This position is located in the Department of Veteran Affairs. The Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Coach) serves as a first level supervisor for one or more teams within the Veterans Service Center (VSC), Benefits Eligibility Support Team (BEST), Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) program, or Pension Management Center (PMC).
Summary
This position is located in the Department of Veteran Affairs. The Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Coach) serves as a first level supervisor for one or more teams within the Veterans Service Center (VSC), Benefits Eligibility Support Team (BEST), Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) program, or Pension Management Center (PMC).
This vacancy is open ONLY to permanent VBA employees who are currently assigned to the Regional Office they are applying to. Eligible applicants must hold a career, career-conditional, VRA, or Schedule A appointment.
The Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Coach) leads an assigned team within the Veterans Service Center (VSC), BEST, or Pension Management Center division through a staff of personnel responsible for providing information, advice, and assistance on all types of Veterans benefits claims administered to veterans and their dependents and for providing outreach services to various stakeholders.
The incumbent:
Directs, plans, and assigns work priorities for subordinates, demonstrates expertise in all phases of claims processing, and has final technical authority over the final work product.
Advises the division manager or assistant division manager on the daily operation of assigned team(s) (e.g. performance and workload management), in order to achieve goals and objectives of VA benefits programs as they relate the division.
Liaises with other government and non-government agencies such as Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) to facilitate cooperative efforts/exchanges in programs benefiting veterans.
Responsible for supervising personnel (e.g. issues supervisory instructions, evaluates subordinate performance, hears and resolves employee complaints, effects disciplinary actions, identifies training needs, and conducts interviews to include making recommendations for position appointments, promotions, or reassignments).
Provides oversight when responding to higher level inquiries or obtaining necessary information or evidence to ensure pending claims are properly adjudicated.
Maintains effective labor/management relationships and accomplishing personnel management duties in accordance with applicable laws, policies, labor/management agreement, and employment opportunities, laws, directives, and regulations.
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
You may be required to serve a supervisory 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: 05/13/2026.
TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, applicants who are current/former Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements.
For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level.
The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. A Standard Form 50 (SF-50) that shows your TIG eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.
Applicants must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50:
Official SF-50 that shows you held the grade (or higher) for the full performance level of the position you are applying for, or
Official SF-50 that shows you held the next lower grade for at least one year for the position you are applying for. Multiple SF-50s may need to be submitted to show this.
Examples of appropriate SF-50s to include which show TIG requirements have been met include:
Within grade increases (WGI) at the highest grade held; or
Promotions with an effective date that occurred more than one year from the closing date of the job opportunity announcement; or
Most recent appointment
NOTE: Do not submit Award or General Adjustment SF-50s, as they do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying TIG.
Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Minimum Qualification requirements as noted below.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT: Applicant must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is defined as performance of technical assignments affecting the entire field of VA's Compensation and Pension (C&P) Benefits Programs. These assignments could require interpretation of the full range of Federal, state, local laws and regulations, C&P laws and regulations, or include precedent opinions of the Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims and authoritative opinions of the General Counsel. Examples of specialized experience would typically include:
Performing the duties of an Assistant Coach and assisting Coaches in their responsibilities on a daily basis.
Ensuring that the teams' qualify, and timeliness of service meets performance indicator goals.
Responsible for the cost-effective use of resources to accomplish the teams' assigned outcomes.
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.
There is no education substitution at the GS-13 grade level.
Additional information
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc telework may be authorized as determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Coach); PD02101A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Promotion Potential: There is no promotion potential. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts; etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.
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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
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 (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about 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/.
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.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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 or who do not possess the education to substitute for it will not be referred for consideration.
You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
Communication
Conflict Management
Leadership
Problem Solving
Technical Competence
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.
If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job-related information, which may include, but is not limited to responses to the knowledge, skills, and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or 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.
Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.
Notice to Applicants: It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. Information about an individual's employment experience will be used only to determine the person's qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities. Although an individual's personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
The following documents are required for all applicants:
Resume
SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package to include the documents detailed below. Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified; errors, omissions, or failure to submit the documents as specified will affect your rating or result in loss of consideration for employment.
Resume (limited to 2 pages): Applicants must provide a resume detailing their specialized experience and competencies relevant to the position.
Your resume may be submitted in any format, however we strongly recommend using USA Jobs resume builder as it contains all of the information required on federal resumes.
For qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week, the dates of employment (month/year), and the level of your experience. If the position was Federal, you must also indicate the grade level. If your resume does not contain this information you will not receive consideration for this position. Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications.
If you submit more than one copy of your resume, only the most recent version will be reviewed. The latest timestamp will be used to determine which version of your resume is "most recent." It is your responsibility to check the status and timestamp of all documents you submit as part of your application.
If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
Current/Former Federal Employees:
If you are applying using your status as a current federal employee you must submit your most recent appointment SF-50. This SF-50 should identify your appointing legal authority, position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
To verify you meet TIG requirements, also submit an SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade held (e.g. Within Grade Increase, Promotion, Appointment, etc.). Some applicants may have to submit more than one SF-50 in order to demonstrate their eligibility.
If you previously held a higher grade, you must also submit an SF-50 showing that grade.
Failure to submit any of the above required documents applicable to your submission may result in loss of consideration and a rating of ineligible due to an incomplete application package. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that their application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. We will not contact applicants for additional documentation, nor will we accept late or missing documents after the close of the announcement.
In addition to the information listed above, please use this checklist to ensure you have included other documents required for your application.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12953679 and submit the documentation specified in the job announcement. Documents will not be accepted after the closing date of the announcement.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/13/2026 to receive consideration.
1. To begin, click apply online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click submit my answers to submit your application package.
Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan.
Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position.
USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job.
Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying.
VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed
Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.
Your resume must be 5MB or less.
We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages.
We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX).
We do not accept PDF portfolio files.
We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches.
Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume.
The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.
Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume:
Prioritize most relevant and recent experience
Use concise, results focused language
Align language from the job announcement
Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies
Remove outdated or unrelated experience
Use the USAJOBS resume builder
Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at:
Note: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS accountand click update application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Buffalo Regional Benefit Office
130 S. Elmwood Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14202
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the application status link and then select the more information link for this position: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. The details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The following documents are required for all applicants:
Resume
SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package to include the documents detailed below. Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified; errors, omissions, or failure to submit the documents as specified will affect your rating or result in loss of consideration for employment.
Resume (limited to 2 pages): Applicants must provide a resume detailing their specialized experience and competencies relevant to the position.
Your resume may be submitted in any format, however we strongly recommend using USA Jobs resume builder as it contains all of the information required on federal resumes.
For qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week, the dates of employment (month/year), and the level of your experience. If the position was Federal, you must also indicate the grade level. If your resume does not contain this information you will not receive consideration for this position. Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications.
If you submit more than one copy of your resume, only the most recent version will be reviewed. The latest timestamp will be used to determine which version of your resume is "most recent." It is your responsibility to check the status and timestamp of all documents you submit as part of your application.
If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
Current/Former Federal Employees:
If you are applying using your status as a current federal employee you must submit your most recent appointment SF-50. This SF-50 should identify your appointing legal authority, position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
To verify you meet TIG requirements, also submit an SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade held (e.g. Within Grade Increase, Promotion, Appointment, etc.). Some applicants may have to submit more than one SF-50 in order to demonstrate their eligibility.
If you previously held a higher grade, you must also submit an SF-50 showing that grade.
Failure to submit any of the above required documents applicable to your submission may result in loss of consideration and a rating of ineligible due to an incomplete application package. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that their application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. We will not contact applicants for additional documentation, nor will we accept late or missing documents after the close of the announcement.
In addition to the information listed above, please use this checklist to ensure you have included other documents required for your application.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12953679 and submit the documentation specified in the job announcement. Documents will not be accepted after the closing date of the announcement.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/13/2026 to receive consideration.
1. To begin, click apply online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click submit my answers to submit your application package.
Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan.
Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position.
USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job.
Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying.
VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed
Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.
Your resume must be 5MB or less.
We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages.
We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX).
We do not accept PDF portfolio files.
We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches.
Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume.
The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.
Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume:
Prioritize most relevant and recent experience
Use concise, results focused language
Align language from the job announcement
Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies
Remove outdated or unrelated experience
Use the USAJOBS resume builder
Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at:
Note: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS accountand click update application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Buffalo Regional Benefit Office
130 S. Elmwood Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14202
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select the application status link and then select the more information link for this position: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. The details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
