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Supervisory Social Science Program Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Office of Suicide Prevention, Veterans Crisis Line

Summary

The employee will serve as the Supervisory Social Science Program Specialist, located in the Office of Mental health and Suicide Prevention , Veterans Crisis Line, Veterans Affair (VA). The VCL is a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year service aimed at connecting callers worldwide to a caring, qualified Veterans Administration employee. The VCL's mission is to provide 24/7, world-class suicide prevention and crisis intervention services to Veterans, Service Members and their family members.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/29/2026 to 05/04/2026
Salary
$89,508 - $145,468 per year

Salary will be adjusted upon selection, based on location.

Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)
Remote job
Yes
Telework eligible
Not applicable, this is a remote position.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBZY-12943685-26-JH
Control number
866992400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to current, permanent employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) including Title 38, Hybrid Title 38, and VCS employees covered by VA/OPM Interchange Agreements and those eligible under CTAP. This does not include temporary, term, or intermittent appointments. CTAP eligibles are current Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees that are surplus or displaced from the VA. All others will be disqualified and not receive consideration.

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Duties

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Major duties include but are not limited to:

  • Supervises Training staff by providing administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit.
  • Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff, which are clearly communicated through both formal and informal performance management evaluations.
  • Observes staff's performance, providing performance and productivity input and taking appropriate steps to recommend and/or effect changes when needed to enhance employee and section performance. Assures that employees are trained or otherwise familiar with duties/responsibilities and Office of Mental health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP _policies and procedures.
  • Assures subordinates are adequately trained to perform their assigned duties, recommending additional training when needed or required to enhance employee development.
  • Performs supervisory duties within the scope of existing OMHSP policies and within the scope of the negotiated labor contract. Resolves informal complaints and grievances. Recommends personnel actions, including disciplinary and performance-based actions. Makes recommendations for recognition of special contributions and/or superior performance by employees.
  • Analyzes and evaluates, on a quantitative and qualitative basis, the effectiveness of training programs and initiatives in meeting established goals and objectives.
  • Continuous oversight of assigned program areas for effectiveness is essential and directly impacts OMHSP organizations in meeting its mission and goals.
  • Evaluating and analyzing training needs, assigning workload, reviewing processes, and assessing functional requirements of all training activities from contact center operations to social science services.
  • Provides guidance and technical direction to staff for accomplishing the work of the unit.
    Plans and distributes work, assigns projects/tasks, balances workload, keeps track of the status and progress of work, estimates and reports completion of work, provides instruction and guidance to employees, responds to questions and inquiries, resolves recurring problems and discrepancies, develops basic procedural guidelines, provides on-the-job training and reviews/evaluates work of subordinate employees and making basic recommendations.
  • Performs work related to coordinating and assigning projects for the development and implementation of training course or course materials.
  • Coordinates activities associated with significant matters such as tuition assistance, policies, course prerequisites, learning objectives, and training contents, instructional methods, assessments, failure and attrition, employee developmental needs, etc.
  • Provides training advice and guidance in the areas of training course development/design, delivery, evaluation and modification.
  • Oversees development work of courses for training programs.
  • Conducts fact-finding and analyses which contribute to research in a specific field of competence; have curriculum coordination responsibilities; and represent the organization at professional and public gatherings, lectures and panel discussions.
  • Arranges and moderates' seminars and conferences, provides guidance to trainers and learners, and participates in panel discussions.
  • Participates with a training committee, academic department head, or higher-level instructor in determining specific topics covered by the course.
  • Performs work associated with the evaluation of courses for training programs. Plans and conducts studies which evaluate and predict program achievements and student performance, and prepares interpretations of results and recommendations.
  • Performs work involving review and modification of training courses.
  • Conducts studies and analyses in functional specialty or subject matter areas.
  • Analyzes educational or instructional problems or questions involving a functional specialty area of education and training, a subject- matter area, or may involve a grouping of courses.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Tour of duty is typically administrative hours. Flexible schedule may be available after training. VCL has multiple tours that cover our 24/7/365 operations (this does include Holidays). Tour is subject to change based on program needs.
Remote: This is remote position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Social Science Program Specialist/PD06809A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not required
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
This is not a bargaining unit position

Requirements

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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
  • 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.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/04/2026.

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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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. 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 provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. 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 and/or education as described below:

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT (IOR): An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for entry into this job series, and it is something that can't be waived. The education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. To qualify for the Social Science 0101 occupational series, applicants MUST possess one of the following:

  • Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR
  • Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. OR
  • Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
NOTE: Examples of related behavioral or social science degrees are as follows: psychology, social work, sociology, family counseling, mental health counseling, nursing, ministry, and criminal justice.

In addition to the above Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR), applicants must meet the Specialized Experience.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. For GS-12, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 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:
  • Designing, evaluating, and developing employee development programs, training plans, course methods, materials, and aids.
  • Coordinating and assigning projects for the development and implementation of training courses or course materials.
  • Leading or supervising a fast-paced, diverse team by providing administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit.
  • Experience providing administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit.
  • Assuring subordinates are adequately trained to perform their assigned duties, recommending additional training when needed.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Must possess advanced skills in providing feedback and constructive criticism that promotes successful learning and behavioral change. Developed expertise in the broad functional or specialized area of education and psychological services.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Managing Human Resources
  • Project Management
  • Requirements Analysis

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.

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/.

Education

Transcript Reminder: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts must depict the name of the college to determine accreditation, and your name must also be displayed on the transcripts. If qualifying based on a degree, or for positions requiring a degree, the transcript must show the date the degree was conferred. If selected, you must provide official transcripts. Transcripts should state degree conferred and have a date. Copies of official transcripts are accepted and are the best way to ensure your education is interpreted correctly in accordance with OPM qualification standards. Unofficial transcripts are accepted if they contain all the required information.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Order of Referral: This job announcement will remain open until 05/04/2026. Applications received up to 11:59pm EST on the date in which 50 applications is reached will received first consideration (initial cutoff). Applications received after 11:59pm EST on the date in which 50 applications are received may not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by management. Additional applications will be reviewed in one-day increments at management request.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

  • Managing Human Resources
  • Project Management
  • Requirements Analysis
USA Hire Assessments include a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - 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 whole health care to Veterans?

Agency contact information

VHA National Recruitment Center
Phone
(844)456-5208
Email
VHANationalRecruitmentCenter@va.gov
Address
Office of Suicide Prevention, Veterans Crisis Line
810 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20420
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Veterans Health Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.va.gov/jobs

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