Program Specialist
What you'd do
Incumbent carries out various aspects of rehabilitation and employment service case management which include: interviewing clients, employers, officials of training facilities, and other persons involved in the vocational rehabilitation process. This work activity comprises approximately 40% of the incumbent's time.
Major duties
Typical duties include, but are not limited to: Notifies claimants and other interested persons or organizations in layman terms relative to their rights and benefits, the submission of evidence, considered and all subsequent actions. Prepares certification of eligibility for services. Develops claims files and schedules appointments. Prepares awards, stop payments, resume payments change of name notice, change of fiduciary notice and all adjustment actions on claims as required. process application, creating appropriate controls for action and initiating a general eligibility determination (GED) as appropriate. Through the guidance of subject matter experts (SME), makes decisions regarding input of awards, EAAs, and other data into the master record. Inputs the data timely and accurately and keeps supervisory personnel informed of any problems. Must be able to audit benefits paid and due. Writes replies explaining decisions in a manner that shows sensitivity, compassion, accuracy, completeness, and timeliness. Received visitors and telephone calls from claimants, their representatives, staff and others on issues which include but are not limited to status of applications, subsistence allowance, services entitlement consumed, benefit pay inquiries, etc. Maintains diaries, collects and analyzes data, and prepares recurring reports as directed by their direct chain of command. Utilizes data analysis to identify areas of program weakness, then prepares spreadsheets, graphs , reports , and recommends courses of action to be taken to correct identified weakness. Make determinations to establish a claim and evaluate evidence regarding eligibility for; Original and reopened basic eligibility issues for disallowances of claims and claims under other chapters such as 18,30,33,35,36 and 1606. Administers participants beneficiary travel program, Coordinates travel arrangements, prepares travel vouchers, and maintains fiscal records. Work with and conduct training for work-study, volunteers, and non-paid work experience trainees. Other duties assigned by direct chain of command . Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. The full performance level of this position is GS - 09. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist GS-07: 386240, GS-09: 386230 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Bargaining Unit: Yes
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:07/07/2026. 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. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: GS-7 Level: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-05). Specialized experience is typically defined as, but not limited to experience with knowledge of skills in reference to the vocational objectives, training programs, potential employment, and knowledge of contract billing for quality and accuracy and fiscal procedures in compliance with Federal regulations. Recommends certification of invoices for payment. GS-9 Level: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-07). Specialized experience is defined as experience with knowledge of VA laws and regulations, knowledge of skills in reference to the vocational objectives, training programs, potential employment, and knowledge of contract billing for quality and accuracy and fiscal procedures in compliance with Federal and VA regulations. Recommends certification of invoices for payment. Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. to qualify based on education for the GS-7: one full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement. For GS-9: 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; OR Combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT (IOR): There are no Individual Occupational Requirements for this series. 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 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: The work is mostly sedentary; however, some walking and bending will be required. 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/.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.