Public Affairs Specialist

Summary

The Public Affairs Specialist independently develops, coordinates, and delivers communication products and strategies to inform and engage a broad range of internal and external audiences, including Veterans, staff, media and community partners. The incumbent plays a pivotal role in presenting, interpreting and disseminating information about VA programs, services, policies and achievements, supporting the health care systems mission to serve veterans and their families.

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Duties

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Duties Include but are not limited to:

• Independently research, drafts, and develops communication products; including press releases. media statements, articles, speeches, and feature stories for dissemination to media, public and targeted external customers.
• Serves as a spokesperson, providing timely and accurate responses and explanations of VA activities, programs, and policies to media representatives, veterans, their families, and the general public.
• Maintains working relationships with media representatives, Veteran Service Organizations, congressional offices, and community stakeholders to facilitate proactive and responsive communication.
• Pitches and places stories with media outlets, coordinates interviews, and monitors media coverage for accuracy and emerging issues.
• Supports crisis and emergency communication activities by gathering information, drafting urgent communications, and assisting with dissemination in coordination with leadership and under direction of the Chief of Communication.
• Creates and manages communication products for web, intranet and social media platforms, ensuring content is accurate, accessible, and consistent with agency standards.
• Designs graphics, infographics, and short-form videos to enhance engagement and make complex information more accessible to diverse audiences.
• Manages official social media channels, engaging with the public, responding to inquiries, and monitoring platforms for emerging concerns or reputational risks.
• Utilizes analytics and reporting tools to measure the effectiveness and reach of digital communication strategies, providing recommendations for ongoing improvement.
• Coordinates with service lines, programs offices, clinical staff, and stakeholders to gather information and develop messages tailored to specific internal audiences and situations.
• Develops and distributes mass email communications, newsletters, announcements, and emergency notifications to internal and external recipients.
• Identifies and engages key stakeholder groups, including traditionally underserved veteran populations, through targeted messaging and outreach activities.
• Plans, organizes, and executes special events, outreach campaigns, and high-profile visits, providing logistical and communication support before, during and after events.
• Provides communication guidance to staff and leadership, supporting their ability to represent the VA clearly and confidently.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Telework: AdHoc

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Public Affairs Specialist/ PD01324A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• 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 identification 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 or 2-year trial period during 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, 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, 08/31/2026.

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. 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. 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-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: Knowledge of principles, techniques, and methods of public affairs, media relations, and strategic communications sufficient to independently develop, tailor, and execute communication products for diverse audiences. Ability to research, analyze, and translate complex information into clear, compelling material. Proficient in web content management systems, digital media tools, and social media platforms to manage online communications. Skill in designing visual content, graphics, infographics, and short form videos. Knowledge of federal communication policies, standards and privacy/data security requirements. Ability to use oral and written mass communication principles and techniques; analytical methods and effective interpersonal practices.

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 . (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) .

OR

• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education as described above.

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:

NOTE : If your school was accredited by the U.S. Department of Education at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the U.S. Department of Education website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

Additional information

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.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

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. 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.

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

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced 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

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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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.

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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.