Communications Specialist

Summary This position serves as the My HealtheVet (MHV) Change Agent Coordinator at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center in Louisville, Kentucky. This position functions as facility champion, leads facility teams to support existing and future Veteran communication initiatives, and coordinates local implementation, training, communications, outreach, web health content and support efforts. Duties ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** My HealtheVet (MHV) is a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-sponsored website for Veterans, their families, advocates, and VA employees. 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. MHV online prescription refill is available to all Veterans receiving medications at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers/Healthcare System (VAMC/HCS), and MHV provides one central location for obtaining information about VA benefits, programs, and services. Secure Messaging (SM) through MHV is a secure Web-based message service that allows the healthcare team to communicate non-urgent health related information with patients and will fundamentally change the way Veterans manage their health care as well as improve the patient-provider relationship. MHV Change Agent Coordinator plans, organizes drives, directs, evaluates, and reports local MHV-related actions/activities. MAJOR DUTIES: Leads the facility's efforts to integrate MHV and SM among healthcare providers and patients. Establishes and manages 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. Oversees MHV's online presence and web content and leads innovations to keep facilities MHV on the cutting-edge. Ensures accountability via written communication as it relates to MHV as each of these communication skills contributes importantly to the way VHA communicates with Veterans, Congress, our dedicated volunteers, the public and employees. Establishes and manages the training plans and design and perform needs assessments within the project relative to functional and training needs and project effectiveness. Formulates a marketing strategy from research, reports, products and organizational data. Designs, conducts and evaluates innovative means to advertise and market products of the MHV and Social Media Program. This includes creative writing and direct communication with all levels of personnel internal and external to the VA. Analyzes participation trends, customer markets, needs of the consumer and advises the leadership team on concerns and trends. Recommends specific approaches for managing special issues and findings. 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 world wide web to maximize outreach efforts. Applies advertising and marketing techniques to material produced to include color dynamics, reading grade level, graphics and design, journalistic writing, etc. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Requirements Conditions of employment 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: 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. 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 dentification 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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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, 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 at the GS-11 level, you must meet the following criteria: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing web-based marketing activities, such editing and maintaining web pages, creating hyperlinks, and utilizing social media and networking technologies to communicate information to target audiences; experience using automated data processing applications such as desktop publishing and graphic design software to develop, design, and maintain digital and print communication products; and experience applying audio-visual techniques to support the development and delivery of multimedia communications, such as radio, television, slide presentations, speeches, or other outreach materials. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week -OR- EDUCATION: A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree from an accredited college or university. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. -OR- COMBINATION: An equivalent combination of specialized experience as described above and successfully completed education beyond the master's level. Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. 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 IMPORTANT: 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: 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/. Additional information Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. 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. 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. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 80 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Note: Per "Executive Order 14251: Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs", this position is no longer eligible for bargaining unit participation. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.