This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), National Cemetery Administration (NCA), Office of Field Programs under Memorial Products Service (MPS) in Leavenworth, KS.

Duties

Performs research and analysis work; resolves complex and controversial claims; oversees and participates in special projects; and serves as the Team Leader to ensure the work unit (team) carries out their functions. Utilizes a variety of team building and planning techniques such as coordination, coaching, and facilitation to ensure the team is delivering quality and timely services. Researches and/or analyzes problems, issues, or program requirements that are administrative in nature. Determines issues and collects information from a variety of sources. Reviews information, and uses analytical techniques to support recommendations and proposals for management. Lead up to nine (9) cases managers (full performance level GS-303-07). Adjudicates and manages complex, controversial, sensitive, and precedent-setting claims. Serves as the sites subject matter expert on case management. Assures responses to a variety of claimants are clear and concise and applies tactfulness and diplomacy when documentation does not support eligibility of claim, in accordance with prescribed law, policy and procedures. Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Telework: May be Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description Title/PD#: Lead Program Specialist/12784A The full performance level of this position is GS-9. Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

• Subject to a background/security investigation.
• 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.
• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all specialized experience and time in grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement, 10/30/2023. 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 within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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 your most recent non-award 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 non-award SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade. 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/education, as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: to team building, coaching, reviewing information and analytical techniques to support management, administrative duties, communicating work assignments and working independently. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed master's or equivalent graduate degree or two full years of progressively higher level graduate level education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use undergraduate education). 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-09. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate 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: Computer SkillsLeadershipManages and Organizes InformationOral CommunicationWritten Communication 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: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. Office may be either located on a single floor or in a building that has offices on an upper and lower floor. Occasional travel may be required. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. 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.

Contacts

• Address National Cemetery Administration 810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20420 US
• Name: NCA Human Resources Center
• Phone: (317)916-3660
• Email: [email protected]