Public Affairs Specialist

This position serves the Alaska VA Healthcare System within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) reporting directly to the Public Affairs Officer. This office provides comprehensive employee communication and public affairs services for the organization, along with marketing communication, branding and product distribution services in support of the VA and VHA Mission.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 10/15/2025. 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. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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. Preferred Experience: Strong writing experience/background; Some media knowledge; proficient in Microsoft Office Product and Adobe Products; Knowledge of grammar, writing, and editing practices, and the style requirements of the media and the publications used. Selective Placement Factor: Skill in interviewing a variety of people and gathering information from many different sources; Knowledge of the practices and techniques in planning and developing new stories and feature articles in laying out a publication. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-9 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 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 public relation community relations, advertising and journalism including media technical requirements and practices. Knowledge of the practice and techniques of oral communications in developing and presenting briefings to print and broadcast media. Knowledge of broadcast media production. Skill in writing news releases and feature articles for dissemination through print media. Skill in effectively interacting with news media representatives. Skill in gathering and evaluating appropriateness of information communicated through media. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. This education was obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. If you are qualifying on education, transcripts are required. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond1 full year of graduate level education is creditable. Note: If you select this option, a copy of your transcripts is required. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Your resume must indicate clearly the nature of your duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. GS-11 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 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 public relations, community relations, advertising, and journalism including media technical requirements and practices. Knowledge of grammar, writing, and editing practices; and the style requirements of the media and the publications used. Knowledge of the practices and techniques in planning and developing news stories and feature articles in laying out a publication. Skill in developing information program tailored to audiences and realistic conditions to improve public understanding. Skill in evaluating the news value or communication potential of visual material including photographic and illustration. Skill in writing and editing news and feature articles. Skill in interviewing a variety of people and gathering information from many different sources. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. This education was obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. If you are qualifying on education, transcripts are required. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related is creditable. Note: If you select this option, a copy of your transcripts is required. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Your resume must indicate clearly the nature of your duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. List of Competencies you will be rated on: Public Planning Writing Communications Conflict Management Communications & Media 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/.