Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Office of Communications and is the primary day-to-day operational lead in social media communication with VHA audiences. The Communications Specialist manages social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and emerging social media platforms. The Digital Engagement Specialist is the primary lead in providing all on-line postings to social media venues, and emerging platforms as they develop.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Duties Include but not limited to:

Identifies the need for new materials and enhancing existing social media sites' content.

Provide appropriate web-oriented written materials, but also provide video and graphic support.

Provides and interprets social media usage and status reports generated by Office requirements.

Assists in developing and composing documents on an entire spectrum of web site materials intended for veterans, veterans' families, caregivers, medical personnel and VA leadership, as well as the general public.

Researching factual information, verifying it through discussion with subject matter specialists, writing the materials in approved formats and in language suitable for the intended audience, and obtaining clearances from the appropriate program offices prior to publication.

Consider content development for social networking platforms as well as plan for engagement with social networking participants of the public.

Assists in the development of information that ensures public understanding, appreciation and support of the programs, activities and objectives of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Health Administration.

Writes and edits web materials for grammatical correctness, clarity, appropriate reading level, and consistency with regulation and style. The Digital Engagement Specialist's goal is to be as familiar as possible with the VHA issues and policies so that typical written materials reflect VHA's efforts to support veterans.

Develop content from a variety of agency resources, including the public affairs offices of medical centers as well as program and research offices.

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: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 a.m.
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Communications Specialist/PD02271-0 and PD02270-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• 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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/11/2020.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current, permanent 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. 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 showing 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.

Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade. Please review the Required Document section for additional information, and to ensure all appropriate documentation is submitted at the time of application.

Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement who have separated within the past 52 weeks, and current employees applying under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA).

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 (for GS-13 qualification) and you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 (for GS-12 qualification) 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 Federal, VA, and VHA intranet and internet regulations. Expert knowledge of the tools, software, and processes used to develop and promote a website (i.e. Web Pilot, Front Page, Dreamweaver, etc). social networking platforms that is now in use by VHA and associated offices; developing written and visual products that articulate, interpret, and explain highly complex, potentially controversial, and important agency policies, programs and research findings.

ICTAP/CTAP candidates: ICTAP/CTAP candidates must be found to be well qualified for referral.

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. A full year of work is 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited based on time 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.

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

Ability to analyze and evaluate posted information to ensure compliance with established regulations.

Ability to review and evaluation social media information for approval and facilitate approval processing through interaction with key HQ staff.

Ability to identify gaps in content and identify the need for consolidation of centralized information and links to authoritative sources.

Expert knowledge and skill in applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques or issues to resolve social media concerns.

Expert knowledge of written and oral communications in order to communicate via the World Wide Web to a wide variety of audiences and purposes.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although there may be some walking or standing, carrying of light items.

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 for this vacancy. To be well-qualified : applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. 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.

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.

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
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

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

• Resume
• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• CTAP/ICTAP documentation
• If you are a current or former Federal employee applying for a higher grade and your SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you meet the one year time-in-grade requirement so you will need to provide an SF-50 which clearly demonstrates you meet the time-in-grade requirements. Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:

o Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
o Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
o SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old

• If prior military service, include all copies of your DD-214 or proof of service, as well as proof of disability if applicable

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/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• STAP/ICTAP Ltr
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

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 .