Summary The primary purpose of this position is to serve as Supervisory Communications Specialist under the Medical Center Director at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (VAAAHS). The Supervisory Communications Specialist is responsible for the supervisory control and oversite of Communications Department and Public Relations activities throughout the facility including CBOCs and all other off-site locations overseen by VAAAHS. Responsibilities As a Supervisory Communications Specialist to the Medical Center Director, the incumbent must possess a high degree of flexibility and adaptability in mastering a highly demanding work environment with the end product of each project being completed in a thorough and efficient manner. Duties are broad in nature and encompass both clinical and operational aspects of the VAAAHS. The incumbent must demonstrate an ability to clearly articulate medical center goals and objectives and is key in representing the Medical Center Director in every aspect of the medical center, both clinically and operationally. Duties include but are not limited to the following: Reviews the facility's overall organizational performance and makes recommendations based on the medical center's relative needs. Addresses high level issues related to quality-of-care customer complaints from individual patients, Veterans' groups, congressional offices. Maintains oversite of both internal and external Public Affairs efforts for the facility's marketing campaigns and communication strategies. Works with the facilities (6) Public Affairs Specialists, Visual Information Specialist, Program Applications Specialist, and A/V Production Specialist in implementing the Directors overall communication policies. Implements facility programs based on the Medical Center's overall objectives and implements these objectives through the facility's strategic planning process. Coordinates outcomes trough the Strategic Planning process with the Executive Leadership Team and Services within the VAAAHS. Supervisor Duties and Responsibilities: Responsibilities and span of control of this position are extensive and varied. This position Serves as a resource and provides guidance and assistance when needed on various issues. Plans, develops, and coordinates all administrative functions essential to program implementation and delivery of services. Demonstrates the ability to motivate, train and work with all levels of personnel and the ability to assess matters which may require development and initiation of new policies or procedures that are designed to improve workload and output. Position provides oversite and Supervisory Controls over this major program for the facility: Public Affairs Office - By overseeing Internal and external Public Affairs efforts for the facility's marketing campaigns and communication strategies. Works with the facilities (6) Public Affairs Specialists, Visual Information Specialist, Program Applications Specialist, and A/V Production Specialist in implementing the Directors overall communication policies. Non-supervisory Duties and Responsibilities: Provides expert level knowledge of health care service administration, continuous quality improvement; data analysis; healthcare principles, theories and practices; budgeting, planning, administration, and labor/union relationships, or other key administrative support functions; sufficient to analyze and evaluate broad and difficult problems, apply extensive qualitative and/or quantitative methods for program improvement, make recommendations for complicated solutions; and the related ability to apply health care management principles to complex problem-solving situations. Creates flexibilities in operations and constructive, cost-effective approaches to resolve problems. The incumbent serves on various facility strategic management and planning committees internally and with other agencies and program goals. Incumbent participates in the analysis and interpretation of varying patient, workforce, and other data used in strategic planning. Serves as comprehensive liaison with Veteran Service Organizations, Congressional leadership, VISN, and Central Office. Keeps abreast of current developments and trends in health care delivery and administration, legislation and community affairs and shares concepts with the Executive Leadership. Maintains a broad knowledge of Executive Career Field Performance Initiatives, VHA Directives and implementation of new programs within the medical center, and shares knowledge that may be helpful to the Executive Leadership. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0700-1530 Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Communications Specialist/PD944110 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Required 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 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, 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, 06/01/2026. 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. Interchange Agreement: 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/. 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: Progressively responsible analytical or administrative, or clinical management or supervisory experience in the health care field. This work may have been performed in an operating health care facility or a higher organizational echelon with advisory or directional authority over such facilities. Work must have involved a close working relationship with facility managers and analysis and/or coordination of administrative, clinical, or other service activities, and provided knowledge of the following: Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems; Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: 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 mostly sedentary with some walking and standing. There is no strenuous lifting involved. 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 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. 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.
