Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist

Summary
This position provides leadership and direction for the Public Affairs program at VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) while displaying tact, common sense, diplomacy, initiative, and solid professional judgment. The goal of the position is to increase internal and external awareness of VA programs, services, special events and projects, technologies, personnel, and research accomplishments.

Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement – 06/22/2026. 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. 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: designing, organizing, and implementing plans for community and media relations, printing/reproduction, internal and external websites, strategic outreach initiatives, increasing internal and external awareness of VA programs, services, special events and projects, technologies, personnel, and research accomplishments; establishing and maintaining proactive contacts with media outlets, legislative offices, veteran service organizations, and health care affiliates.

Competencies: Communications, Communications and Media, Customer Service. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. All qualifying experience, including volunteer experience, will be credited. A full year of work is considered 35–40 hours per week. Part‑time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Physical Requirements: Assignments regularly involve extended periods of walking, standing, bending, and stooping to execute logistics for special events or to accompany media crews. Incumbent is also required to regularly pick up loads of 15 pounds and push carts of supplies.

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

Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short‑term priorities, and prepares schedules.

Assigns work to subordinate employees based on organization priorities and consideration of difficulty and requirements of assignments so that staff experience, training, and abilities are effectively utilized to meet organization and customer needs.

Balances workload and provides advice, guidance, and direction on a wide range of administrative issues.

Communication: 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.

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 Hospital Incident Command System.

Outreach Planning Management: Provides guidance for all outreach initiatives of the VAPIHCS, offering authoritative advice and technical expertise concerning health care community outreach strategies.

Plans and executes special events, coordinates high‑profile visits, and supports outreach to veterans not enrolled in the VA health care system.

General Administrative: Plans, develops, and produces 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.

Develops budgets, writes statements of work, and directs, coordinates, and supervises activities of supporting staff and contractors – if applicable.

Prepares responses to reports, surveys, requests for information and other correspondence required by headquarters, VISN, VACO, regulatory bodies, Medical Affiliates, or community organizations.

Work Schedule: 7:30 am – 4:00 pm.

Telework: 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/PD028450.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

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