Supervisory Veterans Claims Examiner/Assistant Director
What you'd do
The position is at the full performance level and is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), within Compensation Service. The Incumbent will serve as the Assistant Director responsible for developing and coordinating new or modified training curricula and managing contracts for the Compensation Service.
Major duties
Specific duties include: Serves as primary advisor to the Deputy Executive Director of Operations, Compensation Service (CS) on all programs and major missions falling under the purview of the Training Management Staff-such as the VIP training (or any future equivalent), Warrior Training Advancement Class (WARTAC), National Training Curriculum (NTC), and Competency Based Training (CBT). Exercises authority over a staff of employees responsible for the design, development and delivery of training on a national level. Prioritizes and delegates workload responsibilities and assignments based on directional/mission requirements and allocated resources, and employee skill level. The incumbent is delegated managerial authority to plan for long range staffing needs, determine operational goals and objectives that warrant additional emphasis and assure the implementation/delivery of national training needs. Responsible for employee performance management; conducts interviews, makes recommendations to executive leadership on promotions, awards, reassignments etc. Hears and resolves issues/concerns from subordinates; administers disciplinary actions and refers serious concerns to the Deputy Executive Director over the staff. Evaluates the needs of the team, takes appropriate actions to ensure cohesion. Serves as a coach/mentor to employees; recognizes strengths and weaknesses, ensures recommended training is delivered to staff; and encourages/approves staff to seek professional developmental opportunities. Represents the Compensation Service Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director in meetings with VBA Executive leadership; conducts briefings based on studies/program data and makes recommendations. Negotiates on behalf of the CS Executive leadership of the staff and has the authority to make commitments on their behalf. Recommends and oversees the implementation of innovative programs and new approaches that improve the effectiveness of training. Utilizes the ADDIE and CPI to assess training. Considers training objectives, program needs and associated costs; VA priorities, and the availability of subject matter experts in formulating recommendations. Provides status reports on the progress of the training-related initiatives and establishes goals and tracks the progress of those efforts toward meeting established milestones. Ensures that the organization's strategic plan, mission, vision and values are communicated to the team and integrated into the team's strategies, goals, objectives, work plans and work product and services. Responsible for overarching identification of training needs for field personnel; utilizes any VA data source (including those identified by the Quality Assurance staff through technical quality reviews and trends from site visits). Also ensures training needs identified from VBA leadership, Regional Office (RO) leadership and non-leadership RO employees are addressed. Directly manages and is accountable for all aspects of the planning, coordination, and execution of national training initiatives. This includes setting up national training sites, surveys, selecting and coordinating instructors, assignment of students, in conjunction with other VBA staff elements (as appropriate based on the Compensation Service role and responsibility). Oversee the design and development of training programs centered around the disability compensation program. Directs the purview of research studies on industry standard approaches and incorporates into the development; ensures the utilization of appropriate digital media sources to ensure successful delivery. Establishes timelines and requirements for content; ensures the quality of training curriculum and incorporates timely updates. Works in concert with VBA senior leadership in Office of Field Operations, Regional Offices, and the Office of Human Capital Service, as well as the Department of Defense in identifying training needs and assigning employees to attend centralized training sessions. Conducts site visits to training locations and military installations to meet with leadership and observe and assess training operations, performance, and quality. These visits are also to build relationships with leadership to continue the growth of the programs administered. The incumbent has extensive knowledge of a wide range of qualitative, quantitative methods for the assessment and improvement of program effectiveness or the improvement of complex management processes and systems. Reviews procedural and system changes impacting VBA programs as well as newly enacted or changed legislation dealing with Veterans' benefits matters to determine the effect on the Compensation training program. Makes related recommendations as to training program; enacts action required and prepares necessary directives, requirements, and related changes.
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:07/06/2026. 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-15 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-14 level. 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. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-15 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position(s), and that is typically IN OR RELATED TO the work of the position to be filled. The applicant must document knowledge of a complex field of laws, regulations and Federal legislation pertaining to the full range of Veterans benefits and a comprehensive and thorough knowledge of state, federal and local benefit programs. 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 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/.
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