works closely with senior management officials to include VAMCs, VISN, and VACO leadership as well as external leaders from external community stakeholder groups to implement and evaluate policies, plans, and internal operational systems.

Responsible for managing, supervising, and evaluating the entire public affairs program for a large health care system.

Provides feedback to senior management on public affairs trends and stakeholder attitudes to assess program effectiveness and make improvements.

Serves as the official spokesperson for the VAMC, for media, interviews, events, or crisis situations.

Designate, train, and prepare a spokesperson or subject matter expert for media interviews on a case-by-case basis.

Works with VISN, regional, and national teams (VA Offices of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs and Media Relations and VHA program offices) to ensure compliance with all polices relative to media and media inquires.

Serves on various internal facility and VISN committees (facility examples: parking, water safety, whole health steering committee, and caregiver support steering committee; VISN examples: FCC steering committee and outreach subcommittee).

Drives to outlying CBOCs and community events which may occur on non-regular duty hours. Provides other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Public Affairs Specialist/PD505190 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized