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This position functions as the Public Affairs Specialist for the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VANHCS).
RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE MAY BE OFFERED TO HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements).
Videos
Duties
Major Duties include:
Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.
Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: 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.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Public Affairs Specialist/PD02622-O, PD02621-O, and PD02620-O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized -Relocation or Recruitment Incentive may be offered to highly Qualified Candidates
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/10/2023.
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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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.
You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
GS 07 Minimum Qualification
OR
OR
GS 09 Minimum Qualification
OR
OR
GS 11 Minimum Qualification
OR
OR
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 usually performed sitting at a desk, in news conferences, briefings, meetings, etc.; or riding in an automobile or public transportation. There may be occasional brief visits to industrial or construction sites, national parks or forests, military equipment test sites, etc; however, no special physical demands are involved in performing the work. Most work is accomplished in an office-type setting involving minimal discomfort or risk. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, work does occasionally require incumbent to be outdoors, as for special events or as escort for media crews.
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.
Additional information
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. 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.
Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.310...
This position functions as the Public Affairs Specialist for the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VANHCS).
RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE MAY BE OFFERED TO HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES
This job is open to
- Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee. - Family of overseas employees
Family members of a federal employee or uniformed service member who is or was, working overseas. - Federal employees - Competitive service
Current or former competitive service federal employees. - Federal employees - Excepted service
Current excepted service federal employees. - Individuals with disabilities
- Land & base management
Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency. - Military spouses
- Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista
- Special authorities
Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations. - Veterans
Clarification from the agency
Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements).
Videos
Duties
Major Duties include:
- Independently provides internal and external communications support.
- Provide digital communications to include updating website, social media and intranet pages for staff.
- Independently performs work related to Public Affairs and communications activities such as responding to media inquiries, generating media interest, and coordinating agency information and outreach programs, etc.
- Organizes and coordinates print and broadcast media interviews and news conferences with subject matter experts.
- Uses a variety of communication techniques and methods including print, broadcast, and electronic media to convey the VA mission and its role in the community to various stakeholders.
- Writes news releases, features stories, speeches, information packets, media kits, and fact sheets and produces various graphic materials such as newsletters, flyers, and brochures. Independently plans, coordinates, executes, and evaluates special events for various audiences.
- Establishes, maintains, and updates a facility events calendar.
- Reviews news coverage on VA-related topics to keep staff apprised of relevant issues.
- Provides news clippings to the Regional and VISN Public Affairs Offices, and other key VHA and VA officials in a timely manner.
- Archives news clip files for use by the agency historians' office and staff. Incumbent also has significant responsibilities for supporting media, community, and staff relations
Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.
Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: 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.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Public Affairs Specialist/PD02622-O, PD02621-O, and PD02620-O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized -Relocation or Recruitment Incentive may be offered to highly Qualified Candidates
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not 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
- You may be required to serve a probationary period
- Subject to background/security investigation
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/10/2023.
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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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.
You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
GS 07 Minimum Qualification
- Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Develops and disseminates a wide range of information and data concerning the nature and objectives of the agency; Establishes, maintains, and updates a facility events calendar, on both the Website and Facebook sites; Assist in the planning, promoting and implementing of various special events, researches appropriate historical, technical and factual information of all materials to ensure accuracy.
OR
- Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement (SAA). S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. Class standingApplicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. Grade-point average (G.P.A.)Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor societyApplicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED and Other documentation if claiming SAA.).
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 above information. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED and Other documentation if claiming SAA.).
GS 09 Minimum Qualification
- Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Assists with media events; Provides onsite public relations coverage; Establishes, maintains, and updates a facility events calendar, on both the Website and Facebook sites; Assists in the handling of communication efforts when controversial; and Develops and transmits informational materials.
OR
- Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
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 above information. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
GS 11 Minimum Qualification
- 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: Coordinates the development and implementation of social media engagement strategies, policies and plans; Tracks, measures and analyzes performance goals; Assists in the handling of communication efforts when controversial; Develops and transmits informational materials; and Establishes and maintains proactive contacts with media outlets, legislative offices, Veteran service organizations, and health care affiliates.
OR
- Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
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 above information. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED).
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
- Communications
- Creative Thinking
- Strategic Thinking
- Veteran and Customer Focus
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 usually performed sitting at a desk, in news conferences, briefings, meetings, etc.; or riding in an automobile or public transportation. There may be occasional brief visits to industrial or construction sites, national parks or forests, military equipment test sites, etc; however, no special physical demands are involved in performing the work. Most work is accomplished in an office-type setting involving minimal discomfort or risk. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, work does occasionally require incumbent to be outdoors, as for special events or as escort for media crews.
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.
Additional information
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. 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.
Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.310...
