DutiesSpecific duties include: - As the Deputy Director of the Office of Communication, the incumbent co-leads and provides counsel on matters of importance to the Office of the Under Secretary for Benefits regarding Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) programs and performance. Serves as a senior program manager overseeing communication efforts in support of VBA programs. Collaborates with senior leadership to create internal and external communication campaigns and programs to engage stakeholders. Exercises decision-making authority on key management matters related to major programs and communication projects supporting VBA initiatives.
- Ensures that assigned programs are executed efficiently, effectively, and on time, in alignment with established goals, timelines, and budgets. Demonstrates a deep understanding of communication management principles and practices, along with a broad knowledge of the methods, processes, and techniques in related technical fields.
- Collaborates with staff from the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department-level offices, and other government agencies to ensure coordinated planning for communication programs, including contracting and legal matters. Engages with stakeholders, federal agencies, senior officials, and other parties interested in VBA's strategic direction and communication initiatives.
- Develops content for release through both internal and external media channels within and beyond the VBA. Establishes a communications framework for distributing information. Prepares communication plans, press releases, daily messages, articles, bulletins, and other informational materials as needed. Reviews and approves communications from other programs before final release. Represents VBA as a public affairs expert at conferences, training workshops, and other events.
- Supervises a team of highly skilled specialists and support staff. Establishes priorities, plans, and oversees work operations, and develops internal procedures. Conducts interviews and selects candidates for positions. Assigns tasks based on complexity and staff capabilities, provides guidance on both technical and administrative matters, evaluates performance, and makes recommendations for promotions, awards, and reassignments.
- Holds significant managerial authority in developing policies and strategies to achieve both short-term and long-term goals for the VBA.
- Prepares speeches, talking points, briefings, and other materials for the Office of the Under Secretary for Benefits and key staff for official functions. Independently researches to assess the forum and target audience. Collaborates with the speaker to determine the appropriate format (e.g., full speech, talking points, bullet outlines), ensuring the final product aligns with Department and organizational goals and values.
- Engages effectively with Veterans, their families, the public, and external stakeholders involved in Veteran services. Provides thorough and accurate responses to concerns raised by stakeholders, customers, and leadership, while representing the organization professionally and responsively.
- Monitor and direct the preparation and auditing of information materials for dissemination to various internal audiences. Promotes and maintains effective working relationships with representatives of government, Congressional offices, civic organizations, other agencies, representatives of the media, Veteran beneficiaries, Veterans Service Organizations, industry, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), academia, and other special interest groups.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Promotion Potential: None Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday Compressed/Flexible: At the discretion of the agency Telework: Yes Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist; 42013-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required RequirementsConditions 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
- Selectees are required to service a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position.
QualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:11/05/2024. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees, former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, or a current federal employee applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment must meet time in grade requirements. 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: This does not apply to Non-Federal Applicants, or applicants applying for consideration under Non-Competitive Authority (i.e.... "30% or more Disability", VRA, and/or Schedule A). To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50 that indicates proof of status, and shows Time in Grade (for example, you were a career or career-conditional employee) and identifies your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). 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 also submit your most recent promotion or within-grade increase in addition to your recent SF-50. If you previously held a higher grade, you must also submit any SF-50 showing that grade. DO NOT submit Award SF-50's and/or General Adjustment SF-50's as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade. - For a GS-15 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-14 level.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-15 Grade LevelSpecialized Experience:You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-14 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: - Demonstrated experience serving as a principal advisor to senior executive leadership on public information programs, media relations, and communication policies. Served as a lead in the development and execution of internal and external public affairs and communication initiatives aligned with the agency's mission and policies to meet diverse information needs.
- Expert-level proficiency in coordinating, developing, and implementing corporate strategic public information and communication plans on a national scale. Effectively informs and educates key audiences about the organization's programs, policies, activities, and initiatives.
- Expert knowledge in devising and executing high-profile media strategies, proactive external engagement efforts, and editorial opportunities for major communication initiatives.
Volunteer Experience: 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. Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to attend meetings and conferences away from the work site. Work may require carrying light items such as papers, books, or small parts. The work does not require any special physical effort. 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/. EducationThis job does not have an education qualification requirement. Additional informationVA 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.
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. Click here for more information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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