The Program Specialist to the Veteran Readiness and Employment Division (VR&E) provides support to the supervisor and VR&E counselors by performing various program support, technical, and administrative services for the Division. The incumbent assists VR&E applicants and participants through all phases of the program and serves as a Point of Contact (POC) for Veterans, their representatives, and other stakeholders.

Duties

The duties of the Program Specialist in the VR&E Division include: Greet and receive Veterans and other visitors to the Regional Office making inquiries regarding Chapter 31, 35, 36, as well as other VA programs, and those seeking assistance with rehabilitation concerns. Screen questions presented, provide information, guidance, and directions, and take appropriate action to accomplish resolution. Serve as a Division and VA representative to provide knowledgeable, timely, and courteous customer service and takes initiative to resolve complex issue independently within scope of assigned responsibilities. Serve as backup to case managers in the Division by assisting with general issues or resolving minor problems. Respond to telephone, emails, and written inquiries from Veterans, Veterans representatives, VR&E staff, school officials, vendors, contractors, and others to resolve routine and complex issues. Process applications for VR&E services for disabled Veterans by reviewing information found in various electronic systems and databases Receive request from Chapter 31 participants requesting a special service. Advise Veteran of appropriate action required to receive requested services. Approve or deny special services and prepares documents for services Assist claimants in preparing claims, assist in obtaining and preparing documents or other evidence, resolve issues related to Chapter 31 training, explain decisions rendered by the counselors Create and manage spreadsheets (or other mechanisms of data tracking) that analyze workload statistics and metrics and work with supervisor in managing the Division's workload; enter, track, analyze, and prepare reports on workload data and entitlement determinations; assign cases to VR&E counselors. Utilize Microsoft Office products and VR&E and VA electronic systems, databases, and computerized programs, make recommendations to the supervisor on ways to improve administrative operations, prepare or assist with reports, track and reports on Division budget and local program contract. Manage the VR&E electronic mailbox, process all incoming and outgoing mail in the Centralized Mail Portal. Manage the supervisor's calendar and make travel arrangements for the supervisor. Assist with, or manage, any special assignments or projects assigned by the supervisor. Authorize Chapter 31 subsistence awards. Complete all VR&E budget activities. Along with VR&E Officer, serve as Contracting Officer Representative (COR) for Division. Acquire Chapter 31 supplies using the government purchase card. Research and meet with local vendors to ensure quality service to Veterans. Serve as VR&E's computer systems coordinator. Complete all IT requests for system access, deletions, and changes for VR&E employees. Serve as Timekeeper for Division. 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: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Available Remote: This is not a remote position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist / 41600-A, 416301-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Required, OGE 450

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• 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, 01/25/2024. 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. 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. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 level. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level. 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. Note: You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" showing that you are in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you possess one year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade. General Adjustment and Award SF-50's cannot be used for time-in-grade verification purposes. Minimum Qualification Requirement: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: To Qualify at the GS-07 grade level: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS--05 grade level in Federal Service. Specialized Experience is defined as responsible for human services or general office administration. Examples of experience would typically include: alpha-numeric filing, completing telephone outreach, responding to telephone and written inquiries; scheduling appointments; financial transactions to include computer data entry, and appropriate customer and peer relationships/communication. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one full year of graduate level education OR Superior Academic Achievement (SAA). SAA is based on a Bachelor degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0; class standing in the upper third of graduating class; or election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and graduate education. To Qualify at the GS-09 grade level: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in Federal Service. Specialized experience must document experience in the following: experience working with Vocational and Rehabilitation and Employment Chapter 31 and Chapter 36 programs; experience working with contracting practices and procedures; and experience working with Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment operations. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree OR two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree (such as LLB. or J.D). 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 the first year of graduate education. Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information. 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: The work is mostly sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as papers or books. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. 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 Seattle Regional Benefit Office 915 2nd Avenue Seattle, WA 98174 US
• Name: Melissa Barnhouse
• Email: [email protected]