Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist

This position also serves as a regional communications consultant, Public Affairs Officer, and Veteran's outreach coordinator for a wide range of media, governmental, Non-Governmental Organizations, and public audiences. The VASTLHCS is a complexity level 1a facility serving veterans and their families across Missouri and Illinois. It is a two campus, full-service, tertiary referral center, with 8 Outpatient Clinics.

Duties include but are not limited to:

Oversees the VASTLHCS public affairs and strategic communication program with responsibility for planning, designing, and executing functions in the areas of public information, healthcare systems information, community relations, and marketing. Administers programs that are of regional and national scope. Establishes and maintains proactive contacts with media outlets, legislative offices, veteran service organizations, and health care affiliates. Final approver of 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.

Serves as the Director's key public affairs advisor and technical authority on public affairs and marketing initiatives, and as the Director's spokesperson with the media and other stakeholders. Advises senior level management on development of media campaigns and communication plans and strategies.

Oversees the production of news releases, fact sheets, brochures, exhibits, displays, outreach materials, and audiovisual presentations to publicize and inform a variety of internal and external audiences on the mission and capabilities of VASTLHCS. Approves promotional materials for VASTLHCS and oversees the editing of materials written by other staff members throughout the VASTLHCS. Markets stories written by VASTLHCS senior staff to outside entities.

Approves, or appoints a designee to approve, the content of the Medical Center's Internet and Intranet. Evaluates information from a variety of sources and provides feedback to senior management on public affairs trends and stakeholder attitudes to assess program effectiveness and make improvements. Serves as Agency spokesman for the facility including responding orally and in writing to questions about, or criticisms of, the Agency's activities or policies and explaining the VA's point of view.

Handles communication efforts when controversial, high-level issues impact the VA Medical Center, often during crisis and emergency situations. Serves as Public Information Officer under the Hospital Incident Command System in often highly complex incidents. Generates interest in the VA hospital and health care through coordination of speaking engagements by facility personnel, impromptu presentations, accommodation of requests for tours, participation in informational activities such as health fairs and other outreach events, and cooperation with other health agencies in public relations efforts.

Provides leadership for special events workgroups responsible for planning and executing special events for the facility including all public ceremonies, dedications, open houses, ground breakings, ribbon cuttings, and employee social events. Coordinates high profile visits at the facility as well as outreach to Veterans not enrolled in the VA health care system. Receives concerns and comments from Veterans and their families and provides follow-up and response as necessary. Represents the Director at local, State, and National Veteran Service Organization and other community organizational meetings and events. Accepts public affairs projects and assignments from the Office of Public Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, and the VA Heartland Network. Provides other administrative/staff assistance to senior management as required.

Travels to outlying areas and educates Veteran Service Organization representatives, staff of health care facilities, emergency responders, and other requesting organizations on a variety of topics, including but not limited to current VA initiatives, health care eligibility, present Medical Center operations, and future Medical Center plans.


Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: 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.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist/PD10028-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified applicants.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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, 02/09/2026.

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-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: experience being responsible for and serving as a spokesperson conducting media interviews, applying advanced communication and analytical practices, methods and techniques to the solution of complex public affairs problems; advising leadership on the development of communication plans and strategies; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with local media representatives and community groups; crisis communication and responding to Congressional Inquiries, identifying communication needs and developing informational materials to inform internal and external stakeholders of policies, programs, services and activities; and coordinating and implementing special events, ceremonies, outreach campaigns, tours, and other activities to generate public awareness of organization's mission; and experience preparing newsletters and other professional publications. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

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

• Communications and Media
• Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
• Interpersonal Skills
• Organizational Awareness
• Problem Solving

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: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required.

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/.