Job opening: Staff Assistant
Salary: $62 635 - 81 425 per year
Published at: Aug 13 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
OUR MISSION: OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?
Duties
This position supports Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Staff assigned to supervise and assist participants of Chapter 31, Title 38, U. S. Code. Assistance is required in all phases of the VR&E program. Independent decisions to determine the appropriate course of action within the provisions of the VR&E program are required.
Incumbent processes VA Form 1900 Applications for VR&E Services for Disabled Veterans. Incumbent adjudicates General Eligibility Determinations (GEDs) for all Chapter 31 and other applicants. This would include denial of applications -processes required notification, appeal rights, and CWINRS Auto GED processes. Incumbents must exercise judgment and be capable of working independently without supervision. Incumbents must have extensive knowledge of the adjudication processes characteristic of the VR&E program. Incumbent responds to telephone inquiries from claimants, their representatives, VR&E staff, and other VA personnel and resolves issues which may include but are not limited to the following: Status of counseling, case status in CWINRS, Chapter 31 awards, entitlement calculations, tuition, fees, books, supplies, and subsistence inquiries.
Receives veterans and other visitors to regional office and out-based sites making inquiries regarding VR&E issues. Screens issues presented by the veterans or other visitors, and in the absence of a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC), and within the scope of assigned responsibilities, serves as VA representative to resolve issues presented by veterans.
Assists VRCs with Chapter 31 enrollments by preparing certification lists for training facilities and preparing 28-1905 authorizing enrollments. Assists VRCs to maintain satisfactory supervisory schedules by maintaining calendar of requires supervision visits, preparing schedule letter to veteran and rescheduling requested supervisory dates. Reviews enrollment certification from school certifying officer to ensure veteran is properly enrolled, enrolled in course work required of degree plan, and that enrollment qualifies for an appropriate subsistence allowance. Must be proficient in utilizing VA ONCE. Determines if enrollment is appropriate as prescribed by degree plan, Individual Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP), and the proper rate of subsistence pay. Prepares subsistence award as independent reviewer.
Authorizes Chapter 31 subsistence awards using Claims Authorization (CAUT) command. Solves payment inquiries, and possesses a basic knowledge of the computer, processing procedures, master record storage, code identification, and translation systems. Determines eligibility for Post 9/11 BAH rate or Chapter 31 SA.
Receives VR&E billings from schools for tuition, books, fees, and supplies. Ensures all receipts are date stamped. Review vouchers for correct billing for tuition, fees, and books. Evaluate supply billing for items not authorized for VR&E. Prepare certification document for a case manager to present to the voucher auditor for payment.
Receives grades from schools for veterans training _under Chapter 31. Associates with proper Counseling, Evaluation, Rehabilitation (CER) folder, and degree plan to determine if the veteran is achieving successful pursuit. Prepares action document for case manager as grades dictate (Noting failing grades, Incompletes, and withdrawals).
Knowledge of and ability to effectively utilize CWINRS to effectively accomplish Chapter 31 award actions, update case status, read screens, draw conclusions, determine appropriate award action and make recommendations from screen review, prepare original word processing documents, and utilize glossaries to prepare documents.
Work schedule: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available
Telework: Yes, as determined by the agency
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description Title/PD#: Staff Assistant/ 38703-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required
This position is a bargaining unit position
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
- Subject to background/security investigation
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
- Selected applicants may be required to complete a probationary period.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Time-in-grade: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade at any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.
For a GS-9 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7 level.
Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
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; 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.
Specialized experience: may include performing the following duties in a work environment responsible for human services or general office administration: alpha-numeric filing, completing telephone outreach, responding to telephone and written inquiries; scheduling appointments; financial transactions to include account reconciliation and documentation of Federal procurement; accurate computer data entry, and appropriate customer and peer relationships/communication.
OR
Applicants may substitute education for the experience required:
GS-09: 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.
Volunteer Experience: 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.
Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.
Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require walking and standing in conjunction with attending meetings and conferences. Work may require carrying light items such as papers, books, or small parts. The work does not require any special physical effort.
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.
PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website:
http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. 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.
Contacts
- Address Phoenix Regional Benefit Office
3333 North Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85012
US
- Name: Michael Gerber
- Phone: 515-323-7575 X43265
- Email: [email protected]
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