Special Assistant
What you'd do
This position is with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Office of the Under Secretary for Benefits (OUSB). Serves as a Special Assistant in the OUSB and works directly with OUSB Senior Executives. Responsible for initiating and completing studies and projects of a broad perspective that are focused on the benefits, programs, and services provided by VBA.
Major duties
Specific duties include: Initiates and completes broad studies, projects, and improvement efforts related to VBA benefits, programs, services, and internal processes. Assists the Office of the Under Secretary for Benefits (OUSB) Senior Executives in overseeing technical operations and developing procedures, and processes for VBA business lines and staff offices. Oversees development and evaluation of agency-wide plans, standards, and procedures, including coordination with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., Federal and state agencies, Office of General Counsel, Congressional partners). Analyzes proposed legislation and prepares impact assessments, recommendations, and background materials for VBA and external partners. Evaluates issues requiring OUSB leadership action, develops management options and provides independent assessments and recommendations. Represents the OUSB with delegated authority, providing oversight on operational matters and committing to decisions within program jurisdiction. Advises VBA senior leaders and the OUSB Senior leaders on agency-level processes affecting VBA programs the delivery of benefits and services. Supports and evaluates high-visibility, mission-critical programs and ensures integration of major program and project initiatives across VBA. Coordinates managerial functions, participates on committees, reviews internal processes, and manages correspondence for presentations and external communication. Leads and manages program activities, including strategy development, performance monitoring, project oversight, and participation in Department-wide studies on sensitive or politically significant issues. Promotion Potential: None Work Schedule: This is a full-time position with a standard Monday-Friday schedule. Typical hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The employee is required to report to the official duty station each workday Compressed/Flexible: Flexible schedule may be available Telework: This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Special Assistant; 40221A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required This is not a bargaining unit position
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:07/20/2026. 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 describe below: GS-15 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to atleast the next lower grade (GS-14) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes, providing support to a senior leader on process development, executive correspondence, and/or strategic planning. Experience demonstrates: (1) Initiating and completing studies, projects and issues of a broad perspective that are focused on benefits, programs, and services; (2) Developing and coordinating briefing materials, talking points, and executive communications for internal/external partners; (3) Assisting leadership with oversight, technical operations, and development of procedures, regulations, or processes; (4) Analyzing and evaluating major aspects of high-visibility, substantive, mission-oriented programs/services administered by VA. 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 principally sedentary. Work also may require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the work site. No special physical effort or ability is required to do the work. 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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