Public Affairs Specialist

Description:

The primary purpose of the Public Affairs Specialist is developing, managing, and executing the West Texas VA Health Care System (WTVAHCS) outreach program by conducting and supporting work related to public affairs communication activities such as writing stories, taking photos and videos, generating media interest, responding to media queries, creating, and posting content on social media and web-based platforms. The incumbent will report directly to the Executive Assistant to the Director.

Requirements:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/06/2026.

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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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 and/or education as described below:
GS-7

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 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 written and oral communication principles and techniques, analytical methods, and interpersonal relations practices; ability to draw conclusions and offer meaningful recommendations in improving aspects of information materials, dealing with others in achieving mutually beneficial objectives, conveying detailed oral and written program information in a variety of formats, and gathering and reporting public reaction to information programs; plan, draft and edit news, feature, and quasi-technical articles for a medical facility newsletter; explain the medical facility programs and policies to the public and obtain reaction to the information provided; establish and maintain effective working relationships with groups interested in or affected by agency programs or policies; and analyze department information program materials and offer recommendations for improving the delivery of program information to affected individuals and groups. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have
• one full year of graduate level education (18 semester hours) [such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work] or superior academic achievement (Transcript Required). S.A.A. is based on:
  1. class standing: applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.,
  2. grade-point average: a-3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or b-3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum, or
  3. honor society membership as outlined by the Association of College Honor Societies. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a bachelor's degree. (Transcript Required).

GS-09:

• 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: knowledge of public relations, community relations, advertising, and journalism including media technical requirements and practices; knowledge of the practices 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; and, skill in gathering and evaluating the appropriateness of information communicated through media. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.B. or J.D., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Transcript Required) OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond 18 semester hours of graduate level education. (Transcript Required)

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: knowledge of public relations, community relations, and journalism including media relations and practices; developing, managing, and implementing outreach programs and activities for an organization involving Veteran-related organizations, health care organizations, VA programs, tribal organizations, colleges and universities, other government, non-profit or for-profit organizations, Veterans, staff, and other stakeholders; planning/organizing/managing multi-faceted community events/activities involving multiple services and organizations; developing, fostering positive working relationships with internal and external organizations; preparing reports, maintaining data, and using analytical techniques to measure/evaluate the effectiveness/impact of outreach efforts and public sentiment to improve outreach strategies and plans; skills of the public affairs/communication field including Associated Press (AP) writing style, proper use of grammar, writing, and editing practices for producing and/or editing news; thorough knowledge of the unique characteristics of the VA healthcare delivery systems, organizational structure, resources, programs, and eligibility in general; interviewing and gathering information from various sources; and, using variety of computer software programs such as Word, Excel, Publisher, Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, In Design. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a 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. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Transcript Required) OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond a master's degree. (Transcript 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/ .