The Field Examiner position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration, Fiduciary Hub. The Field Examiner (FE) determines the payee (fiduciary), best suited to the needs and situation of VA beneficiaries, who are incompetent due to legal disability, mental disability, physical disability or minority. The Field Examiner ensures that beneficiaries receive all the benefits they are entitled to and takes necessary actions to protect their assets.

Duties

Evaluate psychiatric and/or court determinations of incompetence by means of field investigations in order to arrive at independent determinations as to whether or not adult VA beneficiaries have the mental capacity to handle their own funds. Perform on-site fact-finding to ascertain the total of a beneficiary's income, assets and obligations by inspecting the environmental setting and assessing the social, economic and industrial adjustment. Develop information through observation, analysis of records, personal interviews and depositions of beneficiaries, their relatives, and/or disinterested witnesses in the community. Verify evidence to establish accuracy and authenticity. In the case of a minor beneficiary, verifies or determines the existence, identity, and custody of the minor. When a fiduciary is required, determines the most effective, practical and/or economical pay arrangement based on the beneficiary's situation. Periodic overnight travel may be required based on mission needs; up to two to three weeks travel per month is possible. On a routine basis, the incumbent in this position will be required to operate a government-owned motor vehicle; therefore, incumbent must possess a valid state driver's license.

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.
• Must have a valid driver's license.
• Incumbent will be required to drive government owned automobiles.
• Must have reliable internet
• 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, 12/08/2023. 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 -GS-09: To qualify at the GS-9 grade level: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-07) in the federal or other services. 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) Performing fact finding procedures in order to fully assess a situation; (2) Gathering information through observation, analysis of records, and/or performing personal interviews which may be conducted virtually or in person; AND (3) Verifying information to ensure accuracy. OR 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 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. Specialized Experience - GS-11 To qualify at the GS-11 grade level: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-09) in the federal or other services. 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. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: (1) Working in a government funded, public, private, or nonprofit organization that awards or oversee financial benefits for program beneficiaries; (2) Making determinations to appoint fiduciaries that will serve in the best interest of the beneficiary; (3) Conducting investigations involving the misuse of funds, fraud, or other situations detrimental to the beneficiary's welfare; AND (4) Making determinations of adherence to laws, regulations, and agency policy. OR Applicants may substitute Graduate Education to qualify for grade GS-11. Applicants may substitute education for experience with an awarded Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (such as an LL.M.) from an accredited college or university, or three full years (54 semester hours or 81 quarter hours) of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a doctoral 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 substitute a combination of graduate education and specialized experience to qualify for grade GS-11. 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-11. To calculate, first identify the education you have earned beyond your first two years of study as a percentage of a total of three 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 45 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e., 50% of graduate education required beyond the first two years) 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. 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 Milwaukee Regional Benefit Office 5400 West National Ave Milwaukee, WI 53214 US
• Name: HRC-Detroit DEU
• Phone: 313-596-7213
• Email: [email protected]