Public Affairs Specialist

Summary This position serves as the Public Affairs Specialist (Officer) in the Public Affairs Section for the Associate Director, Resources, organizationally identified as the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing Service of the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System. This position is located at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System that serves over 60,000 Veterans residing in a seven-county area. Responsibilities Major Duties include, but are not limited to: Serve as the Public Affairs Specialist (Officer) at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System developing, promoting, and implementing leadership and direction for the Public Affairs program while displaying tact, common sense, diplomacy, initiative, and solid professional judgment. Provide primary representation of the healthcare system Director and Executive Leadership team in interactions with members of the media, public, Veterans, community groups, local state and federal officials in ways that most effectively achieve the goals of the Veterans Health Administration, VISN 8, and the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System. Serve as the healthcare system spokesperson representing the Director at events of a public, civic, or social nature and participates in a variety of events dealing with improving the perception of the VA, at the VHA and the Medical Center as well as providing information on services and activities of the staff and volunteers. Handle communication efforts when controversial, high-level issues impact the VA healthcare system often during crisis and emergency situations. Serves a Public Information Officer under the Hospital Incident Command System. Plan, develop, and produce 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. Develop communication campaigns and program guidelines for healthcare system use, defining the scope and parameters for implementing campaigns and providing suggested activities, materials to be used, deadlines and reporting requirements. Plan, implement, and evaluate information programs in specifically assigned targeted groups. Plan and execute special event, coordinates high profile visits, and supports outreach to veterans not enrolled in the VA health care system. Develop budgets, writes statements of work, directs, coordinates, and supervises activities of supporting staff and contractors. Serve as internal communications coordinator ensuring the integration of all information venues (printed, electronically displayed). Develop appropriate communication channels, techniques, and strategies for use by others in disseminating information to hard-to-reach audiences. Serve as content manager of the VA Medical Center's Internet and Intranet, and publications editor. Develop specific information materials, programs, training modules, program policies, etc., by direction and with support of the VHA and OPA. Serve as mentor to lesser experienced and junior PAO's. Performs other related duties as assigned. 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: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (some nights and weekends) Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Public Affairs Specialist/548-03037-A Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/17/2026 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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. 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. Minimum Qualification Requirement: 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: Evaluate and advise management officials on courses of action to follow in publishing public announcements. Analyze, evaluate, and respond to public comments, proposals or suggestions in the local community. Initiate and prepare responses to inquiries from interested groups and the general public concerning policies and activities of the medical facility public affairs program. Prepare scripts, audio-visual materials, and brochures for ceremonies, briefings, events and orientations. Develop public affairs and communication action plans. Identifies, writes and edits promotional content related to the agency mission, arranges for special group tours and manages special events. Uses Adobe Creative Cloud and other graphics and electronic publication tools. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education For GS-12 Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal Service that has equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of a Public Affairs Specialist, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. Specialized experience includes experience where you were responsible for applying advanced communication and analytical practices, methods and techniques to the solution of complex public affairs problems; planning, developing, and producing a variety of materials and publications (including print, visual, Web-based, multimedia, and video materials) to achieve understanding of various points of view or concepts; advising leadership on the development of communication plans and strategies; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with local media representatives and community groups; and coordinating and implementing special events, ceremonies, outreach campaigns, tours, and other activities to generate public awareness of organization's mission. Preferred Experience: Excellent communication skills (written and verbal).You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork 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 involves extended periods of walking, standing, bending, and stooping to execute logistics for special events or to accompany media crew 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. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at 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: 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: Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. 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. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Whole Health Statement: The VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model that is based in a partnership across time, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.