Clarification from the agency

Status candidates may apply to this job announcement.

The Supervisory Public Affairs Officer (PAO) position is physically located within VA Altoona. The program reflects the facility's mission and accomplishments serving the Veterans residing in its 14-county market service area in Central Pennsylvania. The program comprises of a comprehensive Public Affairs team that incorporates media platforms, Outreach, visual design, and communication with internal and external stakeholders, to include Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) services, and Patient Advocacy. Major duties and responsibilities include, but may not be limited to:

• Establishes and maintains proactive contacts with media outlets, legislative offices, veteran service organizations, local businesses, and health care affiliates.
• Advises senior level management on development of media campaigns and communication plans and strategies.
• Serves as agency spokesman for the facility including responding in writing and orally to salutations about or criticisms of the agency's activities or policies and explaining the VA point of view.
• Serves as Public Information Officer under Hospital Incident Command System.
• Coordinates consumer affairs for the JEVZ VAMC, working closely with local officers of Veterans service organizations, quality management coordinators (in matters of quality assurance), Chief, Health Administration, (in matters regarding patient eligibility), Human Resources Officer (in matters regarding employee recognition, affirmative employment program, advertising, and marketing and members of the Congressional staff).
• Coordinates the outreach programming for the facility which provides outreach activities in all fourteen counties. Programs and staff who participate in outreaches includes benefits advisors, patient care/nursing staff, behavioral health staff, enrollment program staff, Women Veterans Program Manager, and others.
• Oversees the Congressional Liaison Section for the JEVZ VAMC, working closely with congressional and senatorial offices and staff members to provide them with timely information about JEVZ VAMC happenings and activities.
• Works closely with VA Congressional Liaison staff for high-priority visits and responses.
• Serves as the communication representative for JEVZ VAMC's major construction projects working with the Veterans' community, congressional liaisons, VA employees and the community.
• Incumbent is the supervisor of the Stakeholders Section, directing and supervising the Public Affairs, CDCE, and Patient Advocacy.
• Supervisor of the Stakeholders Section, directing and supervising comprehensive Public Affairs team that incorporates media platforms, visual design, and communication with internal and external stakeholders, including CDCE services, and Patient Advocacy.
• The incumbent provides leadership and direction for Public Affairs, Media and Outreach, CDCE, and Patient Advocacy at the VA Medical Center while displaying tact, common sense, diplomacy, initiative, and solid professional judgment.
• The incumbent hears grievances as first level supervisor, makes recommendations for hiring, promotion, and adverse actions to the Executive Director when necessary, and supports and implements established Equal Employment Opportunity policies and programs.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday
Telework: Ad-hoc telework
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist / PD063590
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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
• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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 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 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, 03/11/2026.

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-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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 as described below:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Seeking an executive-level strategic communicator to support senior leaders in a complex organization. The candidate must have experience developing high-visibility, sensitive, and time-critical messaging, and managing crisis communications, including emergency response and ICS. Proficiency in media relations, preparing leaders for interviews, and coordinating press engagements is required. Strong stakeholder engagement skills to build relationships with internal leaders, Veterans Service Organizations, community partners, and government stakeholders are essential. The role involves leadership in digital and multi-platform content production, managing editorial calendars, and providing rapid updates during events. Familiarity with regulated environments, including clearance expectations, privacy considerations, and accessibility requirements is crucial. The ideal candidate will adopt a customer-centric and Veteran-centric communication approach, emphasizing clarity and professionalism. Responsibilities include planning subordinate work, implementing public affairs objectives within budget, developing communications strategies, and executing public dissemination of information across media platforms. Additionally, the role involves budget forecasting, planning public affairs strategies, and executing promotional and educational plans for internal and external stakeholders.

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

• Communications and Media
• Human Capital Management
• Partnering
• Stakeholder Management
• Veteran and Customer Focus

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: Regularly involved extended periods of walking, standing, bending and stooping to execute logistics for special events or to accompany media crews or other special groups. Incumbent is required to regularly pick-up loads of 15 pounds such as boxes of newspapers and other literature and to push carts of supplies. Flexibility in scheduling is required to accommodate displays, distribution of materials, occasional events and media activities that may occur during other than regular duty hours. Mobility is required in terms of staging and assisting staff with equipment and displays.

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

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

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

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.

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.

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

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please 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)
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• 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.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

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 Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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