Public Affairs Specialist

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

Major Duties Include:

• Assists with developing and implementing public affairs communication and outreach strategies.
• Prepares and disseminates news releases articles newsletters fact sheets brochures social media content and other informational materials.
• Responds to routine media and public inquiries and assists with coordinating media requests and interviews.
• Maintains working relationships with media representatives community organizations government officials Veterans organizations and other stakeholders.
• Supports outreach events town halls briefings ceremonies tours and other public information activities.
• Gathers and evaluates information from internal and external sources for use in public affairs products and communications.
• Assists in advising management on public affairs media community relations or communication issues.
• Monitors public affairs and outreach activities and assists in evaluating their effectiveness.
• Prepares reports briefing materials presentations information packages and other communication products for management and external audiences.
• Supports communication efforts involving sensitive controversial or high-visibility issues by researching facts coordinating information and assisting with appropriate responses.
• Perform duties as assigned.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification 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) - See Required Documents below for details.

• 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.

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level you must meet one of the following:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equipped with the knowledge skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Public Affairs Specialist position. To be creditable this experience must have been equivalent to at least the (GS-09) level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes: assisting with the development and implementation of public affairs communication and outreach activities; preparing and disseminating informational materials such as news releases articles newsletters fact sheets brochures social media content or other public information products; maintaining relationships with media community organizations government officials and other stakeholders; responding to public or media inquiries and supporting media or outreach activities; and assisting with the evaluation of public affairs communication or outreach activities to determine effectiveness and identify needed improvements.

EDUCATION: Must have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. if related which demonstrates the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Transcript(s) Required.

OR

COMBINATION: Must have an equivalent combination of successfully completed progressively higher-level graduate education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience as described above which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Transcript(s) Required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The employee must be able to physically attend events in the community in indoor and outdoor venues and be able to stand/sit for up to 6 hours at a time. Assignments regularly involve working in an office environment that includes working at a desk with a computer attending meetings periods of walking standing bending and stooping executing logistical needs to support events or to accompany/escort visitors media crews or other special groups. Employee is also required to regularly pick up loads of 15 pounds such as boxes of newspapers and other literature and to push carts of supplies. Incumbent will regularly need to operate specialized equipment such and digital cameras or audio equipment.

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at

Required Experience:

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