Summary
The Public Affairs Officer (PAO) has significant responsibilities and requires a high degree of professionalism. The PAO must be able to work in high-pressure, stressful situations and must be able to prioritize, multi-task, and share responsibilities to ensure effective operations. PAO must often take on ad hoc and miscellaneous responsibilities. The PAO must be willing to be flexible and take on additional duties as they arise and must be willing to fill in for other staff members as needed..
Duties
Specific duties include: Provides oversight in all areas of public information including policy development, dissemination of internal information, and community relations activities. Actively participates in a variety of teams and workgroups with representatives from all levels of VA and private concerns. Attends and participates in a variety of conferences and meetings with representatives of higher, lateral, and lower echelons. Initiates and prepares responses to inquiries from interested groups and the public concerning policies and activities. Establishes cooperative working relationships with the local media; writes and disseminates news releases and feature articles regarding the RO mission, functions, programs, and policies to print and broadcast media representatives. Organizes and coordinates print and broadcast media interviews with staff members and oversees all arrangements with the media involving RO activities. Evaluates and advises management officials on specific courses of action to follow in making public announcements. Maintains contacts with congressional staffers, city and state officials, institutions, community organizations, industry, and other centers of influence to improve the public's understanding and awareness of RO activities. The PAO represents the Director in public forums, including making formal and informal presentations. Subject Matter will include both local and national policies and may be controversial in nature. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 8:00am -4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Yes - This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist (Public Affairs Officer); PD413700 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required
Requirements
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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. Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents.
Education
Education Substitution: There is no education substitution for the GS-12 grade level.
How you will be evaluated
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Compliance Organizational Awareness Communications and Media Data Management Administration and Management Multimedia Technologies Organizational Performance Analysis Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.