The Veterans Outreach Program Specialist serves as the principal outreach staff member for Military Reserve and National Guard members returning from the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND).

Duties

Major duties include: Assist clients, their families, and representatives, and faculty staff members in recognizing and removing institutional barriers. Identifies existing and potential problem areas with the client. Serves as designated Mobile Vet Center (MVC) vehicle operator for the Vet Center. Incumbent must meet all requirements to operate the MVC. (see requirement below) Inspecting MVC for any problems, attending and completing all MVC vehicle training on Mobile Vet Center use and maintenance, Maintain certification; Works with RCS staff for MVC routine maintenance Suggests solutions or alternatives to existing procedures which contribute to these problems. Seeks out veterans to ascertain their need for services Works in diverse and sometimes unusual settings. Interacts with a broad range of individuals from various socio-economic classes; racial and ethnic backgrounds; and special populations. Establishes helping relationships with veterans and their significant other, family, and friends. Maintains a conducive team environment established with the Vet Center Director and staff. Provides substance abuse referrals to veterans and their significant other, and families. Provides crisis intervention, stabilization to veterans and their significant other, and families. Provides follow-up to initiate care with veterans and their significant other, and families. Keeps abreast of current procedures, process of accessing care, and non-treatment resources for referral. Provides education in the assessment for counseling veterans and their significant other, and families. Educate veterans regarding benefits and securing referrals to appropriate federal, state, and local agencies. Educate veterans and their significant other, and families on information regarding counseling assistance and services available for veterans benefits. Assist veterans and their significant other, and families with referrals for benefits. Develop veteran employability through community referrals. Provide assistance and referral regarding discharge upgrading. Provide assistance and referral regarding Agent Orange. Provide assistance to adult and older veterans. Other duties as assigned. **Heavy Equipment license number 8 or 9, from Puerto Rico (please submit evidence) is required. Note: The VOPS position requires a heavy equipment license number 8 or 9, as here in Puerto Rico in order to drive the Mobile Vet Center, it cannot be driven on a regular chauffeurs license.** **Selectee must be proficient both written and oral, in English AND Spanish. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be selected at the GS-07 or GS-09. If selected at the GS-07, the selectee may be promoted to the full performance level (GS-09) 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; 8:00am to 4:30pm, may include occasional nights, weekend, and holidays as required by mission. Telework: May be eligible for AD-Hoc telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Veterans Outreach Program Specialist/PD132530 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/19/2024. 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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 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 provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Veterans Outreach Specialist - GS-07 - Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-05) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Establishes outreach service provision with military installations, Reserve and National Guard facilities; provides transitional assistance program briefings; develops and distributes outreach materials to include brochures, fact sheets, web content, and other targeted information; works with local and regional media including television, radio, and print media; provides training and information to staff, other federal agencies and community agencies regarding Vet Center services; develops and maintains working relationships with a network of service provision agencies and individuals in all areas relevant to transitioning combat service members and their families; organizes and participates in a myriad of community activities andevents that have high probability of GWOT, OEF, OIF, and OND veterans present. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. Veterans Outreach Specialist - GS-09 - 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: Establishes outreach service provision with military installations, Reserve and National Guard facilities; provides transitional assistance program briefings; develops and distributes outreach materials to include brochures, fact sheets, web content, and other targeted information; works with local and regional media including television, radio, and print media; provides training and information to staff, other federal agencies and community agencies regarding Vet Center services; develops and maintains working relationships with a network of service provision agencies and individuals in all areas relevant to transitioning combat service members and their families; organizes and participates in a myriad of community activities and events that have high probability of GWOT, OEF, OIF, and OND veterans present OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Creative ThinkingCustomer ServiceIntegrity/HonestyPlanning and EvaluatingVehicle Operation 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 usually performed sitting at a desk, in news conferences, briefings, meetings, etc.; or riding in an automobile or on public transportation. A high level of physical energy is required, as the incumbent will be expected to meet with many people in many different locations in the course of a workday; however, no special physical demands are involved in performing the work. The incumbent will have an office at the Vet Center; however, it is expected that a major portion of the services provided will be conducted away from the office, in the offices of other agencies, in "non- traditional" settings, and in military, reserve, and National Guard facilities. The nature of the job requires travel throughout an assigned geographical area away from the Vet Center. The work environment involves everyday risks or discomfort requiring normal safety precautions of a typical office setting or commercial vehicle, such as, planes, trains, buses, or automobiles. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. Serves as designated Mobile Vet Center (MVC) vehicle operator for the Vet Center. Incumbent must meet all local requirements to operate the MVC. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Readjustment Counseling Service 120 SE 6th Avenue, Ste. 102 Topeka, KS 66603 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]