Program Specialist

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 11/13/2024. 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. To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50 that indicates proof of status, and shows Time in Grade (for example, you were a career or career-conditional employee) and identifies your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). 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 also submit your most recent promotion or within-grade increase in addition to your recent SF-50. If you previously held a higher grade, you must also submit any SF-50 showing that grade. DO NOT submit Award SF-50’s and/or General Adjustment SF-50’s as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-09 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level. Knowledge of law, policies, procedures, timekeeping systems, and travel orders to coordinate, implement, and maintain matters within the office. Knowledge of appropriate data systems and software to facilitate employee time and attendance system, travel processes, and authorizations. Skill in using Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint slides and Microsoft Teams to prepare correspondence tracking, directives, conduct and record meetings, and maintain attendance records. Ability to communicate orally to interface with government and commercial providers and in writing to prepare reports and disseminate information. OR, Education Substitution: Successfully completed a 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. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. GS-11 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level. Significant knowledge of law, policies, procedures, timekeeping systems, and travel orders to coordinate, implement, and maintain matters within the office. Knowledge and experience in inputting data to track and facilitate employee time and attendance system and experience with VA travel processes and authorizations. Expertise using Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint slides, and Microsoft Teams to prepare correspondence tracking, directives, conduct and record meetings, and maintain attendance records. Skill and experience in oral and written communication to interface with government and commercial providers, prepare reports, and disseminate information-evidence of Government or industry training in project administration. OR, Education Substitution: Successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information. Volunteer Experience: 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. Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week. Physical Requirements: No special physical demands are required to perform work. The work is sedentary. 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/.
The incumbent serves as a Program Support Specialist within the Training Management and Performance Improvement (TMPI) division aligned to the Office of Human Capital Services (HCS) within the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). The employee ensures the efficient operation of the office to facilitate coordination and integration of TMPI activities, as well as manage administrative functions for additional staff members.