Summary Employees will serve as a Contact Representative assigned to the VA Office of Integrated Veteran Care (IVC), Customer Service, in Lakewood, CO. Customer Service is a high-volume call center environment where the primary purpose of the position will be to advise and assist Veterans, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders regarding available services, benefits, and claim-related matters. Responsibilities This job is open to current permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employees and ICTAP-eligible current or former federal employees. Area of Consideration- Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current VA employees designated as surplus or displaced by the VA - Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) eligible, and current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency other than the Department of Veterans Affairs (Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan eligible). 2. Current VA employees of the facility where this vacancy is located - Denver Federal Center, West 6th Avenue & Kipling Street, Lakewood, CO, 80225 3. Current VA employees of the staff office posting this vacancy - Integrated Veteran Care (current SF-50 must show IVC in box 22 or 135 in box 40) 4. Current employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs Duties include, but are not limited to: Ensures customers are well aware of their entitlements and the various advantages and disadvantages of the various benefit options. Initiates processing of legal documents received in the office. Explains payment methodologies used in adjudicating medical claims. Conducts telephone interviews and creates responses to routine inquiries. Explains the administrative procedures in the processing of claims for IVC administered benefits, and delays that can be encountered in processing. Informs claimants and applicants of the reasons for approval, denial, rejection, or partial acceptance of their claims and/or applications for benefits. Explains and advises the basis for payment decisions and reasons for dis-allowance. Conducts telephone interviews and creates responses to inquiries regarding any program administered by the IVC. Assists in the preparation and development of claims and gives advice and assistance in obtaining evidence and supporting documents that may be necessary. Redevelops claims for reprocessing, ensuring that all required information and documents are present and complete to facilitate payment of claims. 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. Work Schedule: 8-hour tour Monday-Friday between 5:45am and 7:15pm MT Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Contact Representative/PD04786A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized 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. Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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, 05/22/2026. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Provided routine information to customers by explaining basic program requirements, benefits, and procedures in a clear and accurate manner. Reviewed and processed straightforward cases or inquiries using automated systems, identifying and correcting routine issues using established guidelines. Entered and updated information in office databases while maintaining accuracy and protecting sensitive data in accordance with privacy and security policies. Utilized a variety of general office software to enter data, draft documents, manage emails, and maintain organized digital records. Provided customer support in a high-volume call center, answering inquiries, resolving issues, and documenting interactions with accuracy and professionalism. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Four (4) years of education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school . OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of successfully completed education and experience to meet the total experience requirements. (i.e. 6 months of specialized experience and 3 years of education above the high school level). NOTE: Only education beyond the second year can be used in combination with specialized experience to qualify for this grade. 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/.
