Summary
The Public Affairs Specialist serves as a spokesperson for the facility - and as such is the point of contact for local and national media and is the liaison for Erie VA Medical Center stakeholders. The incumbent conducts the public affairs program for the facility with responsibility for developing and providing staff direction involving all public information - internal communications - Veteran Service Organizations - and community relations activities.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 06/09/2026. 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-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. 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-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Spokesperson for the facility - and is the point of contact for local and national media and is the liaison for the Medical Center stakeholders. Conducts the public affairs program for the facility with responsibility for developing and providing staff direction involving all public information - internal communications - VSO's - and community relations activities. Conducts special studies involving communications - organization - and operation of facility functions. Duties include developing reports along with recommendations to the Director including implementation and monitoring strategies. Analyzes internal communication needs and develops publications or other information materials for staff - patients - volunteers - and others who contribute to the facility effectiveness and responsiveness. Advises and makes recommendations to the Director regarding the handling of media and community issue or concerns that have possible implications and serves as the point of contact for the media and public information inquiries and as the liaison with other facilities - central office - the VHA VISN - and veteran organizations in the areas of public information and community relations. Provides technical and administrative supervision to a work unit of Public Affairs Specialist and Visual Information Specialist. 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. Preferred Experience: Writing and oral communication skills - media relations - outreaches and event planning Community relations - able to craft speeches - public briefings - customer service - marketing and communications. Physical Requirements: Assignments regularly involve 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 also required to regularly pick up loads of 15 pounds such as boxes of newspapers and other literature and to push carts of supplies. Flexibility is required to accommodate events and activities occurring in other than normal duty hours. Mobility is required in terms of staging and assisting staff with equipment and other required materials. 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/.
Duties
- Major Duties include but are not limited to: Directs and manages the medical center's marketing - communications - community outreach and public affairs missions
- The incumbent often represents the facility Director - participating at public - civic or social events to improve perception of the facility as a valued part of the medical profession - government - and community
- The Public Affairs Specialist is designated authority and responsibility for design - implementation - and leadership of the facility public affairs program
- Plans the development and implementation of all outreach programs and activities that are appropriate for expanding the patient base of the Erie VAMC and increasing the number of Veterans who receive care at the Erie VAMC and its CBOCs
- Conducts special studies involving communications - organization - and operation of facility functions
- Develops reports along with recommendations to the Director including implementation and monitoring strategies
- Development - coordination - implementation and maintenance of public information - community relations and outreach programs that are designed to promote understanding - confidence and goodwill between the facility - surrounding communities - individuals - volunteers and groups who are interested in and affected by the VA
- Analyzes internal communication needs and develops publications or other information materials for staff - patients - volunteers - and others who contribute to the facility effectiveness and responsiveness
- collaborates with staff and program managers in identifying their information needs and assisting them with the development and dissemination of appropriate materials
- Undertakes other assignments - such as coordination of special projects - at the direction of the Director
- analyzes medical facility information needs - goals and resources and tailor's specific communication strategies using all media to reach target audiences both internal and external
- Advises and makes recommendations to the Director regarding the handling of media and community issues or concerns that have possible implications
- Serves as the point of contact for the media and public information inquiries and as the liaison with other facilities - central office - the VHA VISN - and Veteran organizations in the areas of public information and community relations
- Develops and is intimately involved in crafting speeches - public briefings - and other statements for the Medical Center executive leaders and prepares and reviews information material for dissemination to the public
- Coordinates special events/projects at the direction of the Director
- Develops and utilizes a variety of methods and techniques in achieving communication goals - such as news releases - radio and television scripts - personal appearances - brochures - pamphlets - etc
- Performs other duties as assigned
- Work Schedule: Monday - Friday: 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Available - Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Position Description/PD#: Public Affairs Specialist/PD562-066100 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for Highly Qualified Candidates Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
