Field Examiner
What you'd do
Duties will be performed via mobile work at one of the following locations: Duluth, MN area: St. Louis County (MN), Carlton County (MN), Douglas County (WI) Columbia, MO area: Boone County, Howard County, Cooper County Little Rock, AR area: Pulaski County, Faulkner County Fayetteville, AR area: Washington County, Benton County, Madison County Des Moines, IA area: Polk County, Boone County, Dallas County New Orleans, LA area: Orleans Parish, Jefferson Parish, St. Tammany Parish
Major duties
The Field Examiner (FE) determines the payee (fiduciary) best suited to the needs and situation of VA beneficiaries, who are incompetent due to legal disability, mental disability, physical disability or minority. The Field Examiner ensures that beneficiaries receive all the benefits they are entitled to, and takes necessary action to protect their assets. Specific duties include: Conducting independent field investigations to determine whether adult VA beneficiaries have the mental capacity to manage their own financial affairs, including VA benefits, in accordance with applicable federal laws and regulations. Performing on-site fact-finding visits to beneficiary residences and other locations within the regional jurisdiction to inspect the living environment and assess the beneficiary's social, economic, and functional adjustment. Conducting interviews and taking depositions of beneficiaries, their relatives, legal representatives, and disinterested community witnesses to gather information relevant to capacity determinations and fiduciary oversight. Verifying the identity, existence, and authenticity of information provided by or about beneficiaries; and, in cases involving minor beneficiaries, determining or confirming the existence, identity, and legal custody of the minor. Analyzing evidence gathered during field investigations to formulate independent recommendations regarding fiduciary arrangements, including the appointment, continuation, or removal of a fiduciary, based on the beneficiary's individual circumstances. Preparing detailed written investigative reports documenting findings, analysis of evidence, and conclusions to support fiduciary program determinations, ensuring reports are accurate, well-organized, and appropriate for review by supervisors and other agency stakeholders. Operating a government vehicle to conduct routine and regular travel throughout the assigned regional jurisdiction in support of field investigation responsibilities, in accordance with federal vehicle operation regulations. 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 grade progression for this position is GS-09 and GS-11. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Field Examiner; 36002A and 35902A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Required
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:07/13/2026. 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-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. 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. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-09 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: To qualify, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-07) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as work that involves (1) performing fact finding procedures in order to fully assess a situation; (2) Gathering information through observation, analysis of records, and/or performing personal interviews which may be conducted virtually or in person. (3) Verifying information to ensure accuracy. -OR- Education Substitution: You must have 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. GS-11 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: To qualify, applicants 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 work that involves (1) performing fact finding procedures in order to fully assess a situation; (2) Gathering information through observation, analysis of records, and/or performing personal interviews which may be conducted virtually or in person. (3) Verifying information to ensure accuracy. (4) Making determinations of adherence to laws, regulations, and agency policy. -OR- Education Substitution: You must have at least 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. 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: The job requires driving in government owned automobiles, often very long distances requiring overnight lodging. Some walking and climbing of stairs is required since interviews with VA beneficiaries are conducted at the residences of the beneficiaries. 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
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