Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist

Full Job Description

The primary responsibilities of this position, based at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center main campus, involve advising the Medical Center Director on media and community issues, serving as the main contact for media and public inquiries, and liaising with other medical centers, the VISN, and Veteran organizations.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/31/2026.

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-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.

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 as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 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 managing, coordinating, and maintaining a public affairs program to include media relations, crisis communications, congressional relations for a Healthcare facility.

This experience may include applying marketing and media intervention techniques in a Healthcare facility; communicating orally and in writing to internal and external customers from patients to congressional level staff; providing guidance, advice and information regarding healthcare and public relations issues..

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: This position requires that the incumbent travel a moderate amount of time.

Incumbent supervises subordinates across the health care system and travel to and from the outpatient clinics in Mobile, Pensacola, Eglin and Panama City is required on a regular basis.

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:

The Cincinnati VA Medical Center (CVAMC) is a two-division campus located in Cincinnati, OH and Fort Thomas, KY serving 15 counties in Southwest OH, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana with 6 Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Bellevue, KY; Florence, KY; Lawrenceburg, IN; Hamilton, OH; Clermont County, OH, and Georgetown, OH.

The CVAMC also supports two off main campus locations in the Cincinnati area via an Eye Center and Mental Health Outreach Community Division.

Duties Include: Advises and makes recommendations to the Medical Center Director regarding the handling of media and community issues or concerns that may have possible implications for the Medical Center.

Serves as the Medical Center point of contact for media and public information inquiries and acts as the liaison with other medical centers, central office, the VISN, and Veteran organizations in the areas of public information and community relations.

Interacts with top officials of the public and private sectors to enhance understanding among V AMCs and VHA's and public sectors, thereby strengthening relationships.

May be required to make presentations to audiences with opposing points of view or misunderstandings of the Medical Center's position to achieve a more balanced perception.

Evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of the public information programs for internal communications, media relations, and community relations with the goal of achieving greater understanding of the facility's mission and programs.

Coordinates photo coverage of programs and activities with the Medical Media Production Service. Provides guidance in photography for public information purposes.

Acts as a liaison between staff members holding joint appointments with the affiliated medical college to ensure proper attribution of media stories involving both facilities.

Coordinates the production and dissemination of information and materials, and when necessary, works with contractors who design, write, or produce materials for the Medical Center Establishes and maintains professional working relationships with representatives of the news media, responding in a timely fashion to information requests from the media, both in writing and orally, to ensure the fair representation of the Medical Center.

Prepares briefing packages and slide presentations for VA guests from regional and central offices, as well as congressional staff, Veterans' organizations, and other community representatives and groups.

Develops and utilizes a variety of methods and techniques to achieve communication goals, such as news releases, radio and television scripts, personal appearances, brochures, pamphlets, etc.

initiates public affairs correspondence, prepares information packages, conducts tours and other related tasks for special visitors and dignitaries, organizes select ceremonies, and writes speeches for the Medical Center Director.

Performs the administrative and personnel management functions relative to staff supervised.

Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff, which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system.

Observes workers performance; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance.

Resolves informal complaints and grievances. Develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary.

Provides advice and counsel to workers related to work and administrative matters. Effects disciplinary measures appropriate to the authority delegated in this area.

Reviews and approves or disapproves leave requests. Assures that subordinates are trained and fully comply with the provisions of safety regulations.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Eligible Telework: Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist/PD076970