The Legal Administrative Specialist (LAS) Homeless Veterans Outreach Coordinator (HVOC) will function as a member of the Public Contact Team, located in the Veterans Service Center (VSC). The incumbent will provide specific information and comprehensive assistance with veterans, their dependents and beneficiaries concerning any matter within the scope of VA benefits and related non-VA benefits.

Duties

Represents the Regional Office as liaison with local VA and non-profit community homeless specific organizations, homeless advocacy groups and other support activities; coordinates VA benefit programs to best service homeless veterans. Establishes VBA presence and support at local homeless shelters, soup kitchens homeless community centers and other specific agencies. Maintains membership in various community-based organizations which provide services and programs to the homeless. Provides training materials (pamphlets, handouts etc.) to shelters, homeless service providers and homeless veterans, This includes, but is not limited to, benefit orientations, counseling and assistance with claims. When necessary, must be able to interpret and accurately reflect VA policies, procedures and eligibility requirements for VA homeless programs. Performs outreach functions as part of a Homeless Chronically Mentally Ill Program (HCMI) team to provide improved access to VA benefits and services for the homeless. Provides referral, application assistance, advocacy, and follow-up, when necessary, to appropriate service programs Conducts comprehensive VA benefits and services briefings to groups of homeless veterans who have difficulties requesting VA benefits and services. Uses a wide range of briefing techniques and communications skills to include psychological and motivational counseling during encounters with individual homeless veterans to encourage use of available VA benefits and services. Provides in-person assistance completing claims and may also monitor claims to eliminate unnecessary delays and assure the claim is full developed. Develops a network relationship with state and private veteran organizations which broaden the scope of outreach. Makes frequent visits to area shelters, soup kitchens, hospitals and other areas, including locations that are in poor and dangerous sections of various cities. Speaks to individuals or groups or otherwise represents the agency on media programs involving matters of interest to veterans and their dependents. Conducts seminars, conferences, and other information dissemination activities. Promotion Potential: This position is at full performance level. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm(It may be necessary to modify the normal workday to adjust for a more liberal day/night work schedule to accommodate the shelter schedules and to permit the realignment of the time schedules to meet the individual needs of homeless Veterans). Telework: Available in accordance with agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position Position Description/PD#: /06147A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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, 10/15/2024. 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-10 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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. GS-10 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or higher. Specialized experience is defined as counseling customers and/or veterans, their dependents and their beneficiaries regarding their VA benefits; serving as a liaison regarding benefits between government personnel (inside and outside the organization), representatives of business and industry, trade and professional associations, and the media or the public; OR analyzing submitted claims and initiating action to obtain all required evidence to support the claim. OR Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education you must have: APhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or, three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, Education, or a field closely related to this position; OR Equivalent combinations of Specialized Experience and Graduate Education: To calculate, first identify your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required; then determine your education as a percentage of the education required; then add the two percentages. The total of percentages must equal 100% to qualify. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position. 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 normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. The work is mostly sedentary; however, there may be some walking, standing, and carrying of light items. 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 Seattle Regional Benefit Office 915 2nd Avenue Seattle, WA 98174 US
• Name: David Logan
• Phone: 515-323-7575
• Email: [email protected]