Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist

Full Job Description

The Incumbent serves as the Chief over the Public Affairs program and the Voluntary Service program at the VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS).

VAMHCS is an integrated health care system consisting of three VA Medical Centers located at Baltimore, Loch Raven, and Perry Point.

The VAMHCS also has five Community Based Outpatient Clinics throughout the state of Maryland (Cambridge, Pocomoke, Glen Burnie, Fort Meade, and Eastern Baltimore County).

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/02/2026.

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-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13. 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-13 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 internal/external communications, media relations, crisis communication, strategic messaging and CDCE Program (volunteer recruitment, placement, retention, and management of donated funds).

Ensures accurate, timely, and strategic communication supporting VAMHCS's mission; shapes public perception; builds trust with Veterans and stakeholders; influences VISN and VA level initiatives.

Decisions directly affect public image, volunteer program success, and community support.

Serves in a highly complex, integrated health care system-the VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS)-which includes three major medical centers and five Community-Based Outpatient Clinics.

VAMHCS provides a comprehensive range of clinical services, including primary care, medicine, surgery, long-term care, mental and behavioral health, rehabilitation, home and community-based care, telehealth, and specialized programs.

Serves as a first-level supervisor with full responsibility for planning, directing, and evaluating the work of subordinate staff.

Exercises significant authority in carrying out supervisory responsibilities, including: planning work, assigning tasks, evaluating performance, providing guidance, interviewing candidates, resolving complaints, effecting minor disciplinary measures, identifying training needs, improving production, and developing performance standards.

Maintains extensive contacts internally with Executive Leadership Team, service chiefs, and staff, and externally with media representatives, community leaders, Veteran Service Organizations, educational institutions, and Congressional offices.

These contacts involve sensitive, high-profile matters requiring tact, diplomacy, and negotiation skills. Actions directly affect VAMHCS's public image and stakeholder relationships.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Change Management Communications and Media Financial Management Leadership Technical Credibility 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: The work is sedentary, involving writing at a desk, working at a computer terminal, conferring with others, and attending conferences, meetings, and interviews.

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 and after regular scheduled work hours.

The incumbent is also responsible for providing tours of each VAMHCS facility, which requires a great deal of standing and walking throughout the facilities.

In addition, the incumbent travels to numerous conventions, health fairs, and conferences to promote the VAMHCS. This involves carrying, lifting, and erecting bulking display panels.

Travel to other facilities is required on a regular basis for meetings and education. Work Environment: Work is in a medical center setting and involves possible exposure to contagious diseases.

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:

Major Duties included but not limited to: Serves as a supervisor with full responsibility for planning, directing, and evaluating the work of subordinate staff.

Exercises significant authority in carrying out supervisory responsibilities, including: planning work, assigning tasks, evaluating performance, providing guidance, interviewing candidates, resolving complaints, effecting minor disciplinary measures, identifying training needs, improving production, and developing performance standards.

Supervisory actions support VAMHCS, VISN, and VA objectives.

supervises and guides key leadership positions, including the Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist (GS-13), Supervisory Voluntary Service Officer (GS-13), and Administrative Specialist/Business Manager (GS-12), fostering collaboration and operational excellence.

Provides strategic oversight and direction for the Public and Community Relations program, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

Directs all phases of the VAMHCS CDCE program, including office administration, budget and monetary responsibilities, safety and fire protection, staff/volunteer training and education, space utilization, and quality improvement.

Plans for and evaluates the entire VAMHCS CDCE program, making changes as needed in activities and program emphasis based on findings.

Advises on and coordinates with VAMHCS staff in regards to the ongoing CDCE program to ensure the successful utilization of volunteers within the facilities.

Responsible for managing, supervising, and evaluating the entire Center for Development and Civic Engagement Program.

Directs the recruitment, screening, selection, assignment, and if necessary, dismissal of over 2,900 regularly scheduled volunteers throughout the VAMHCS.

Reviews and evaluates the overall CDCE program throughout the VAMHCS and at each Medical Center, nursing home, and outpatient clinics, to ensure that it meets criteria established by the CDCE program at national and local level.

Participates in advisory committee meetings and in the establishment of special committees for attention to special patient needs.

Serves as the chairperson for the VAVS committee at the Baltimore VAMC, Perry Point VAMC and Loch Raven VAMC.

Reviews and supervises the preparation of all statistical and narrative reports required by VAMHCS management and headquarters about the CDCE program.

Writes and supervises the writing of all manuals, regulations, and VAMHCS policies related to the VAMHCS CDCE program for use by volunteers, staff members, organizational representatives, and others.

Serves as the Public Affairs Officer for the entire VAMHCS and functions independently in this role.

They advise the Director and all management staff on issues relating to community awareness and public information regarding the VAMHCS, especially regarding sensitive media issues.

Writes or supervises the writing of all speeches for the director and other key management officials for special events, community programs, patient activities, and service organizations conventions.

Evaluates the effectiveness of the VAMHC's Public Affairs program and makes changes as necessary to improve the public image and media exposure of the VAMHCS's programs and activities.

Prepares and supervises the preparation of all VAMHCS Public Relations reports for VISN 5 and VA headquarters.

Serves as a liaison with Public Affairs staff members at related health and education organizations, services, and civic organizations on the behalf of the VAMHCS, to maintain goodwill and to facilitate joint projects or information gathering.

Serves on numerous committees and task forces outside of the Media Center to plan collaborative special events and PR projects with other organizations and to network with other PR representatives.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am-4:30pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist/PD063190 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized