Program Specialist (QRT)

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/14/2024. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: As a current Federal employees holding a GS grade, you must meet time-in-grade requirements. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 Grade level or a higher grade. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 Grade level or a higher grade. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. A copy of your most recent NON-AWARD SF-50 must be submitted with your application. The SF-50 must indicate proof of status and should identify your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).o To verify you meet Time-in-Grade requirements, also submit an SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade held (e.g. Promotion, Appointment, etc.). Specialized Experience: GS-11 Level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as knowledge of a complex field of laws, regulations and federal legislation pertaining to the full range of Veterans benefits, which should include the Fiduciary program. Examples of specialized experience would typically include: Experience that demonstrates competence in adjudicating and authorizing veterans’ claims. Experience in the development, examination, investigation, adjudication, and authorization of claims for disability compensation, disability pension, death compensation, death pension benefits, life insurance benefits, etc. Experience in explaining VA benefits and eligibility requirements to a variety of customers. Training/Mentoring in investigation, adjudication, and authorization of claims for benefits or compensation. -OR- Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related to the competencies. -OR- Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-11 level. Equivalent combinations of (1) specialized experience and (2) PH.D. graduate education. To compute, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one year by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. (The applicant’s first 2 years of graduate study are not qualifying for GS-11.) GS-12 Level: Applicant must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level. In addition to the specialized experience needed at the GS-11 level, specialized experience is defined as work that involves functioning in either a capacity performing training, analyst or information systems duties of a benefits claims process. The experience should be substantive and relevant and may have been gained in the federal, military, or private sector. Examples of specialized experience may include but are not limited to the following: Conducting focused evaluations and reviews to determine quality and accuracy; Providing advisory services to management via preparation and presentation of quality trend information; Developing training strategies and materials to address deficiencies and/or conducting training activities; Analyzing performance deficiencies and quality trends to identify knowledge/skill gaps; Providing quality-review services, feedback, and guidance to staff in order to correct unsatisfactory performance. Education is not applicable at the GS-12 level. 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: Work is usually sedentary but may require walking and standing. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management’s website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
This position is located in the Veterans Benefit Administration Regional Office, Fiduciary Hub. The employee serves as the quality review and training coordinator for the division. Responsible for analyzing data associated with national program reviews, work in progress (WIP) reviews and statistical and technical accuracy (STAR) reviews. Also conducts local quality assurance (QA) and training.