Supervisory Communications Specialist

Summary

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Richmond VA Medical Center (VAMC), Primary Care. The purpose of this position is to serve as the My HealtheVet Change Agent Coordinator. Timely, effective communication with Veterans is critical to the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Duties

My HealtheVet is a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) sponsored website for Veterans, their families, advocates, and VA employees. My HealtheVet (MHV) is a web-based application designed for Veterans and their families with the goal of optimizing Veterans' healthcare. Through MHV, Veterans can build their own Personal Health Record by self-entering personal and health-related information, as well as their health readings. Responsible for establishing and managing communications plans that identify target audiences, appropriate messages, activities, and resources needed for effective communication, and effective communications plan for change management, incorporate multiple channels to manage expectations and disseminate project progress. Establishes and manages the training plans and design and perform needs assessments within the project relative to functional and training needs and project effectiveness. Coordinates personnel and resources to evaluate the educational needs of Veterans and employees to develop MHV educational and training programs/classes. Develops, and updates a facility specific MHV implementation plan that includes developing a mission/vision statement, establishing a local team, leading team efforts, identifying local providers as champions, and developing MHV roles and responsibilities. Establishes, develops, and implements local MHV-related goals, strategies to meet goals, identifies responsible parties, tracks progress, including monitoring goals/activity status, and reports status/progress to medical center management. Designs, conducts, and evaluates innovative means to advertise and market products of the MHV and Social Media Program. Conducts required coordination and obtained clearances as required for release of information. Maintains liaison with VISN and national MHV teams and coordinators to ensure correct, current, and accurate portrayal of information is provided to meet objectives. Consults with representatives of academia and industry on marketing and advertising trends and application techniques. Analyzes functional clinical and business process changes or impact to clinical guidelines in terms of policies, procedures, and user behaviors. Manages multiple projects by planning and organizing activities for secure messaging, social media, and all other MHV projects. Proposes, develops, and implements strategic plans and objectives for the enhancement, maintenance, and future advancement of operations for the MHV 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 MHV program. Manages multi-disciplinary teams comprised of professional, technical and support personnel to coordinate clinical and business functions for the MHV program. Leads cross-functional teams to provide programming metrics, quality improvement, operational planning, and strategic planning. Develops implements, maintains, and documents MHV internal and control policies and procedures. Collects, develops, implements, and documents data to assist management with MHV operational decisions. Identifies problems and apply analytical techniques for the purpose of resolving issues. Utilizes interpersonal communication skills to deal with Veterans who are difficult, hostile, or distressed, working with co-workers, supervisors, and high-level management, and negotiating. Assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulty and requirements of assignments, and the capabilities of employees. Evaluates work performance of subordinates. Gives advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters. Interviews candidates for positions in the unit; recommend appointments, promotion, or reassignment to such positions. Hears and resolves complaints from employees, referring to group grievances and more serious unresolved complaints to a higher-level supervisor or manager. Effects minor disciplinary measures, such as warnings and reprimands, recommending other action in more serious cases. Identifies developmental and training needs of employees, providing or arranging for needed development and training. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Communications Specialist/PD503280 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Requirements

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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/28/2026. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: advertising and salesmanship and the ability to transform these requirements into a working, viable program. Knowledge and understanding of facility clinical, business, and operational processes and workflows. Skill to work with clinicians and Clinical Application Coordinators (CACs) to integrate theory into clinical and business practice patterns and policies. Skills to facilitate, negotiate, and mitigate SM and MHV-related challenges. Skill in organizing and communicating ideas and thoughts effectively through written correspondence and oral presentation. Journalistic skills are necessary to develop materials to convey information in a professional format generally acceptable to the public. Knowledge of the World Wide Web as a marketing vehicle. Skill in editing web pages and creating links and using social networking technology. Knowledge of and skill in automated data processing applications, e.g., desktop publishing, graphics, etc. to be able to design, establish, and operate in the operation of state-of-the-art personal computer (PC) equipment. Skill in audio-visual techniques to assist in preparation of radio, television, slide show, speech materials, or other methods of communication. Knowledge of a wide range of concepts and practices relating to the basic process of administration, the principles and standards of management and the techniques of organization, direction, coordination, and control. Skill, knowledge, and ability to analyze a variety of research reports, studies, fact sheets, and other documents and translate from analytical to commonly understood language.. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications Security Management Creativity and Innovation Data Management Planning and Evaluating Problem Solving 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 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. Other Information

Receiving Service Credit for 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. 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.