As a Legal Administrative Specialist (Contact Representation) , you will serve as a member of the Public Contact Team, located in the Veterans Service Center. The Legal Administrative Specialist (Contact Representation) provides in-depth information and comprehensive assistance to veterans, their dependents, and beneficiaries concerning any matter within the scope of VA benefits and related non-VA benefits.

Duties

Coordinates counseling sessions with Veterans, their dependents, and their beneficiaries face to face, regarding all benefits available through the VA, as well as non-VA benefits available through other agencies. This is accomplished through in-person or telephone interviews, and correspondence, or telephone VBA facilities and provides broad outreach services. Explains in detail, VBA rating decisions and provides explanations for the decisions using extensive knowledge of VA benefits and services, claim and appeal processing procedures and benefit determination information and all pertinent information available in system of record. Assists with programs including, but are not limited to, compensation and pension benefits, home loan eligibility, education, health care, life insurance, burial benefits, vocational rehabilitation services, general Social Security Administration benefit programs, other federal, state, and local domestic relations, and assistance programs. Prepares technical correspondences to veterans and their dependents providing benefit information, representation rights and response to miscellaneous inquiries. Explains pertinent legal provisions, regulations, and related administrative practices and their application to specific cases. May serve as or with the Outreach Coordinator (such as the Women's Veterans Coordinator, Minority Veterans Coordinator, Homeless Veterans Coordinator, Aging Veterans Coordinator, Ex-Prisoners of War Coordinator or Military Services Coordinator). Initiates inquiries to resolve errors, delays, or other problems in obtaining benefits. Completes claim and appeal related work. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework Available: No. This is NOT a remote position. Position Description/PD#: Legal Administrative Specialist (Contact Representation) GS-10, PD# 02108A Promotion Potential: There is no promotion potential within this position, as it is being filled at the full performance level of a GS-10. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts; driving an automobile, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit position.

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.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
• Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit position.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/16/2024. Time-in-Grade Requirements: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet the "time-in-grade" requirements. For a GS-10 grade level position, you must have served at least 52 weeks at the GS-09 grade level or higher. A SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application packet. NOTE: To verify your time-in-grade eligibility, you must submit your most recent appointment, promotion, or within grade increase Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50).The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). If the most recent 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 also submit your most recent promotion or within-grade increase in addition to your recent SF-50. DO NOT submit Award SF-50's and/or General Adjustment SF-50's as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade. NOTE: Time-in-gradedoes not apply to applicants applying for consideration under Status (People with Disabilities (Schedule A); Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA); or 30% or More Disabled Veterans). Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position, applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Specialized Experience listed below: Specialized Experience (GS-10): To qualify for the Legal Administrative Specialist (Contact Representation), GS-0901-10 position, you must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as work that involves: orating to persons from a wide variety of backgrounds regarding VA benefits and Performing research of local, state, and federal laws and regulations to determine Veteran's eligibility for benefits programs. There is no educational substitution at the GS-10 grade level. The Office of Personnel Management's group coverage qualification standards, associated individual occupational requirements (IOR), and individual qualification standards covering white collar occupations in the Federal competitive service can be found here. 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; religious; 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. For work in the federal service, include the grade level for the position(s). 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.

Education

There is no educational substitution at the GS-10 grade level.

Contacts

• Address Indianapolis Regional Benefit Office 575 N Pennsylvania St Indianapolis, IN 46204 US
• Name: John Sonntag
• Phone: 317-916-7781
• Email: [email protected]