Program Specialist (Public Affairs Officer).

Veterans Benefits Administration; Waco (TX); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Benefits Administration seeks a Program Specialist (Public Affairs Officer) to lead communications strategies, prepare press materials, and advise leadership on public messaging. The role involves coordinating media relations, developing announcements, and representing VA interests in public forums at local and national levels.

You will work with colleagues across VA, leverage multiple channels to inform stakeholders, and may engage in telework on a case-by-case basis.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11 in public affairs work, developing and delivering communication strategies.
• Experience preparing press releases and media responses and advising leadership on communication issues.
• Ability to manage relationships with media and community partners; use multiple platforms for information dissemination.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight in public information, policy development, and community relations activities.
• Participate in teams and workgroups with VA colleagues and private partners.
• Attend conferences and meetings with higher, lateral, and lower level representatives.
• Initiate responses to inquiries from groups and the public regarding policies and activities.
• Establish relationships with local media and disseminate news releases and feature articles.
• Coordinate media interviews and manage arrangements related to RO activities.
• Advise management on actions for public announcements; maintain contacts with officials and organizations.

Skills

Public affairs

Media relations

Communication strategies

Press releases

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

• Provides oversight in all areas of public information including policy development, dissemination of internal information, and community relations activities.


• Actively participates in a variety of teams and workgroups with representatives from all levels of VA and private concerns.


• Attends and participates in a variety of conferences and meetings with representatives of higher, lateral, and lower echelons.


• Initiates and prepares responses to inquiries from interested groups and the public concerning policies and activities.


• Establishes cooperative working relationships with the local media; writes and disseminates news releases and feature articles regarding the RO mission, functions, programs, and policies to print and broadcast media representatives.


• Organizes and coordinates print and broadcast media interviews with staff members and oversees all arrangements with the media involving RO activities.


• Evaluates and advises management officials on specific courses of action to follow in making public announcements.


• Maintains contacts with congressional staffers, city and state officials, institutions, community organizations, industry, and other centers of influence to improve the public's understanding and awareness of RO activities.


• The PAO represents the Director in public forums, including making formal and informal presentations. Subject Matter will include both local and national policies and may be controversial in nature.

Duties

Specific Duties Include

• Provides oversight in all areas of public information including policy development, dissemination of internal information, and community relations activities.


• Actively participates in a variety of teams and workgroups with representatives from all levels of VA and private concerns.


• Attends and participates in a variety of conferences and meetings with representatives of higher, lateral, and lower echelons.


• Initiates and prepares responses to inquiries from interested groups and the public concerning policies and activities.


• Establishes cooperative working relationships with the local media; writes and disseminates news releases and feature articles regarding the RO mission, functions, programs, and policies to print and broadcast media representatives.


• Organizes and coordinates print and broadcast media interviews with staff members and oversees all arrangements with the media involving RO activities.


• Evaluates and advises management officials on specific courses of action to follow in making public announcements.


• Maintains contacts with congressional staffers, city and state officials, institutions, community organizations, industry, and other centers of influence to improve the public's understanding and awareness of RO activities.


• The PAO represents the Director in public forums, including making formal and informal presentations. Subject Matter will include both local and national policies and may be controversial in nature.

Work Schedule

Monday through Friday from 8:00am -4:30pm

Compressed/Flexible

Not Available

Telework

Yes - This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case‑case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position.

Virtual

This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#

Program Specialist (Public Affairs Officer); PD413700

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report

Not Required

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Required

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may 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;


• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

• 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.


• 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.

Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:08/24/2026.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT

• For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT

GS-12 Grade Level

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level performing public affairs work - developing and delivering communication strategies, preparing press releases and media responses, advising leadership on communication issues, managing relationships with media and community partners, and using multiple communication platforms to convey information. Experience must show skill in supporting organizational initiatives, coordinating with leadership, and applying policy guidance in public affairs operations.

Volunteer Experience

Volunteer Experience: 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.

Full vs. Part-Time Employment

Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.

Physical Requirements

The work is primarily sedentary, 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 Substitution

There is no education substitution for the GS-12 grade level.

Additional information

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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP),

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.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

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.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

For more information on the \"Who may apply\" eligibility requirements, please refer to the

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

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.

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.

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.