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Social Services Assistant

Department of the Army
U.S. Army Medical Command
US Army Medical Dept Acty Japan, BG C.F. Sams US Army Health Clinic, Behavioral Health Svc

Summary

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

About the Position:
Serves as a Social Services Assistant in a clinical setting dealing with mental health issues. Provides follow up dealing with the identified high risk population, supporting Behavioral Health Providers with commanders providing the best level of treatment available.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/21/2026 to 05/28/2026
Salary
$47,738 - $62,057 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 8
Location
Zama, Camp Zama, Japan
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation costs may be paid if the selecting official determines the relocation is in the best interests of the government.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
IPFC-26-12967397-DHA
Control number
870184700

Duties

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  • Provide follow ups dealing with the identified high-risk population, supporting Behavioral Health Providers with commanders providing the best level of treatment available.
  • Responsible for ensuring through facilitation, negotiation, procurement, advocacy, communication, empowerment, quality care, and involvement necessary for the achievement of mutually developed treatment goals.
  • Participate as a member of the mental health multidisciplinary team that coordinates care for Soldiers and assists in accessing the appropriate level of mental health care.
  • Perform direct patient support to include assisting clinical providers to access appropriate patient referrals and resources; ongoing education for appropriate team members, significant others about the illness/condition, and how to access services.
  • Assist in the development of criteria for standards of care and outcomes.
  • Identify, document, evaluate, report, and follow up issues relating to Quality Improvement and Risk Management.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
  • Applicants must comply with the Exceptional Family Member Program requirements as outlined in the DoD Instruction 1315.19.
  • Must be able to satisfy the requirements of the 26JUL12 DODI 1400.25 V1230, DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Employment in Foreign Areas and Employee Return Rights. Visit https://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/.
  • Direct deposit of pay is required.
  • U.S. citizens overseas under ordinarily resident status are not eligible for appointment under the Status of Forces Agreement.
  • This position requires approximately 5% of your duty to be performed in Temporary Duty Away (TDY) from your place of work status.
  • Employees assigned to a medical treatment facility are required to be screened for applicable immunizations or pre-existing immunity based on occupational risk.
  • Immunization screening is required. Hepatitis B immunization is required for all positions with direct patient contact. Applicants may be required to show proof of other immunizations depending on the type of position.
  • A pre-placement medical examination is required.
  • This position requires lifting/carrying item up to 20 lbs.
  • This position may be designated mission essential based on local conditions. Mission essential personnel report for duty at normal time when the unit is closed or delayed reporting, and remain on duty during phased or early release.
  • This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

  • If you are currently stationed in the overseas area, all of your overseas time will be credited toward your current overseas tour end date. Your overseas time served will not reset upon accepting this assignment.
  • If you have returned from OCONUS within the past 2 years or less, your time previously served in the OCONUS area will be credited to your 5-year overseas rotation upon accepting this assignment.
In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes experience in 1) evaluating mental health patients to determine required services; 2) facilitating outpatient psycho-educational or support groups based on patient's need; and 3) maintaining patient files in an organized manner. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07).
OR
Education: One and a half years of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, Child and Family Welfare, Counseling, Family and Community Services, Behavioral Science, Human Development, Sociology, and Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total semester hours minus 18) by 9. Add the two percentages.

Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-07).

Separated Military Members: Resumes will be accepted from members of the Armed Forces who indicate in their applications that they are immediately appointable within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement. Military members may be appointed while on terminal/transitional leave, before the effective date of their military retirement/separation.

Military Retirees: Within the DoD (Department of Defense), including non-appropriated fund positions, the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following the retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326 or 5 U.S.C. 5305.

Selecting officials may select or not select from a certificate of best-qualified candidates OR from a list of applicants eligible for noncompetitive placement (5 CFR 335).

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Additional information

  • This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals.
  • Locality pay does not apply in the overseas area.
  • If an employee brings a child to an overseas location and that child is entitled to attend a DoD school on a space-required basis in accordance with DoDEA Regulation 1342.13, the DoDEA and the Military Department responsible for providing related services will ensure that the child, if eligible for special education, receives a free appropriate public education, including related services pursuant to DoDI 1342.12 and DoDM 1342.12.
  • If an employee brings an infant or toddler (up to 3 years of age) to an overseas location, and that infant or toddler, but for the child's age, is entitled to attend the DoDEA on a space-required basis in accordance with DoDEA Regulation 1342.13, then the Military Department responsible for EIS will provide the infant or toddler with the required EIS in accordance with the eligibility criteria consistent with DoDI 1342.12 and DoDM 1342.12.
  • Employees (and family members) who require medical or dental care in the overseas location will be responsible for obtaining and paying for such care. Access for civilian employees and their families to military medical and dental treatment facilities is on a space-available and reimbursable basis only.
  • Medical and dental care may be provided by host nation providers. The availability and level of care at host nation medical and dental facilities will vary by location.
  • Pay retention may be offered to selected applicants for positions at overseas locations. Pay retention will not be offered as an incentive for employees moving between overseas positions.
  • Selectees may receive certain foreign area benefits such as: Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) or government quarters, home leave, etc. Selectees will have their eligibility for foreign area benefits determined at the time of hire in accordance with Department of State Standardized Regulation (DSSR) and DoDI 1400.25 volume 1250.
  • For positions in a foreign country, that country's laws or international agreements may have a direct impact on the ability of an employee's same sex domestic partner or spouse to accompany the employee and receive certain benefits. If you believe you may be affected by these laws and agreements, you should familiarize yourself with relevant information and direct questions concerning a specific country (Foreign Duty Location) to the appropriate Army Human Resources point of contact prior to the acceptance of employment and your entrance on duty.
  • This is a(n) 53-Medical Career Field position.
  • The initial length of this overseas tour is 36 months.
  • Defense National Relocation Program will not be authorized.
  • When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information.
  • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.

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.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position.

Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.

If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.

U.S. Army Medical Command

Civilian employees serve a vital role in supporting the Army mission. They provide the skills that are not readily available in the military, but crucial to support military operations.

The Army integrates the talents and skills of its military and civilian members to form a Total Army. The Army values diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, cultures and skills, which connects employees to organizations that are committed to building an inclusive work environment where they can contribute to their fullest potential.

Medical Department Activity-Japan (MEDDAC-J), located at Camp Zama, Japan, operates as a freestanding ambulatory care facility and is part of Regional Health Command-Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, proudly serving and supporting U.S. Army Japan (USARJ) community. Our mission is to optimize readiness through safe, patient-centered quality care to all of our beneficiaries.

Come live and work at Camp Zama, Japan, a multiple Army Community of Excellence Award winner! Camp Zama is a small community about 25 miles Southwest of Tokyo and boasts superb MWR and ITT facilities that provide a myriad of recreational activities. When you're ready to venture off post, Japan's elaborate train systems provide fast, convenient access to numerous cultural and sightseeing destinations.

All DA civilian employees and their EFMs on official travels to Germany, South Korea, Japan, and Italy must obtain the special issuance passports (SIP) - official passports prior to departure.

Agency contact information

Army Applicant Help Desk
Website
https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public?id=app_inq
Address
FC-APF-W3FBAA USA MED DEPT ACT, LOGISTICS DIV, JAPAN
DO NOT MAIL
APO, AP 96343
US

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