The incumbent serves as the Assistant Director for the Houston VA Regional Office. The Assistant Director is responsible to the Director for the effective, efficient, and economical direction, control, and operation of the Veterans Benefits Administration's program of benefits and services provided by law for Veterans, their dependents, and beneficiaries.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Responsible for the establishments of RO policies and procedures consistent with national mandates; provides executive leadership and direction for subordinates in the investigation and solution problems arising in the RO's administration of veteran's programs and services. Determines RO goals; develops long and short range plans to achieve these goals; establishes internal policy, determines program emphasis, and establishes procedures for the RO to achieve effective coordination and communication with internal and external customers. Directs the administration of an effective position management program for the RO. Reviews and evaluates subordinate managers for conformity to established policies and standards and to insure high quality and timely performance of the RO's mission. Oversees the direction of all HR management functions for the RO and resolves grievances or complaints that cannot be resolved at lower levels. Oversees the preparation of budget estimates and ensures effective budget control and has responsibility for distribution of personnel and allotted funds to provide the essentials services in an efficient and economical manner and with maximum effectiveness and manpower and equipment utilization. Responsible for conducting an effective incentive awards program; carrying out an aggressive safety and fire protection program; maintaining optimal utilization of space and for liaison with building services. Ensures the development, coordination, and implementation of effective information security procedures as identified by the OMB, NIST, VA policies and VBA policy and guidance documents. Responsible for establishing and maintaining effective public relations with the veterans population, veterans organizations public officials, state and local government officials, education and training establishment officials and the general public. Represents and acts for the Under Secretary for Benefits, as appropriate; reviews and approves within prescribed policies the conduct of relationships between the Regional Office and veterans, and controls relationships of employees with firms transacting business with VA. Promotes and maintains an effective labor-management relations program. Creates and maintains a working environment that is free of discrimination and one that assures diversity. Promotes the needs and goals of the individual and the organization, provides a safe and healthy work environment, and maintains satisfactory space control and building services. Insures that selections to the RO reflect commitment to and support of objectives and actions established in the EEO/AA plans. Acts to identify and eliminates potential causes of EEO complaints. Ensures that treatment of all employees or applicants for employment is fair and unbiased. Represents VBA on numerous committees involving other government agencies and outside organizations with authority to make decisions not in conflict with mandatory procedures or controlling laws. Attends a variety of internal and external meetings and conferences, including Directors' Conferences, Services Organization conventions. etc. Promotion Potential: This position is being announced at the full performance level. Work Schedule: Standard 5-day, 8-hour, full time (40 hours a week) schedule, 7:30 am-4:30 pm; Monday - Friday. Hours may vary to effectively carry out the mission. Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: 37863A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Required - Selectee will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, under 5 CFR 2634.904(a) prior to entering on duty and annually thereafter.

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
• PCS (BVO) Relocation Expenses are ONLY authorized for selectees choosing to physically relocate to the Official Duty location of Houston, TX
• In consideration of the payment of expenses for travel and transportation, the selectee must agree to remain in federal service for twelve (12) months following the date of transfer.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/29/2024. 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-15 grade level position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-14 grade level. 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. 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 as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-14 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Applicants must have experience delivering Veteran's benefit services in a Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) business line or a Regional Office setting which includes all of the following: establishing priorities and determining resource needs to meet program objectives; directing, coordinating, and approving a full range of personnel management actions and organizational change proposals; directing comprehensive and complex program reviews; monitoring and controlling program progression and effectiveness through analysis of policies, directives and organizational change proposals; directing comprehensive and complex program reviews; monitoring and controlling program progression and effectiveness through analysis of policies, directives and organizational short and long range goals. Such experience may have been gained in Federal or private sector and must be substantive and relevant. 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: This work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. This position is primarily sedentary with some walking, standing, bending, stooping and carrying of lightweight items (i.e. folders, claims files). 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Houston Regional Benefit Office 6900 Almeda Rd Houston, TX 77030 US
• Name: Elena Kabanova
• Phone: 303-914-2688
• Email: [email protected]