Summary

This job involves leading the communications team for a Veterans Affairs health care system in Colorado, focusing on creating strategies to share information with the public, media, and stakeholders while promoting transparency and engaging with the community.

A good fit would be someone with strong leadership skills and experience in public relations, especially in government or healthcare settings, who enjoys managing teams and handling media during both routine and crisis situations.

Key Requirements

One year of specialized experience at GS-12 level in developing and executing strategic communication plans
Proven ability to oversee public affairs programs, including outreach, marketing, and media relations
Experience serving as a spokesperson, managing media inquiries, and conducting news conferences
Skills in writing, editing, and distributing content across web, social media, and other channels with ADA compliance
Leadership experience directing and supervising a team in communications roles
Knowledge of compliance with laws like Privacy Act, FOIA, and HIPAA, including crisis communication
Strong competencies in strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and project management

Full Job Description

The incumbent, as a key member of the health care system, serves as leader of communications for the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System providing oversight of the VA ECHCS's communication program with consistent support to VISN 19 and VHA Office of Communications.

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 GG-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.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: GS-13: Develop and execute a strategic communication plan.

Ensure sustainable growth, transparency, and visibility among stakeholders. Oversee targeted outreach and marketing activities. Design, plan, execute, research, and evaluate the public affairs program.

Participate in liaison activities with veteran service organizations and community groups. Conduct communication audits and provide support in media relations. Serve as spokesperson for VA ECHCS.

Manage media relations and respond to media inquiries. Conduct news conferences and briefings. Develop media strategies, particularly in response to negative media inquiries.

Write and edit informational materials. Develop, manage, and distribute content for web, intranet, social media, and other channels. Ensure ADA compliance and effective communication with audiences.

Facilitate interaction with congressional representatives and other stakeholders.

Direct and supervise a team, including roles such as Congressional Liaison, Webmaster, Assistant Public Affairs Officer, and Visual Information Specialist.

Cultivate working relationships with local, mass, and specialized media representatives. Maintain and promote a speaker's bureau.

Work closely with senior leaders within the healthcare system and external partners. Develop public relations and marketing/communications plans.

Promote VA ECHCS through various forms of media and community engagements. Manage crisis communication and develop strategic plans for crisis situations.

Specific tasks within these categories provide a clear framework for the PAO's essential responsibilities at VA ECHCS.

Ensure compliance with laws and regulations such as the Privacy Act, FOIA, and HIPAA. Protect sensitive data and manage information security.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications and Media Compliance Leadership Performance Management Project Management Stakeholder Management Strategic Thinking Written Communication 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 generally sedentary with walking, standing and bending required during presentations, visits and tours of the health care system.

Flexibility is required to accommodate events and activities occurring during other than normal business hours.

Mobility is required in terms of staging and assisting staff with equipment and other materials. Work Environment: The work environment involves normal everyday risks discomforts of an office setting.

The work area is lighted, temperature controlled and ventilated.

Coordination and participation in meetings, and other community relations activities requires presence in a variety of in-house and off-station areas and facilities.

The incumbent has access to FAX and computer equipment.

Public events and management of public information during disasters may involve working in inclement weather or dangerous environmental conditions (e.g., seismic events) for extended periods of time.

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: Develop and execute a strategic communication plan. Ensure sustainable growth, transparency, and visibility among stakeholders.

Oversee targeted outreach and marketing activities. Design, plan, execute, research, and evaluate the public affairs program.