Summary RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE MAY BE AUTHORIZED FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. This position is located in the VA Northern California Health Care System in partnership with the VISN 21 Public Affairs Specialist. The incumbent will promote VANCHCS services, inform the public, and foster a positive image by creating informative materials - working with media and communication groups on current issues or crises impacting Veterans Health Administration. Responsibilities Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Performs work related to public affairs activities, such as responding to inquiries, coordinating media interviews, developing communications plans, coordinating agency information programs, etc. Develops and writes information materials designed to reach selected national audiences through the news media, such as wire services, radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and internet/intranet. Performs administrative work in one or more of the following areas: budgeting and financial management, procurement and contracting, property management and /or supply as it relates to marketing/public affairs issues. Performs management and/or program support work relative to marketing and public affairs, such as program or office planning, evaluation of administrative programs or issues, program administration, correspondence control, liaison, special projects, or board or committee-related work. Manages and/or prepares responses to correspondence and/or acts as a liaison or handles the communication with person and/groups within and outside of the organization. Promotes and maintains community relations and awareness programs. Performs duties directly contributing to the administrative management of a health care delivery system. Provides full staff assistance on administrative matters affecting patient care, education, and organizational policy. Establishes and maintains good relations with other staff specialists at other VA or community medical centers, medical schools and other colleges and universities, accrediting agencies, public health organizations, volunteer work groups, news media, Veterans' groups, and the community at large. Acts as liaison or handles the communication with persons and/or groups within and outside of an organization or office. Develops informative materials aimed at publicizing and soliciting support for various programs. Organizes, coordinates, and/or collaborates with facility leaders on events that promotes programs that enhance the image of the facility such as opens houses, career fairs, health screening clinics, registration events and dedication and anniversary ceremonies. Providing technical and administrative supervision as it relates to central management of public affairs and relations, outreach/visual information/audiovisual services, and community partnership/relationship management. All other duties as assigned per Supervisor and listed in the Position Description. Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm 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#: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist (Public Affairs Officer)/PD02866O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/03/2026. 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: applying advanced communication and analytical practices, methods and techniques to the solution of complex public affairs problems; planning, developing, and producing a variety of materials and publications (including print, visual, Web-based, multimedia, and video materials) to achieve understanding of various points of view or concepts; advising leadership on the development of communication plans and strategies; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with local media representatives and community groups; and coordinating and implementing special events, ceremonies, outreach campaigns, tours, and other activities to generate public awareness of organization's mission. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Budget Administration Communications Communications and Media Manages and Organizes Information 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 primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. 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/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
