Summary The Supervisory Program Specialist serves a Section Chief in the Centralized Support Division (CSD). The position assists the Division Chief and Assistant Division Chiefs in planning, organizing, scheduling and directing all functions performed in the Customer Service Section or the Liaison Section. Responsibilities In this position, you will serve as a Supervisory Program Specialist. Typical work assignments include: Major Duties Assists in the responsibility for the division as it relates to handling inquires for information from claim folders, official medical personnel folders (OMPF) or service treatment records (STR) necessary to help Veterans secure benefits or employment under the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or via requests from the Regional Offices nationwide through the Personnel Information Exchange System (PIES) or other means of communication. Conducts routine studies, surveys and analysis of the methods and procedures used to manage workflow, planning office layout, appropriate utilization of workforce, space and equipment of the Centralized Support Division (CSD) and makes recommendations for changes which will eliminate deficiencies in the quality of responses, duplication of effort, and uneconomical workflow. The incumbent assists the Division Chief in managing the staffing and workflow of the unique functions within the two sections of the division. Changes in the workflow, staffing or procedures of CSD would be implemented with the concurrence of the Division Chief and Assistant Division Chiefs. Assists the Division Chief in providing assistance for claim, OMPF and/or STR information to all Regional Offices, VA Central Office, National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), VA Medical Centers, National Cemetery Administration (NCA), services departments and external stakeholders. Maintains a collaborative work effort with other divisions of the Regional Office, NCA, VBA Regional Offices, VA Medical Centers and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Coordinates with the Office of Business Program Integration (OBPI), military branches and NPRC to acquire records and responds to their requests for assistance in accomplishing their respective missions. Resolves differences of opinion in a professional manner and obtains concurrence or non-concurrence regarding recommendations for resolution from the Division Chief and/or Assistant Chiefs. Recommendations may serve to establish precedents and influence the establishment and/or revision of agency policies. Assists in personally handling requests from VA top management (i.e., Secretary's Office, Offices of Field Operations or District). These requests may consist of Congressional or special interests and may involve complex or emergent claims and cases which require expertise to analyze and interpret documents in the claim folder, OMPF or STR as well as related systems of records. Also responsible for responding to a variety of requests from members of the public, the government agencies, and Congressional Staff members. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Program Specialist/PD37949A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): No Financial Disclosure Report: No Travel Required: No Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Requirements Conditions of Employment As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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. Additional Conditions of Employment are as follows: You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary or trial period Subject to background/security investigation Required to attend an 8 week training session, which may require travel. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents. Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/06/2026. Specialized Experience is defined as: (1) Interpreting, applying and explaining laws, rules regulations, and procedures, as it applies to benefits services; (2) Planning, organizing, and assigning work priorities for subordinates; (3) Securing benefits using FOIA, Privacy Act, etc. (4) Experience providing advice, counsel, mentor or train team members; (5) Use of software applications to perform statistical analysis of programs/issues and preparing reports and briefings. 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. Physical Requirements: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. 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. Receiving Service Credit or 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. 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. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Education There is no educational substitution at the GS-12 level. Additional Information 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 your 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 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/. 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. 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. 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), https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf 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. (https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information) For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. 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.
