Communications Specialist

This position is organizationally aligned under the Group Practice Management Department located at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago, Illinois (556) - a complexity level 1c VHA facility. The FHCC is a larger than just a single facility, rather it is a system of facilities throughout northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin which provide medical and dental services to U.S. Military Veterans, Active Duty, Recruits, and eligible beneficiaries.Qualifications: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/09/2024.
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 GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: knowledge and understanding of the full range of principles, concepts, and techniques of marketing, advertising and salesmanship and the ability to transform these requirements into a working, viable program; skill in editing web pages and creating links and using social networking technology; knowledge of and skill in automated data processing applications, e.g., desktop publishing, graphics, etc. to be able to design, establish, and operate in the operation of state-of-the-art personal computer (PC) equipment; skill in audio-visual techniques to assist in preparation of radio, television, slide show, speech materials or other methods of communication; skill in organizing and communicating ideas and thoughts effectively through written correspondence and oral presentation; skill, knowledge and ability to analyze a variety of research reports, studies, fact sheets, and other documents and translate from analytical to commonly understood language. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a directly related Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a Master's degree.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Administration and Management
• Communications
• Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
• Database Management Systems

Grade Determination:
GS-11

• Specialized Experience: 1 year equivalent to at least GS-9. The employee must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to complete the duties of the position. Such knowledge and skills are identified in the Competence Assessment Checklist of the position and include knowledge and skills in: Communication and interpersonal relations, including the ability to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers. Maintenance of confidentiality of patient/employee information, electronic and print. The medical center performance improvement program. How to work and function in the medical center in a safe manner, including infection control and the correct operation of equipment.
• OR,
• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree ORLL.M., if related

The employee must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to complete the duties of the position. Such knowledge and skills are identified in the Competence Assessment Checklist of the position and include knowledge and skills in:
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.
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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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.
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 primarily sedentary, but may require periods of standing during presentations, briefings, speeches, health fair activities, etc., 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: 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.Employment Type: FULL_TIME