Summary The purpose of this position is to serve as the Supervisory Public Affairs Officer (PAO) under the Medical Center Director at the John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical Center (JDDVAMC). The PAO to the Medical Center Director is responsible for the management and oversite of Public Relations activities throughout the facility including CBOCs, VALOR center, and all other off-site locations overseen by JDDVAMC. Responsibilities Participates in the analysis and interpretation of varying patient, manpower and other data used in strategic planning. Reviews the facility's overall organizational performance and makes recommendations based on the medical center's need Addresses high level issues related to quality of care, customer complaints from individual patients, veteran's groups or congressional offices. Maintains oversight on both internal and external public affairs efforts for the facility's marketing campaigns and communications strategies. Implements facility programs based on the Medical Center's overall objectives and implements these objectives through the facility's strategic planning process. Coordinates events hosted by officials, including town hall meetings with internal staff, with assistance from continuing educational staff. Functions as an independent position under the general supervision of the Medical Center Director and advises them and management staff on all issues relating to community awareness and public information regarding the medical center, especially sensitive media issues. Writes or supervises the writing of all speeches for the Medical Center Director and other key management officials for all special events, community programs, patient activities and service or organization conventions and designs briefings and trainings for all employees before interviews. Prepares or directs the preparation of all news release, media advisories, public service announcements and featured articles about the facility and it's programs and services. Researches appropriate historical, factual and/or policy information when preparing materials for news media, evaluates the effectiveness of the public relation program and makes changes as necessary to improve public image. Conducts analytical studies on operational processes, issue topics or related special projects. Study planning, statistical measurement, data analysis, and report preparation and development. Develops position papers and decision documents representing the position of the organization on a variety of complex and sensitive issues. Responsible for the oversight of all administrative processes and programs for staff within the Public Affairs office. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist/PD944090 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved 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 identification 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, 07/06/2026. 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 GS11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS09. 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 and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Communicating verbally and in writing with a variety of people from different backgrounds and different levels of understanding; Collects and prepares written reports and summaries of activities or findings from assigned projects and/or VHA senior office staff providing data and analysis required to finish reports into a final product; Articulate goals and objectives when representing the facility; Designing, writing, reviewing policies and data collection forms/techniques to assure compliance with reporting requirements; Provide expert level knowledge of healthcare principles, theories, and practices; budgeting planning. Administration, and labor/union relationships. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such degree or LL.M., if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. (Transcript Required). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. 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 sednetary 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 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 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. "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."
