The Pathways Internship Program allows students to join VA in career positions that emphasize long-term training and development. You must be willing to relocate.

Duties

This position is being filled under the Pathways Internship Program. The program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school. The Internship provides managers a ready source of student employees and potential permanent employees upon completion of the program requirements. It also provides the student with work experience directly related to the curriculum studies or career goals while offering eligibility for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment upon completion. For more information on Internship opportunities within the Department of Veterans Affairs, please visit https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/pathways-internship-program/. This Student Trainee (Social Science) (GS - 0199- 07) is located in the Veterans Benefits Administration, Albuquerque Regional Office, Albuquerque, New Mexico. This position is located in the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Division. The student trainee will work in the Regional Office. This mission of the VR&E Division is to provide comprehensive counseling, vocational and employment services to eligible individuals. MAJOR DUTIES: Assists staff counselors in providing services to eligible disabled veterans from applicant through discontinued status by establishing and clearing records in BDN and WINRS systems, sending appropriate forms and letters to contractors and veterans and scheduling initial and follow-up appointments. Assists staff counselors in case management responsibilities for all veterans in following case status: Rehabilitation to Employability (RTE), Employment Assistance (EAS), Interrupted (INT), Independence Living (ILP), and Extended Evaluations (EXT). Responds to veteran's routine questions concerning subsistence allowance and receipt/non-receipt of moneys due. With guidance from the Rehabilitation Counselor, consults with counselors, psychologists, physicians, social workers and other rehabilitation professionals regarding treatment and other services for Chapter 31 Veterans. The Pathways Internship Program provides managers a ready source of student employees and potential permanent employees upon completion of the program requirements. It also provides the student with work experience directly related to their curriculum studies and career goals while offering eligibility for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment upon completion. To be eligible for conversion, the student employee must be capable of working at least 640 hours prior to completion of their degree requirements. Only applicants that are pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate who are enrolled at least half-time in an accredited institution and seeking degrees in Business Administration, Accounting or other business related disciplines will be considered. Full requirements for Conversion: Complete at least 640 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program. Complete their degree or certificate requirements. Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Intern will be converted. Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the Participant's Agreement. Perform their job successfully. Must possess US citizenship in order to be converted to a career/career conditional appointment. Internship Work Options: When a student is initially hired into the Pathways Internship Program, a work schedule is documented on his/her agreement. Students will work a parallel work schedule that allows them to work while continuing their education during the semester. Students should also take into consideration the required 640 hours of work that must be completed prior to the student's graduation, so that upon graduation the student will be eligible for conversion into a permanent position. For more information on the Pathways for Students go to http://www.opm.gov/HiringReform/Pathways/ Time-in-grade: 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. To qualify for the GS-07 position, applicants must have worked 52 weeks at the GS-05 grade level within the Federal Service. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: between 6:30 am - 4:00 pm Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not available Financial Disclosure Report: Required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Be at least 16 years old (by closing date of this vacancy announcement)
• Accepted for/currently enrolled in a qualified educational institution
• Selective Service Registration-required males (over 18) born after 12/31/59
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Subject to a 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, 08/08/2023. Internship Program: To be eligible, applicants must be accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis as defined by the institution in which you are enrolled. You may qualify based on education and/or experience as described below: Specialized 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, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized Experience includes but is not limited to: assisting in the delivery of vocational rehabilitation services. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed one full academic year of graduate level education; or Eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement Provision and completion of a Bachelor's Degree. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-07 level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned. Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-07. For example, an applicant who has 90 semester hours of undergraduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Ability to conduct entitlement determinations. Skill in developing vocational goals. Ability to develop rehabilitation plans. Knowledge of case management. Knowledge of employment services. 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/qualifications. Physical Requirements: This position is primarily sedentary with some lifting, stooping and bending is required.

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 Albuquerque Regional Benefit Office 500 Gold Avenue, S.W. Albuquerque, NM 87102 US
• Name: Diana Ingraham
• Phone: 515-323-5822
• Email: [email protected]