USAJOBS - Search Jobs

Job Title:Public Affairs Specialist

Department:Department Of Veterans Affairs

Agency:Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration

Job Announcement Number:NCA-13-012-836229-VDH

This position is closed and no longer accepting online applications through USAJOBS.

The contents of the announcement can still be viewed.

SALARY RANGE:	$89,033.00 to $115,742.00 / Per Year
OPEN PERIOD:	Wednesday, February 06, 2013 to Wednesday, February 20, 2013
SERIES & GRADE:	GS-1035-13
POSITION INFORMATION:	Full Time - Permanent
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 13
DUTY LOCATIONS:	1 vacancy in the following location: Washington DC Metro Area, DC United States
WHO MAY APPLY:	Status Candidates (Merit Promotion and VEOA Eligibles)

JOB SUMMARY:

This position is located in the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), Communications Management Service, Communications and Outreach Support Division. The incumbent serves as a Public Affairs Specialist assisting the Chief in developing and maintaining the NCA Public Affairs Program. The incumbent acts as a team leader for junior public affairs specialists. op of Form

Vacancy Identification Number (VIN) 836229

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise – “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

NCA honors Veterans and their families with final resting places in national shrines and with lasting tributes that commemorate their service and sacrifice to our Nation. For more information about the National Cemetery Administration, visit http://www.cem.va.gov/.

For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.va.gov/

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.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
Subject to a background/suitability investigation.
Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
Time in grade requirement must be met by closing date of announcement.
Some travel may be required.

DUTIES:

The incumbent will provide information on programs, services, and benefits to veterans, family members, general public as well as federal, state and local government officials through various media. Incumbent will also manage NCA special events and ceremonies to include those associate with new national cemeteries, expansions and state cemetery grant awards. In performing these duties, the incumbent will function as a technical authority on public relations issues and tools nation-wide. The incumbent will also:

Develop, implement and evaluate public awareness, educational and outreach plans for NCA with emphasis on its mission, responsibilities and delivery of burial benefits.
Perform work related to public affairs activities such as coordinating media interviews, developing communications plans, coordinating agency information programs, etc.
Draft feature articles and news releases for dissemination to newspapers, magazines, journals and industry publications.
Plan, develop and produce public affairs tools for use by cemetery directors and other NCA personnel.
Analyze and evaluate program effectiveness and recommend modifications to existing policies and procedures to improve the public affairs program.
Organize and coordinate print and broadcast media interviews with key regional officials and oversees all arrangements with the media involving agency activities.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, media, key officials, agency stakeholders, and/or community groups in order to communicate and disseminate program information which results in an understanding of the agency’s mission and activities.
Provide direct responses to news media queries from around the country on matters of importance.
Develop, research, write, design ad produce NCA internal and external communications such as the weekly cabinet report, brochures and newsletters.
Responsible for production of video and related products in support of NCA communications.
Coordinate NCA special events and ceremonies at national cemeteries and events associated with new national cemeteries to include, site selection, land acquisition, flag raisings, openings and dedications.

Work Schedule: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Public Affairs Specialist, 534130
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-in-grade: 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.

Specialized Experience: Applicants 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: developing communication strategies and products for an organization; writing and editing press releases, articles and other written communication materials; managing public affairs program for a large complex facility or installation, or a regional organization; developing and implementing public affairs programs in a regional organization or equivalent large installation or facility; developing broadcast programming at a regional or higher level as part of a public affairs project; using the Internet, social media, and/or web pages to communicate information to the public and media.

There is no educational substitution for the GS-13 level.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The majority of the work is sedentary. No physical demands are involved in performing the work.

You will be rated on the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs) based on your application for this position.

1. Ability to plan, design and carry out national level public affairs programs, projects and studies.

2. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing for a variety of purposes with individuals having a wide variety of backgrounds.

3. Ability to write and market a wide variety of written print and electronic products to include news releases, features, biographies, fact sheets, reports, position papers, talking points, letters, memos, briefing materials and speeches.

4. Ability to plan, coordinate and execute all aspects of special events and ceremonies.

5. Knowledge of desktop publishing, layout, design and graphics for print and the Internet.

6. Ability to manage and provide appropriate content for Federal government websites and social media sites to include facebook, twitter, youtube and flickr.

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.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or 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 Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application checklist or visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

BENEFITS:

VA offers a comprehensive benefits package. This link provides is an overview of the benefits currently offered:

http://www.va.gov/JOBS/Job_Benefits/benefits.asp.

VA 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.

OTHER 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. 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. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

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

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package (See “Required Documents” section below). The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Wednesday, February 20, 2013.

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button at the bottom of this screen to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Be sure to upload the required documents before you submit your application. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. Mailed/emailed applications will not be accepted.

Note: To change or update your application, simply reapply through My USAJOBS, before the closing date. To check the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), select Application Status and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.

If you cannot apply online: you will need to complete the Occupational Questionnaire (View Occupational Questionnaire) by submitting your answers on the 1203FX form (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf) and faxing the completed form with all supporting documents to (478)757-3144. The 1203FX form will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission. Keep a copy of your fax receipt in case verification is needed.

To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload: Complete the following cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf using 836229. You must use this fax cover sheet in order for your documents to be matched with your online application. Fax your documents to (478)757-3144. Keep a copy of your fax receipt in case verification is needed.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

The following documents are required:

· Résumé

· Responses to the Occupational Questionnaire.

· Transcripts (if substituting education for experience)

· Veterans' Preference documentation such as DD-214 or equivalent that shows character of discharge, SF-15 and VA Letter, as appropriate.

· Current federal employees and past federal employees with reinstatement eligibility must provide a current SF-50 and the most current performance appraisal.

· Use this checklist to ensure you've submitted everything. You will not be contacted for additional information.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

Valerie D. Hopkins
Phone: (202)461-6225
Email: VALERIE.HOPKINS2@VA.GOV

Agency Information:
NCA Washington
Department of Veteran Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue NW
Human Resources Division Rm 417E
Washington, DC
20420

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

After the vacancy announcement closes and a referral certificate is issued, an electronic notification letter - or e-mail - will be sent to applicants who provide an e-mail address. Otherwise, you will receive a notification letter via the U.S. Postal Service within 2 to 4 weeks.

< Back to Results Back to top

SALARY RANGE:

OPEN PERIOD:

SERIES & GRADE:

POSITION INFORMATION:

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:

DUTY LOCATIONS:

WHO MAY APPLY:

JOB SUMMARY:

KEY REQUIREMENTS

DUTIES:

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

BENEFITS:

OTHER INFORMATION:

HOW TO APPLY:

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

Agency Information:

Questions about this job:

Job Announcement Number:

Control Number:

Please wait while map is being generated.