Board of Veterans Appeals Hiring for Program Specialist at District of Columbia, District Of Columbia Full Time

Summary This position is located with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Board of Veterans’ Appeals, Office of the Chairman. The Board is a major component of VA and operates by authority of, and functions pursuant to Chapter 71 of Title 38, USC. Responsibilities Develops and implements community relation plans or programs including the review of federal/state/local plans for impact and effectiveness. Develops plans designed to enhance relationships with community groups and stakeholders and addresses areas of shared concern Leads complex management studies with wide or significant effect on the organizational structure, policy, processes and operations, fiscal control and those where the boundaries of the studies may be broad. Analyzes data to identify areas where the organization can partner with other organizations and stakeholders to improve efficiencies. Establishes relationships with various other organizations to include the public, key officials, stakeholders and community groups. Acts as an expert on special projects, planning, completing and advising leadership on major issues. Partners with organizations and advocates to anticipate issues and implement new practices to avoid potential problems. Track ease of movement with co-located and geographical dispersed stakeholder groups to identify issues, drive solutions and to ensure individual and systemic solutions are implemented efficiently and improve effective. Performs management and/or program support work such as program or office planning, and evaluation of administrative programs. Collects necessary data, including legislative and programmatic data and through interviews with senior management, program officials, employees and supervisors. Establishes analytical frame work to include data tracking for program effectiveness. Negotiates agreements with co-located and geographical dispersed organizational representative to better customer experience. Maintains relationships co-located and geographically dispersed organizational representative, the public, key officials, stake holders and community groups to advance the mission of the organization. Develops informational material for a wide range of topics to include new initiatives having impact on the organizational mission for dissemination to stakeholders. Develops organization-wide productivity programs, plans, procedures and methods, as they relate to the programs. Monitors program output to ensure success. Acts as the primary liaison for the Board in close collaboration with the Secretary’s Veteran Service Organizations liaison office. Leads, conducts, and participates in complex management studies and reviews, particularly those with wide or significant effect on VA’s organizational structure, policy, processes, and operations, fiscal control and economy and those where the boundaries of the studies may be broad. Plans, organizes and directs projects and team study work. Responds to information requests from VSOs in written and verbal form, tracks inquiries and resolves issues raised by Veteran Service Organizations and the private bar. Identifies and resolves issues on an ongoing basis, identifies areas of improvement, and identifies opportunities for increased cooperation to enhance the Veteran and stakeholder experience. Conducts special projects or studies to analyze, evaluate and provide recommendations on VA administrative programs and/or issues. Assembles and assesses information gathered; formulates findings, conclusions, and recommendations; presents results in written and/or oral form, which are well organized, supportable and clearly expressed; and shares information with the stakeholders as appropriate. Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday – Friday Compressed/Flexible: Subject to supervisory approval. Telework: 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. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD300500 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment 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 period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/18/2023. 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-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13. 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. 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-13 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is, but are not limited to: Develops and Implements community relation plans or programs including the review of federal/state/local plans for impact and effectiveness. Establishes relationships with various other organizations to include the public, key officials, stakeholders and community groups. Responds to information requests via written and verbal form, tracks inquires and resolves out of line situations. Assembles and assesses information gathered; formulates finding conclusions, and recommendations. Identifies and resolves issues and identifies areas of improvement. Administrative Law Planning and Evaluating Process Control Project Management 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 is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical may be required. Work Environment: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. The position requires occasional travel. 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 There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. Additional Information 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/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/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.