The Staff Appraiser position is located in the Veterans Benefit Administration, Loan Guaranty, Construction and Valuation Value Stream. The Staff Appraiser is responsible for oversight of an assigned multi-state jurisdiction and will perform a full range of construction and valuation matters affecting the VA Loan Guaranty Program.

Duties

Major Duties: Analyze and review completed appraisals reports of real property, both existing and newly built properties, to ensure compliance with USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) and/or Department of Veterans Affairs appraisal procedures. Demonstrate thoroughness and proficiency in conducting oversight of completed construction and valuation related work completed done by lending institution staff and external appraisers. Interprets and applies VA regulations, laws and procedures specific to issues related to construction and valuation of residential properties and appraisal reviews. Assist Veterans, service members, and family members via inbound and outbound phone calls, or written correspondence to address construction and valuation related questions. Discuss issues with lending institution staff and real estate appraisers via inbound and outbound phone calls or email and provide solutions to their inquiries. Research comparable real estate sales information to determine market conditions and validity of value determinations. Manage multiple assignments to ensure proper and timely oversight of the construction and valuation aspects of the VA Home Loan program. Analyze completed appraisal reports and utilizing standard appraisal review techniques to determine the accuracy of the property value estimation. Review condominium projects throughout assigned multi-state area for compliance with VA regulations and requirements. Monitor the assignment of appraisal reviews to external appraisers and ensure completion of appraisals to prevent delay of loan closing or a foreclosure sale. Assess application packages and provide recommendations to management on potential qualified appraisers for the VA fee panel. Work with VA National Practice Group on legal issues such as community water systems, private roads, condominiums, leaseholds estates, easements and encroachments. Responsible for a full range of construction and valuation matters affecting the VA Loan Guaranty Program, including the processing of construction complaints, reconsideration of valuate requests, and VA fee panel recruitment. Makes sound decisions based on appraisal and construction knowledge and analytical results. Able to calculate basic math and compile data. Resolves complex interrelated problems and issues with minimal supervisory assistance. Serves as primary point of contact for Veterans, lenders, servicers, appraisers, local agencies and agency leadership related to valuation matters associate with Loan Guaranty. Maintains effective working relationships with both internal and external customers. Receives and provides constructive criticism if work products submitted are missing required documentation. Orally counsels program participants and Veterans on a variety of subjects. Explains and defends decisions to individuals who may be hostile, upset or unreceptive. Produces well-written information which may include technical material that is appropriate for the intended audience. Uses correct English grammar, punctuation and spelling. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Available Position Description/PD#: 39157A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/25/2023. 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-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. 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. If you are a current VBA employee requesting a reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-11 grade (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-11. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience performing quality-control reviews and/or post audit reviews of appraisals prepared by lenders and appraisers; demonstrated experience applying federal, state, and local laws, policies and regulations associated with underwriting home and/or commercial loans, and demonstrated experience applying technical knowledge of real property requirements and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) guidelines for the origination and liquidation of government home loans. 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. 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 undergraduate. 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. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Houston Regional Benefit Office 6900 Almeda Rd Houston, TX 77030 US
• Name: Symone Carpenter
• Phone: (303) 236-6165
• Email: [email protected]