The Program Specialist supports VR&E staff assigned to supervise and assist Chapter 31 participants under U.S. Code Title 38 in all phases of the Vocational Rehabilitation Process. This incumbent motivates and educates individuals on utilization of Chapter 31 benefits and other available VA benefits. They respond to telephone inquires from claimants, their representatives, VR&E staff and other VA personnel to resolve issues.

Duties

Program Support Duties The Program Specialist supports VR&E staff assigned to supervise and assist Chapter 31 participants under U.S. Code Title 38 in all phases of the Vocational Rehabilitation Process. This incumbent motivates and educates individuals on utilization of Chapter 31 benefits and other available VA benefits. They respond to telephone inquires from claimants, their representatives, VR&E staff and other VA personnel to resolve issues which may include but not limited to the following: eligibility criteria for Chapter 31 benefits, case movement through the Chapter 31 process, benefits available in the Chapter 31 program, entitlement criteria, calculations of months remaining benefits, and subsistence allowance inquiries. Responsible for reviewing and processing of new applicants to the VR&E programs, and facilitation of group orientation sessions. Responsible for resolution of issues regarding VR&E eligibility and entitlement. Screens issues presented by the veterans or other visitors, and in the absence of a VRC, and within the scope of assigned responsibilities, services as VA representative to resolve issues presented by veterans. Responsible for inquires and assistance with financial oversight of the successful administration of the VR&E program for participants. Primarily responsible for the preparation of the awards required to pay the Veterans subsistence while participating in the program. Responsible for the maintenance of a centralized purchase card, budget administration, and procurement. Responsible for the role of timekeeper for the VR&E. Provides administrative support to the VR&EO in office administration, and other related activities. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level at the GS-9 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: Full time, Monday through Friday; 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Travel: Occasional Travel Telework: Yes Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist / PD39694-O and PD39693-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Bargaining Unit Position: Yes

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, 07/03/2024. 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 "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. NOTE: All current or former Federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)To qualify for the If you are a current VBA employee requesting a reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-07 or GS-09 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-09. GS-7 position, you must also meet the following: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 providing clerical and administrative support to an office, to include typing a variety of correspondence, greeting customers, and maintaining office files or experience researching and reviewing available records/documents and piecing together pertinent information from a variety of sources. 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. To qualify for the GS-9 position, you must also meet the following: Specialized Experience: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in to the GS-07 grade level: managing the administrative tasks associated an office, workplace, or team; these tasks include, but are not limited to managing multiple projects/deadlines, preparing reports, preparing presentations, maintaining databases, and managing deadlines. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. Master's or equivalent graduate degreeor 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 must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first year of graduate education. To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one year by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. 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 sedentary. It occasionally requires filing of materials, carrying light objects such as files, books and papers. No special physical qualifications are required. The environment is an office setting and work is performed in an adequately lighted and climate controlled office. 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 Wichita Regional Benefit Office 9111 East Douglas Avenue, Suite 200 Wichita, KS 67207 US
• Name: Aleesha Dent
• Phone: 5153237575
• Email: [email protected]