Communications Specialist - Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration : Job Details

Summary The Connected Health Coordinator serves as facility champion for Connected Health, leads facility teams to support existing and future Veteran communication initiatives, coordinates local implementation, training, communications, outreach, and support efforts, and evaluates and reports on Connected Health actions and activities. Responsibilities The Connected Health Coordinator leads the facility's efforts to integrate current and future Connected Health Modalities with healthcare providers and patients and serves as liaison and administrator to VISN and National teams. This position is responsible for establishing and managing communications plans that identify target audiences including appropriate messages, activities, and resources. Communications plans require change management and incorporate multiple channels to manage expectations and disseminate project progress. Responsible for supporting and guiding facility VHA public affairs officers and stakeholders about Connected Health's variety of Modalities. Oversees Connected Health's online presence and web content and leads innovations to keep facility Connected Health on the cutting-edge. Ensures accountability via written communication as it relates to Connected Health. Establishes and manages the training plans and designs and perform needs assessments within the project relative to functional and training needs and project effectiveness. Works with EES to coordinate personnel and resources to develop educational and training programs/classes with the intent of increasing adoption of the various Connected Health modalities. Based on the VISN and national Program, develops and updates a facility-specific implementation plan that includes developing a mission/vision statement, establishing a local team, leading team efforts, identifying local providers as champions, and developing roles and responsibilities. Establishes, develops, and implements local Connected Health-related goals and strategies to meet goals, identifies responsible parties. Tracks progress, including monitoring goals/activity status, and reports status/progress to medical center management. Formulates a marketing strategy from research, reports, products and organizational data. Designs, conducts and evaluates innovative means to advertise and market Connected Health products. This includes creative writing and direct communication with all levels of personnel internal and external to the VAMC/HCS. Analyzes participation trends, customer markets, needs of the consumer and advises the VAMC/HCS leadership team on concerns and trends. Recommends specific approaches for managing special issues and findings. Represents the VAMC/HCS at forums, conferences, and meetings. Delivers presentations to all levels of the VAMC/HCS, service organizations, and veterans, family members and caregivers. Presentations are designed to inform the audience about the Connected Health Program, products, capabilities, and health care issues. Develops multimedia campaign materials (e.g., printed articles, brochures, videos) to enlighten target population. Researches and writes articles, news releases and briefs for inclusion in publications and for release to other media. Uses the worldwide web to maximize outreach efforts. Conducts required coordination and obtains clearances as required for release of information. Applies advertising and marketing techniques to material produced to include color dynamics, reading grade level, graphics and design, journalistic writing, etc. Manages multiple projects by planning and organizing activities. Proposes, develops, and implements strategic plans and objectives for the enhancement, maintenance, and future advancement of operations for the Connected Health program. Manages, administers, and provides leadership for the facility by creating facility deployment plans; developing budgets and spending plans; formulating contracts or grants; and planning, scheduling and coordinating work operations to ensure the success of the Connected Health program. Develops implements, maintains, and documents internal and control policies and procedures. Analyzes new or amended legislation, and develops policy covering programs, activities, or functions for which the facility has responsibility. Serves as the facility liaison to the National Program Management Office and National Help Desk. Utilizes interpersonal communication skills to deal with Veterans who are difficult, hostile, or distressed, working with co-workers, supervisors, and high level management to negotiate resolutions. Performs other related duties as assigned. .Work Schedule: 0700-1530, Monday-Friday Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. 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#: Communications Specialist/PD130070 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See Additional Information below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/08/2024. 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-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: 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: Manages multidisciplinary teams comprised of professional, technical, and support personnel to coordinate clinical and business functions for the Connected Health programs/products; Responsible for supporting and guiding facility VHA public affairs officers and stakeholders about Connected Health's variety of modalities; Proposes, develops, and implements strategic plans and objectives for the enhancement, maintenance, and future advancement of operations for the Connected Health program; Develops and updates a facility-specific implementation plan that includes developing a mission/vision statement, establishing a local team, leading team efforts, identifying local providers as champions, and developing roles and responsibilities; Establishes, develops, and implements local Connected Health-related goals and strategies to meet goals, identifies responsible parties, tracks progress, including monitoring goals/activity status, and reports status/progress to medical center management; Direct the daily activities and evaluate the performance of one or two Connected Health Technicians who are tasked with training staff, patients, patient families, and caregivers on the various technologies within Connected Health; Develops, implements, maintains, and documents internal and control policies and procedures. 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 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and more than 2 full years of graduate level education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Accountability Communications Creative Thinking Customer Service Influencing/Negotiating Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary, but may require periods of standing during presentations, briefings, speeches, health fair activities, etc., although some slight physical effort may be required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Education 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 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and more than 2 full years of graduate level education. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.