Chief Communications Officer

About the role

The Chief Communications Officer for the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) oversees all internal and external communications, directing a comprehensive public affairs program that includes strategic messaging, media relations, and community engagement. Chief Communications Officer leads efforts to develop, implement, and maintain communication and marketing initiatives that directly support the Healthcare System's strategic priorities and overall mission. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/08/2026. 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-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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 as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: serving as a senior advisor and spokesperson; developing communication plans; managing media relations; crafting written and oral materials; leading crisis communication; analyzing public opinion; and producing campaigns that support organizational goals. It also requires skill in coordinating with diverse stakeholders, applying independent judgment to complex and sensitive issues, supervising Public Affairs and Communications staff, and managing web, social media, and visual information programs to ensure accurate, timely, and strategic dissemination of information. 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/.