Summary The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist (Chief of Communications and External Affairs). The Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist (Chief of Communications and External Affairs) will function as the Chief of the Communications and External Affairs Service. Responsibilities The Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist duties include, but are not limited to: Development and coordination of special studies involving communications resulting in the development of customized reports along with recommendations for implementation and monitoring strategies. Continuous monitoring and analysis of internal communication needs. Develop publications or other information materials for staff, patients, volunteers and others who contribute to the Healthcare System effectiveness and responsiveness. Responsible for establishing and maintaining a robust, integrated Public Affairs and Communication program that positively impacts patients at the local, VISN and national levels. Focus on developing and managing two sections while ensuring they work together to carry out the Service's communication plan. Strong systems level leader with advanced communication skills and strong operations management experience with a highly diverse workforce. Expert knowledge of VHA operations, VACO public affairs guidelines, new media technologies, and a general awareness of all important events and issues throughout the healthcare system in order to respond appropriately to any inquiries that may be received. Analyze and synthesize data from diverse data sources. Produce reports and display information in a variety of formats that clearly and effectively communicate to the end user. Spokesperson for the healthcare system, and as such is the point of contact for local and national media. Liaison for veterans' service organizations, congressional staffs, community groups, professional organizations, etc. Serves as the VANEOHS point of contact for the media and public information inquiries and as the liaison with other healthcare systems, Central Office, the VISN, and veteran organizations in the areas of public information and community relations. Plans, initiates and implements comprehensive public affairs activities to enhance the understanding of the healthcare system's programs among the general public and specialized groups and organizations. Coordinates photo coverage of programs and activities with medical media production service. Provides guidance in the area of photography for public information purposes. Coordinates the production and dissemination of information, material, and, where necessary, works with contractors who design, write or produce materials for the healthcare system. Establishes and maintains professional working relationships with representatives of the news media, responding in a timely fashion to information requests from the media in writing and orally to ensure the fair representation of the Healthcare System. Develops and maintains a speakers' bureau of facility resources and distributes the list to media and other interested organizations as appropriate. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist/PD952400 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized 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 In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the following requirements within 30 calendar days of the closing date listed on the announcement: 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. 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. Applicants must be eligible under the VA Interchange Agreement, having served continuously for at least one year in the other merit system under this interchange agreement. For more information regarding the VA Interchange Agreement please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/competitive-hiring/. All Title 38 Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) employees must have served in their Excepted Service position for at least 90 days in order to be eligible for a position within the Competitive Service. Applicants who were previously selected under a Competitive Delegating Examining Office (DEO) announcement must have served in their position for at least 90 days prior to being eligible for other positions within the Competitive Service. 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: Skill to provide guidance and assistance to hospital management about sensitive public affair issues; skill to develop and maintain sound working relationships with a wide variety of people, including local, state and national government and service organization offices, congressional staff, VAMC and VISN staff members, media personnel, the medical affiliate, patients and their families, volunteers, visitors, students, and community members; skill to initiate, develop, and carry through independently the established plans and goals of the Public Affairs Program and to recognize the implications of any program changes on others involved; skill to manage a proactive community relations/public affairs program including the use of all media @types and to independently recognize the impact of released information; skill in developing and disseminating written materials designed to convey information concerning complex programs and functions to specialized publics including news media personnel from the local, state and national levels. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications and Media Attention to Detail Decision Making Conflict Management Customer Service Interpersonal Effectiveness 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 required during visits and tours of the Healthcare System. Flexibility is required to accommodate events and activities occurring in other than normal duty hours. Mobility is required in terms of staging and assisting staff with equipment and other required materials. 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. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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. 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. VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the @context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being 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.
