Public Affairs Specialist

Public Affairs Specialist

Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Kansas City, MO

$73,840 - $95,991 a year

Part-time

Provides leadership and direction for the Public Affairs program at the Kansas City VA Medical Center while displaying tact, diplomacy, initiative, and solid professional judgment. The goal of the position is to increase internal and external awareness of VA programs, services, special events and projects, technologies, personnel, and research accomplishments. Establishes and maintains proactive contacts with media outlets, legislative offices, veteran service organizations, and health care affiliates. Actively pitches and places stories with media outlets. Advises senior level management on development of media campaigns and communication plans and strategies. Plans, develops, and produces a variety of materials and publications including print, visual, Web-based, multimedia, and video materials to convey information about the VA to a variety of stakeholders. Serves as content manager of VA Medical Center's social media platforms. Evaluates information from a variety of sources and provides feedback to senior management on public affairs trends and stakeholder attitudes to assess program effectiveness and make improvements. Serves as agency spokesman for the facility including responding in writing and orally to questions about or criticisms of the agency's activities or policies and explaining the VA point of view. Develops brochures and other publications for the facility, such as the Annual Report, patient handbook and outreach materials, patient newsletters, and internal communication tools for employees. Coordinates all internal communication, including emails, announcements, poster, digital signage. Handles communication efforts when controversial, high level issues impact the VA Medical Center, often during crisis and emergency situations. Serves as Public Information Officer under Hospital Incident Command System. Responsible for planning and executing special events at the facility, including all public ceremonies, dedications, open houses, ribbon cuttings, and any employee social events. Coordinates high profile visits at the Facility as well as outreach events to veterans not enrolled in the VA health care system. Chairs the Facility Outreach Team. Develops budgets, writes statements of work, and directs, coordinates, and supervises activities of supporting staff and contractors.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am to 4:30pm

Position Description/PD#: /05149-O

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/30/2018.

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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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.

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-11) 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 of writing, communication principles, methods and techniques that relate to the public affairs of an agency; monitoring, managing and protecting agency images on social media and the web; preparing communication products for management (e.g. talking points, briefing materials, and presentations, etc.); planning and coordinating public events for the organization.

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

Communications and Media

Oral Communication

Plan and organize work

Sales and Marketing

Technical Competence

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: Assignments regularly involve extended periods of walking, standing, bending, and stooping to execute logistics for special events or to accompany media crews or other special groups. Incumbent is also required to regularly pick up loads of 15 pounds such as boxes of newspapers and other literature and to push carts of supplies.

None

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

Resume

Current and former federal employees must submit copies of SF-50's (Notification of Personnel Action) to verify eligibility and time-in-grade requirements.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

Cover Letter

DD-214

Certificates

Veterans Preference Letter

Resume

SF-15

SF-50

Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.