Summary The Veterans Outreach Program Specialist serves as the principal outreach staff member for Military Reserve and National Guard members returning from the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND). The nature of the job requires travel throughout an assigned geographical area away from the Vet Center. Responsibilities 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; 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available on an ad-hoc basis 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 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. Physical Requirements: An elevated level of physical energy is necessary as the incumbent is expected to meet with many people in a 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. If selected, the incumbent must: Submit a completed OF-345, Physical Fitness Inquiry for Motor Vehicle Operators. To drive a government vehicle, the incumbent will be subject to a pre-placement evaluation and once every 4 years through employee occupational health (EOH). Complete a pre-employment physical Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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, 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, 04/06/2026. 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. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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. This position requires a current valid State Drivers License. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-09: Specialized Experience: You must have one full year of specialized experience, which equips you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, GS-09 position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, this specialized experience must have been equivalent to the grade GS-07 level in Federal service to qualify at the grade GS-09.Examples of specialized experience include: Participating and assisting in the planning of outreach events and generating program refers. Providing individual and group presentations to inform others of various services. Distributing and assisting in the creation of marketing materials including, brochures, presentation, flyers, fact sheets, and web content. Accurately maintaining client records accordance with program guidelines and polices. Collecting outreach data and providing reports to leadership. OR Education: To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. GS-11: 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Working with in 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, presentation, 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 an combination of specialized experience and graduate level education. 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 A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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 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. 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. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and 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/.
