Clarification from the agency

This vacancy announcement is open ONLY to current, permanent Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), and current/former VA employees who are CTAP eligible.

Specific duties include:

• Prepares clear and concise documents. Assists in developing and updating procedural guidance for distribution to field offices. Drafts training letters, writes briefing papers, and answers Congressional and external stakeholder inquiries. Research Veteran-specific issues and prepares all necessary administrative materials, correspondence, and justifications detailing reasons for decisions.
• Deals with issues of both sensitive or of a high-profile nature while advising leadership on the national or local impact of changes in process, protocol, or legal statutes, which may affect or shapes the future direction of the organization.
• Uses efficient learning techniques to acquire and apply new knowledge and skills, using training, feedback, or other opportunities. Knowledge of teaching, training, research, making presentations, lecturing, testing, and other instructional methods.
• Formulates and recommends instructions, directives, guidelines, policies, plans or procedures to administer or carry out functions, which support operations delivery or supporting delivery of benefits or services to Veterans. Develops and conducts training on a national level that supports policies and procedures.
• Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, cooperation, concern, and politeness to others; relates well to different people from varied backgrounds and different situations.
• Responsible for the creation of instructional materials through the utilization of various training authoring tools, in accordance with course objectives.
• Plans, organize and delivers instruction in ways that maximize student learning and employs appropriate instructional methods and strategies to meet the diverse needs of students. Evaluates student performance fairly and consistently.
• Analyzes and evaluates, on a quantitative or qualitative basis, the effectiveness of training programs or operations in meeting established goals and objectives.
• Monitors training programs and activities supporting compensation and pension benefits and services provided to Veterans, their dependents, or beneficiaries.
• Works in close cooperation with other elements of VBA as it relates to Veterans benefits. The incumbent represents Compensation Service management at meetings and conferences within VA, at other Government agencies, with VA contractors and with representatives of service, civic and fraternal organization.
• Assists field stations with instructions for implementing policy, procedures, or training. Studies program operations, new legislation, automated systems, management initiatives, and the operation of interacting programs and organizations to develop new and modified operating instructions and training material.
• Performs and conducts methodical national in-person and remote audits and site visits which include review, examination, and verification of individual employee records and performance data to determine if employees are properly completing and complying with VBA's National Training Program and Competency Based Training System requirements. This also includes audit interviews with Veterans Service Center employees and management. Additional duties include visits to field stations to observe and assess the quality of training implementation and assist station management and training.
• Undertakes long-and short-range research and studies program activities within the Compensation Service to support the organization's business goals and objectives.
• Prepares for and gives oral presentations to various audiences within Compensation Service, VBA senior management, department level executives and outside agencies. Develops presentations covering highlights of new material and providing practical applications and examples.
• Serves as an advisor and consultant to the supervisor on precedent determinations involving decisions on individual cases and national issues regarding technical, regulatory, procedural, and operational aspects of the Compensation program. The incumbent may act for his/her immediate supervisor when called upon to do so.
• Leads in-house efforts and participates actively as a team member or sub-group leader on project teams involving participants outside of VBA.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level 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. The grade progression for this position is GS-11/GS-12/GS-13.

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is a virtual position. Employee must report to the nearest VBA Facility based on telework agreement
Position Description/PD#: Veterans Claims Examiner; 41504-A; 41526-A; 39944-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Conditions of employment

• 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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:12/22/2023.

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.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50 that indicates proof of status, and shows Time in Grade (for example, you were a career or career-conditional employee) and identifies your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). 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 also submit your most recent promotion or within-grade increase in addition to your recent SF-50. If you previously held a higher grade, you must also submit any SF-50 showing that grade. DO NOT submit Award SF-50's and/or General Adjustment SF-50's as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade.

• For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level.
• For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level.
• For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
GS-11 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of experience to at least the next lower grade GS-09, in order to qualify for GS-11, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. The incumbent must show experience in either of the following positions: Veterans Service Representative (VSR), Senior Veterans Service Representative (SVSR), Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR), Assistant or Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Assistant Coach or Coach), Rating Quality Review Specialist (RQRS), Authorization Quality Review Specialist (AQRS), that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position(s). The applicant must show documented knowledge and experience on a complex field of Veterans benefits laws, regulations and Federal legislation pertaining to the full range of comprehensive knowledge of state, federal and local benefit programs. The incumbent must show a clear ability to communicate orally and in writing.
• Education Substitution: Successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. (Must submit transcripts.); or a combination of the required experience and education for this grade level. OR, a combination of specialized experience and education as described, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement.

GS-12 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in order to qualify for GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. The incumbent must show experience as either a Veterans Service Representative (VSR), Senior Veterans Service Representative (SVSR), Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR), Assistant or Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Assistant Coach or Coach), Rating Quality Review Specialist (RQRS), Authorization Quality Review Specialist (AQRS), that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position(s). The applicant must show documented knowledge and experience on a complex field of Veterans benefits laws, regulations and Federal legislation pertaining to the full range of comprehensive knowledge of state, federal and local benefit programs. The incumbent must show a clear ability to communicate orally and in writing. In addition to the duties described above, the incumbent must possess an ability to train or mentor individuals of diverse backgrounds. In addition, the incumbent must have documented experience leading, mentoring and/or training.

GS-13 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in order to qualify for GS-13 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. The incumbent must show experience as either a Veterans Service Representative (VSR), Senior Veterans Service Representative (SVSR), Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR), Assistant or Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Assistant Coach or Coach), Rating Quality Review Specialist (RQRS), Authorization Quality Review Specialist (AQRS), that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position(s). The applicant must show documented knowledge and experience on a complex field of Veterans benefits laws, regulations and Federal legislation pertaining to the full range of comprehensive knowledge of state, federal and local benefit programs. The incumbent must show a clear ability to communicate orally and in writing. In addition to the duties described above, the incumbent must possess an ability to train or mentor individuals of diverse backgrounds. In addition, the incumbent must have documented experience leading, mentoring and/or training as well as experience training with the WARTAC or VIP program.

Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information.
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: Work is primarily sedentary but involves use of a personal computer so a degree of manual dexterity and visual acuity sufficient to use these tools is required. Occasional standing, bending, walking, and stooping are also necessary. Significant periods of standing while providing classroom instruction or course managing may be necessary. Some slight physical effort is required in that incumbent lifts and carries reference books, veteran files and similar items. No special physical demands are required.

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/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants who do not fully address the specialized experience needed for the position (as described above in the job announcement) in their resume will not be referred for consideration.

After you have met the minimum qualifications, you will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:

1. Training Development: Ability to prepare training manuals and materials in collaboration with the Training Team; provides consistency in the delivery of content across the organization and uses approved SOPs to modify and update training as needed; manages approved training materials on SharePoint for agency employees.
2. Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; uses sound reasoning to arrive at conclusions; finds alternative solutions to complex problems; distinguishes between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical judgements.
3. Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
4. Project Management: Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring, and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance.
5. Self-Management: Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or an interview.