Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) eligible VA employees within the local commuting area of the vacancy. Please see the "Qualifications" section for additional information.

Videos

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Providing information, explanation of services, support, and connection to a variety of individuals of various educational, environmental, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, regarding benefits and eligibility to VHA, RCS, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the National Cemetery Administration (NCA).
• Developing, managing, and distributing outreach materials to include brochures, presentations, flyers, fact sheets, web content, and other targeted information which highlights Vet Center services and locations as well as the combat Veteran experience.
• Creating presentations and materials with information in the appropriate format to allow the Veteran and/or Service Members, their families and representatives to understand the information they are receiving.
• Serving as a community liaison representing the Vet Center with organizations to include but not limited to Veterans Service Organizations, community groups, and others whose interest is in helping and protecting Veterans, their families, and their representatives.
• Collaborating closely with Vet Center direct service providers, helps initiate client referrals, and follows up to ensure client needs are being met timely.
• Collaborating, participating in the planning, coordinating, and executing of a variety of outreach events.
• Preparing documentation of contacts, client visits, and administrative activities in accordance with program guidelines and policies.
• Driving either a Government Owned Vehicle (GOV) or a Mobile Vet Center Mobile Vet Center to perform outreach services on a daily basis. Each Mobile Vet Center may be up to 40 feet long.
• Setting up and closing the Mobile Vet Center for operation, i.e., leveling the Mobile Vet Center, checking communications systems, electrical systems, etc.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Some nights and weekends may be required to meet mission.
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#:Veterans Outreach Program Specialist (VOPS)PD# 76028A and PD# 76029A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. eCFR :: 5 CFR Part 930 -- Programs for Specific Positions and Examinations (Miscellaneous)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

CTAP is designed to improve your chances of finding a new job in your agency through selection priority. To receive selection priority, you must:

• Be "surplus" or "displaced";
• Have a current performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent;
• Occupy a position in the same local commuting area of the vacancy;
• Apply for a specific vacancy at or below your current grade level with no greater promotion potential than your current position;
• Meet the application deadline in the announcement; and
• Be found "well qualified" for the job.

You are "surplus" if you:

• Are in the competitive service;
• Are in tenure group I (career) or tenure group II (career-conditional); and
• Have an official notice from your agency saying that your position is no longer needed. This notice could be:

• a "Certificate of Expected Separation" (CES);
• an agency certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation;
• a notice that your position is being abolished; or
• a letter saying you are eligible for discontinued service retirement.

You are "displaced" if you:

• Are in the competitive service;
• Are in tenure group I (career) or tenure group II (career-conditional); and
• Have an official notice from your agency saying you will be separated by reduction in force. This notice could be:

• a specific reduction in force separation notice; or
• a notice of proposed removal because you declined a directed reassignment or transfer of function out of the local commuting area.

You are generally NOT eligible for selection priority if you are:

• In the excepted service;
• Downgraded or reassigned due to reduction in force, but not separated;
• In a different local commuting area from the vacancy;
• In a temporary or term position in the competitive service;
• In an agency that is not in the Executive branch;
• In an agency that does not follow OPM hiring procedures (this includes Postal Service, legislative and judicial branch agencies); or
• In the Senior Executive Service (SES).

For additional information on CTAP, see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf.To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/14/2025.This position requires a valid state driver's license. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. In order to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet (3/5 )of the following examples of specialized experience. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
  • Working within the community, developing, planning, scheduling, and conducting outreach events, and referral processes.
  • Creating and presenting formal briefings to a variety of individuals with various education, environmental, ethics and cultural backgrounds.
  • Developing, managing, and distributing outreach materials to include brochures, presentations, flyers, fact sheets, web content, and other targeted information which highlights services and locations.
  • Preparing and maintaining records including documentation of contacts, clients visits and administrative activities in accordance with program guidelines and polices.
  • Preparing and providing accurate reports and cursory analysis on outreach data as assigned in accordance with program requirements.]

OR,

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Ph.D. or equivalent degree OR (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related.

OR,

• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond graduate level.

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: An elevated level of physical energy is necessary as the incumbent is expected to meet with many people in the course of a workday. The incumbent is responsible for driving a GOV or MVC to mobile work site, setting up the work site to meet clients-GOV may entail setting up furniture (chairs and small table), lifting boxes with literature (Vet Center pamphlets, community resources or VA programs), and establishing computer access (via laptop or other government owned equipment) to present outreach services for a given day or outreach event. Driving the MVC requires incumbent to use moderate physical effort in operating hand and foot controls. Occasionally incumbent handles objects weighing up to 50 pounds (23 kilograms) while loading and unloading the MVC work site.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://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.

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 contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.