Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Veterans Service Center Manager)

Summary

This permanent Supervisory Veterans Service Representative/Veterans Service Center Manager (VSCM) position, GS-0996-14, is located in the Veterans Service Center, White River Junction Regional Office, White River Junction, VT. The VSCM is responsible for the administration and management of the Veterans Service Center providing information and assistance to veterans and their dependents regarding Veterans rights and benefits under laws administered by VA and other agencies.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

02/29/2024 to 03/13/2024

• Salary

$138,046 - $179,462 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 14

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• White River Junction, VT 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

Occasional travel

• You may be expected to travel for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

Yes-You may qualify for the Buyer Value Offer Program (BVO) reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Full-time -

• Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

14

• Job family (Series)

0996 Veterans Claims Examining

• Supervisory status

Yes

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

NCS/High Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

405-24-HC-12328568-NBU

• Control number

779275600

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This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

• Federal employees

• Competitive service

Current or former competitive service federal employees.

• Individuals with disabilities

• Special authorities

Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.

• Veterans

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy announcement is open ONLY to current, permanent Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees, current/former VA employees who are CTAP eligible, VEOA, and Non-Competitive Candidates ( 30% or More Disabled Veterans, Schedule A, etc.)

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Duties

Major Duties:

The Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Veterans Service Center Manager) manages the Veterans Service Center (VSC) operations through a staff of personnel responsible for claims processing, providing information, advice, and assistance on all types of VA benefits to veterans and their dependents and for providing outreach services to stakeholders. The incumbent:

• Plans, organizes, coordinates, directs, and controls the work of the division.

• Directs staffing, placement, assignment, and training of division personnel to manage division workflow/productivity.

• Directs program activities for the delivery of VA benefit programs for veterans, their dependents, and beneficiaries.

• Exercises final authority for the full-range of division's personnel actions.

• Ensures proficient resource utilization and quality of work performed and services rendered; writes/establishes policies and procedures within division.

• Maintains the highest technical and professional authority to make final decisions in the types of claims considered most difficult or critical which commit the Federal Government to unusual liability.

• Forecasts both short and long range workload of the division so adequate funds, staffing, space, equipment and supplies will be planned for, budgeted, and provided.

• Approves written responses to Congressional, White House, and other special inquiries concerning VA benefits.

• Serves as technical advisor to Regional Office Director for the administration of Compensation and Pension programs.

• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with various civic and veteran organizations.

• Ensures equal opportunities for all division employees and supports Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policy/goals.

• Reviews the most complex cases prior to final claims determination.

Work Schedule: Monday

• Friday 8:00 am

• 4:30 pm.

Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available

Telework: Available

Virtual: This a not a virtual position.

Position Description Title/PD#:Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Veterans Service Center Manager)GS-14,PD37979A

Relocation Incentives: BVO is authorized

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job

• Selectees are subject to a background/suitability investigation

• Selective Service registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

• A probationary period may be required for supervisors

• You may qualify for the Buyer Value Offer Program (BVO) reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 03/13/2024

Time-in-Grade Requirements: Applicants who are/were federal employees and have held a GS grade at any time in the past 52 weeks must meet the time-in-grade requirements. For a GS-14 position, you must have served at least 52 weeks at the GS-13 level.

Note: You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" showing that you are in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you possess (1) year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates (1) year time-in-grade. General Adjustment and Award SF-50's cannot be used for time-in-grade verification purposes.

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) 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 defined as:

• Expert knowledge of veteran benefit programs or VBA business lines and laws affecting veterans' compensation and pension benefits to provide authoritative guidance and direction on claims and appeals processing.

• Supervised, managed, or served as a project lead to accomplish performance and project goals; possesses knowledge and/or practical application of employee relations (e.g., performance or conduct based actions) and labor relations (e.g., grievance process or negotiations) practices.

Supervisory/Managerial Abilities: Candidates must also demonstrate experience or training they possess, or have the potential to develop, the qualities of successful supervision as follows:

• Assign to and review work of subordinates; train and work effectively with subordinates from a variety of backgrounds and diverse training levels/areas,
• Accomplish the quality and quantity of work expected within set limits of cost and time,
• Plan own work and carry out assignments effectively,
• Communicate with others effectively both orally and in writing in working out solutions to problems or questions relating to the work,
• Understand and further management goals as these affect day-to-day work operations, AND
• Develop improvements in, or design new work methods and procedures.

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.

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: None, position is primarily 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/.

Education

There is NO educational requirement or substitution at the GS-14 level.

Additional information

Supervisory/Managerial Probationary Period: This is a supervisory/managerial position. If appointed to this position, you must serve a one-year probationary period, unless you have already completed one as a supervisor or manager.

Relocation Expenses: Buyer Value Option Program (BVO) ~ Home sale program in which a contractor provides ongoing marketing assistance to help employees receive a third party offer from an outside buyer. When a bona fide buyer is found, the contractor purchases the home from the employee for the third party sale price. The contractor then closes the sale with the buyer, paying the applicable reasonable and customary seller's closing costs (inclusive of the real estate commission).

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. A well-qualified candidate is defined as meeting all of the minimum qualification standards and eligibility requirements as well as possessing skills that clearly exceed the minimum qualifications requirements for this position. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility can be found 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.

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. Please contact the special placement coordinator or the human resources specialist listed on this vacancy for more information regarding applying for consideration under schedule A or as a 30% disabled Veteran.

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.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

Learn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Applicants who do not fully address the specialized experience needed for the position (as described above in the job announcement) in their resume or who do not possess the education to substitute for it will not be referred for consideration. After you have met the minimum qualifications, you will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:

• Problem Solving: Develops and leads employees work activities toward meeting organization mission/goals, identify patterns in (VSC) operations to develop solutions to enhance productivity/ service, encourages an inclusive workplace, support constructive resolution of conflicts.

• Reasoning: Analyzes (i.e. review and evaluate), comprehend and apply decisions based on data or complex information, weighs relevance and accuracy of information, generates and evaluates alternative solutions, makes recommendations or final determinations.

• Communication: Clearly and concisely expresses information to individuals or groups, fully considering audience and nature of information, makes clear and convincing oral presentations, listens to others and responds appropriately.

• Writing: Write in a clear, concise organized manner using correct English grammar, punctuation and spelling; thoughts and ideas are organized and written in a convincing manner for intended audience.

• Customer Service: Builds and manages workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations and staffing needs. Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised and rewarded; takes action to address performance problems. Manage multi-grade level workforce and various work situations.

• Insurance: Knowledge of Federal, State and Local laws, regulations, policies, guides, procedures and judicial determinations applicable to veterans benefits programs (particularly compensation and pension) or similar programs.

• Technical Credibility: Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources including monitoring and inspecting costs and work.

If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job-related information, which may include, but is not limited to responses to the knowledge, skills, and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Notice to Applicants: It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. Information about an individual's employment experience will be used only to determine the person's qualifications and to assess his or her relative level of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Although an individual's personal conduct may be relevant in any employment decision, including conduct during periods of unemployment or evidence of dishonesty in handling financial matters, financial difficulty that has arisen through no fault of the individual will generally not itself be the basis of an unfavorable suitability or fitness determination.