The positions are with the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and located at the Boston, MA and the Manchester, NH, VA Regional Office (VARO), within the Veterans Readiness and Employment (VRE) division. As a Program Specialist you will be responsible for administrative and technical work in the VR&E Division. The incumbent is responsible for assisting the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) with technical management of the VR&E caseload while providing assistance to Veteran clients.

Duties

Receive veterans and other visitors to regional office and out-based sites making inquiries regarding Chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation issues. Screen issues presented by the veterans or other visitors, and in the absence of a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and within the scope of assigned responsibilities, serves as VA representative to resolve issues presented by veterans. Provide administrative support to the Veterans Readiness and employment operations in the responsibilities for personnel management, budget administration, procurement, office administration, and other related activities covering all facets. Responsible for reviewing all applications for VA Vocational Rehabilitation benefits and services . Resolve issues related to Veterans Readiness and employment Training (Chapter 31)such as overpayment questions, class schedules, termination dates, remaining entitlement, training under other educational chapters and accounts receivable. Serve as a "system administrator" for the automated case management systems. These duties include a shared responsibility for maintaining and updating system information as well as the instruction of new employees on systems use Complete all IT requests for system access, deletions, and changes for designated staff. Serve as the technical expert concerning administrative responsibilities of the Veterans Readiness and Employment support staff. Complete all IT requests for system access, deletions, and changes for designated staff. Serve as the technical expert concerning administrative responsibilities of the Veterans Readiness and Employment support staff. Responsible for serving as Division Timekeeper. Ensuring that all leave is appropriately entered into the VATAS system, to include types of leave Annual, Sick, FMLA, etc., and all time cards are certified appropriately and timely. Perform reviews of appropriate master records, claim files and CER folders, and resolve issues as discovered.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Selectees are subject to a background/suitability investigation.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• A probationary period may be required for employees and supervisors.
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
• 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, 08/31/2023. The Office of Personnel Management's (OPM's) group qualification standards covering white collar occupations in the Federal competitive service can be found: Here Specialized Experience: To Qualify at the Grade level of GS-09: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-07) in the federal service or other service. Specialized experience is work experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, within the organization. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: (1) Assist in providing administrative support to counseling and management staff; (2) Assisting with case management functions such as making applications for benefits, reviewing claim documents, while providing program information or (3) Assist in resolving and responding to client inquiries. OR Applicants may substitute education for experience at grade GS-09. Applicants may substitute Graduate Education to qualify for grade GS-9. Applicants may substitute education for experience with an awarded master's or equivalent graduate degree (such as an LL. B or J.D.) from an accredited college or university, or two full years (36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. This graduate degree or education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work of this position. If you are claiming to qualify based on your education, your application must include an official or unofficial copy of graduate level transcripts that demonstrate this information. OR Applicants may combine education and experience to qualify for grade GS-09. Applicants may substitute a combination of graduate education and specialized experience to qualify for grade GS-9. If you have some, but not all, of the graduate education described above AND less than one full year of the specialized experience described above, you may qualify by combining the amount of creditable education and experience that you do have. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-9. To calculate, first identify the education you have earned beyond your first year of study as a percentage of a total of two years of study. Then identify the number of months of specialized experience you have as a percentage of 12 months. Add the two percentages. The total must equal at least 100 percent in order to be qualifying. For example, an applicant who has 27 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e., 50% of graduate education required beyond the first 18 credit hours earned) and who has 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e., 50% of the one year of specialized experience required) would meet 100% and thus be qualified for the position. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grade GS-9. If you are claiming to qualify based on your education, your application must include an official or unofficial copy of graduate level transcripts that demonstrate this information. Note: 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 you document, to include volunteer experience.

Education

An unofficial or official copy of your transcripts 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: 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: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Contacts

• Address Boston Regional Benefit Office JFK Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury St Boston, MA 02203-9928 US
• Name: HRC-Detroit DEU
• Phone: 313-596-7213
• Email: [email protected]