Communications Specialist (Temporary Promotion NTE 1 Year)

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/21/2024. 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 09. For a GS 09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS 07. 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-09 Grade Requirement Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS 07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Working closely with clinical applications coordinators to promote clinical and Veterans support with the MHV Program and develops and integrates MHV strategies to enhance Veteran-provider communications and improve overall quality of care. Promoting an atmosphere where patients are better able to make informed healthcare choices, stay healthy, and seek services when they need them. 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 LL.B. of J.D., if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. 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 the first-year level of graduate education This may be computed by first determining the applicant’s total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the GS-09 grade level; then determining the applicant’s education as a percentage of the education required for the GS-09 grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for the GS-09 grade level. (When crediting education that requires specific course work, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. GS-11 Grade Requirement 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: Promoting an atmosphere where patients are better able to make informed healthcare choices, stay healthy, and seek services when they need them. Receiving and distributing MHV related training and marketing materials and customizes for local use. Coordinating technical staff efforts to ensure that MHV computers and related equipment are functioning and available to MHV users. Works closely with IRM staff to ensure that appropriate software is loaded and operational in a timely manner and that MHV PCs are functioning and maintained properly. 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. The degree must be in a field that would equip the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the Communication Specialist position. (Transcripts must be submitted) 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 the first two-year level of graduate education. This may be computed by first determining the applicant’s total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the GS-11 grade level; then determining the applicant’s education as a percentage of the education required for the GS-11 grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for the GS-11 grade level. (When crediting education that requires specific course work, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Data Management Database Administration Technical Documentation Technical 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/. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
This Communications Specialist position is located in The Chief of Staff office at the VA Connecticut Health Care System, West Haven Campus. This position is a Full-Time at 40 per week. This position serves as facility champion, leads MHV and SM facility teams, and coordinates local MHV implementation, training, communications, outreach, and support efforts. MHV Program Coordinator plans, organizes, directs, evaluates, and reports local MHV-related actions/activities.