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Public Affairs Specialist

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Nov 19, 2019
Duties

Summary

This position is in the Office of the Under Secretary for Benefits (OUSB), Office of Strategic Engagement; located in Washington, D.C. The office manages a variety of significant, complex public relations and marketing campaigns in support of the Office of the Secretary for Veterans Affairs (VA), the Under Secretary for Benefits (USB), VA central office, and field offices and organizations.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The incumbent serves as a Public Affairs Specialist, responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing a sound public information program to communicate agency policies, programs, services, and activities to inform and educate Service Members, Veterans, and their Family Members, Media, Veteran Service Organizations, special interest groups, and public and private partnerships.
  • Develops, coordinates and implements a sound public information program to communicate agency policies, programs and services.
  • Serves as the principle advisor to senior leadership on matters involving public information, issues and communication policy.
  • Formulates theme, message, and writes or edits speeches for key stakeholders, news releases, presentations, testimony, info papers and staff activities.
  • Cooperates and works productively with internal and external customers, staff members, supervisors, and others to develop communication strategies and plans.
  • Interacts with Veterans, dependents, the general public and external stakeholders involved in providing services to Veterans.
  • Develops, edits, and reviews professional editorials,clear, correct, thorough, and succinct written communication that is appropriate for effective communication to the desired audience.
  • Coordinates and implements new methods to maintain liaison with multiple internal and external organizations.
  • Analyzes and organizes information to present, determine the logical and effective theme development and presentation.
  • Plans and executes national campaigns to convey information on specific VBA activities, achievements and programs.
  • Coordinates, and monitors social and web media concepts, doctrine and policy.
  • Formulates various written documents such as speeches, briefings, memorandums, pamphlets, and booklets.
  • Formulates, screens, and approves scripts, speeches, and papers prior to release with consideration for public reaction and political sensitivities.
  • Develops and implements crisis communications plans.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 - 4
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: 38142-A
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Travel Required

25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

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


Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/18/2019.

1. 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.
If you are a current VBA employee requesting a reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-13 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-13.

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.

2. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
  • GS-13:
    • To qualify at the GS-12 grade, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or higher. Specialized experience is defined as knowledge of a wide range of principles, methods, practices, and techniques of oral and written communication that enable effective communication with internal and external stakeholders. Examples may include:
      • experience developing written materials and conducting briefings;
      • experience creating and editing a variety of written materials targeting different stakeholders and the media;
      • experience with analyzing and developing recommendations to arrive at an acceptable position that supports the objectives of the organization.
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: This position is primarily sedentary with some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of lightweight items (i.e., folders, binders).

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ .

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

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.

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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ .

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
  • CUSTOMER SERVICE: Works with clients and customers to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations.
  • EXTERNAL AWARENESS: Identifies and understands economic, political, and social trends that affect the organization.
  • INTERPERSONAL SKILLS - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
  • MANAGES AND ORGANIZES INFORMATION: Identifies a need; gathers, organizes, and maintains information; determines its importance and accuracy, and communicates it by a variety of methods.
  • ORGANIZATIONAL AWARENESS: Knows the organization's mission and functions, and how its social, political, and technological systems work and operates effectively within them; this includes the programs, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the organization.
  • WRITING: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.
Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package to include the documents detailed below. Failure to submit the documents as specified may result in lack of consideration for this job announcement.
  • Resume detailing your specialized experience and competencies as they relate to this position
    • For each position in your resume, you must specify the start and end dates (month/year) and a description of duties. If the position was Federal, you must also indicate the grade level. Resumes containing a general summary of all positions held, not specifying start/end dates, and/or not including Federal grade level(s) are insufficient to determine basic qualifications.
  • Veterans: Member-4 DD-214 and disability rating letter (if applicable)
    • If you are currently on active duty to be released within 120 days, you may submit an armed forces certification in lieu of a Member-4 DD-214.
  • Current Federal Employees: A copy of your most recent NON-AWARD SF-50. The SF-50 must indicate proof of status and should identify your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
    • To verify you meet Time-in-Grade requirements, also submit a SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade held (e.g. Promotion, Appointment, etc.).
  • Current VBA Employees: If you are outside the commuting area and seeking a reassignment/change to lower grade, you must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (non-award) AND the SF-50 placing you into your current position.
  • Military Spouse: A copy of your marriage license AND either your spouse's 1) active duty orders, 2) 100% disability rating, or 3) documentation of death during active duty.
  • Other Status Candidates: Evidence of eligibility to apply (e.g. Peace Corps verification letter, Schedule A letter, PS-50, etc.).
Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application. You will not be contacted for additional information.

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 .

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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