Summary Do you have the skills and experience to deliver state-of-the-art technology and collaborate with our business partners to create the best experience for all Veterans? If so, join the Office of Information Technology and be part of VA's digital transformation. As a Supervisory Communications Specialist in the Office of Chief of Staff, you will have the opportunity to enhance the productivity and efficiency of VA employees to deliver quality IT services to Veterans and their families. Responsibilities OIT Mission: The mission of the Office of Information and Technology (OIT) is to collaborate with our business partners to create the best experience for all Veterans. OIT Vision: To become a world-class organization that provides a seamless, unified Veteran experience through the delivery of state-of-the-art technology. Major Duties: Directs the OIT communications program. Oversees all internal and external communications. Disseminates information through various forms of media to include verbal, written, digital, and social media. Directs work efforts relating to the analysis, research, and formulation of official responses to written and verbal requests as directed by OIT's executive leadership. Serves as the primary Supervisory Communications Specialist, communications subject matter expert and advisor to OIT leadership on the development, adoption, and implementation of VA and OITwide communications programs and policies affecting EHRM deployment, adoptions, and operations. Advises senior leadership in all aspects of communication management. Participates in management-level planning of communications activities and the development of national short and long-range communications and executive plans, policies and timetables. Provides leadership guidance to OIT management with the preparation and/or review of correspondence, briefings, presentations, and Congressional testimony for tone, responsiveness and adherence to OIT and VA goals and regulations. Serves as the liaison with the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs (OCLA) and Congressional staff members in the preparation of Congressional responses, briefings, and testimony. Coordinates nationwide communications activities with VA headquarters staff and OIT staff both within the central office and across the field. Oversees the formulation of presentations for senior management. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Communications Specialist/PD183410 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Authorized Travel Required: Occasional travel may be required as needed for this position. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; Tour of duty will be determined based on organizational needs. Compressed/Flexible: As determined by the Agency Policy Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position.. Physical Demands: The work requires a moderate level of physical activity including, walking, climbing stairs, and conducting on-site evaluations. The position requires periodic overnight travel. Working Conditions: Work is normally performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. Normal safety precautions are adequate. The position is in a virtual organization. There may be some infrequent exposure to hazards encountered in healthcare facilities. 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 Selectee is subject to background/suitability investigation Selected applicant will be required to complete an online onboarding process This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Complete the initial online assessment. 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Qualifications 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 the GS-15 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-14. 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. To qualify for this position, all qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement-05/03/2026. EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skllls, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience is defined as: Leading strategic communications for cabinet agency principals at the Assistant Secretary level or higher, or their military equivalents. Developing various high level products such are speeches, talking points, articles/op-eds, or briefings. Executing Congressional affairs activities such as developing testimony and participating in outreach. 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. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. Education There is no substitution of education for experience at the grade level(s) of this announcement. Additional Information Current OIT or VA employees with competitive status and CTAP/RPL eligible. This announcement will NOT be used for changing duty locations. If selected, and not on an approved exemption, you will continue to report to your current duty location. VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. 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.
