Visual Information Specialist

Description:

This position is located in the Communications Department of the Associate Director Resources of the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago, IL. The primary purpose of the position is to provide photographic and video, audiovisual, graphics and digital products in support of outreach and other public affairs programs.

Requirements:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/15/2024.

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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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-9 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Planning the preparation and use of photographs, illustrations, drawings, and other art work, charts, diagrams, dioramas, maps, slides, overlays, and other kinds of visual material for use in communicating information through visual means. Working with a variety of methods, techniques, and materials used in the design, production, and reproduction of visual products to plan the technical details of, or produce, aesthetically composed visual products in a timely manner. Working with equipment used in the design, production, and reproduction of visual products. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree Such education must have had a Major study in commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, drafting, interior design, photography, visual communication, or other fields related to the position. Some positions may also require subject-matter knowledge of medicine, science, or technical equipment and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 1 full year of progressively higher-level graduate education may be used to qualify. ( Transcripts Required). GS-11 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-9, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes: Planning the preparation and use of photographs, illustrations, drawings, and other art work, charts, diagrams, dioramas, maps, slides, overlays, and other kinds of visual material for use in communicating information through visual means. Developing original designs, concepts or visual styles for publication, web, exhibits and/or presentation materials. Knowledge and mastery of the principles, practices, methods and techniques associated with the development and production of original graphics, photography and audiovisual programs. Working with equipment used in the design, production, and reproduction of visual products sufficient to judge reproduction quality and aesthetically composed visual products. Using computer graphic imaging, digital photography, and interactive-video disc. Advising on and developing the best method of preparing briefings, conferences, hearings, and seminars. Knowledge of the technical characteristics of reproduction processes to judge the reproduction qualify of illustrations, maintain familiarity with the mechanics of cropping and scaling photos and illustrations, and maintain familiarity with the process of how art and copy are prepared for the printer. Working with a variety of art media such as commercial or graphic art techniques. Transform complex spoken or written descriptions of items, processes, issues or events into visual representations. OR GS-11 EDUCATION: Must have 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. Such education must have had a Major study in commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, drafting, interior design, photography, visual communication, or other fields related to the position. Some positions may also require subject-matter knowledge of medicine, science, or technical equipment and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED. OR GS-11 COMBINATION: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. Such education must have had a Major study in commercial art, fine arts, art history, industrial design, architecture, drafting, interior design, photography, visual communication, or other fields related to the position and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
Administration and Management Multimedia Technologies Web Technology

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: The work is performed primarily while seated at a computer and requires no special physical demands, although some physical exertion may be required such as standing, bending, some lifting of heavy materials and cutting, trimming or collating. The work requires good eyesight, manual dexterity and color discrimination.

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/.