Program Specialist (VRE)
What you'd do
This position is in the Portland, Oregon VA Regional Office. The incumbent serves as a Program Specialist responsible for decisions on adjudicative actions incident to the determination of eligibility of benefits to applicants in the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE) Program. The requisite knowledge of the governing Veterans Administration (VA) regulation demands the incumbent be well informed on certifications for special and rehabilitation benefits in VRE.
Major duties
Specific duties include: Responsible for decisions on adjudicative actions incident to the determination of eligibility of benefits to applicants in the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE) Program. The requisite knowledge of the governing Veterans Administration (VA) regulation demands the incumbent be well informed on certifications for special and rehabilitation benefits in VRE. Notifies claimants and other interested persons or organizations in layman terms relative to their rights and benefits, the submission of evidence, disposition of claims, reasons for our decisions, evidence considered and all subsequent actions. Has a duty to assist the in the presentation of their claims of evidence necessary to adjudicate the claim for VRE benefits to which the claimant may be entitled, including time limits to apply or appeal. Prepares certification of eligibility for VRE 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 VRE claims as required. Process applications for VRE, 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 VRE supervisory personnel informed of any problems. Must be able to audit VRE benefits paid and due. Writes replies explaining decisions in a manner that shows sensitivity, compassion, accuracy, completeness, and timeliness. Receives visitors and telephone calls from claimants, their representatives, VRE staff, and others on issues which include but are not limited to status of VRE applications, subsistence allowance, VRE services, entitlement consumed, benefit pay inquiries, etc. Through the guidance of SMEs, resolves issues related to VRE training such as payments, class schedules, termination dates, remaining entitlement, training under other Chapters, and accounts receivable. Issues are resolved by reviewing appropriate master records, claims files, VBMS, and CWINRS. Explains decisions rendered by VRE. 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. Knowledge of M28C and CFR, in order to prepare authorization forms for entering participants into training, enter payment data, review course lists submitted by trainees for conformity to approved programs, compute entitlement used and remaining under VRE checking against the prescribed program and basic termination date. Make determinations to establish a claim for VRE and evaluate evidence regarding eligibility for: Original and reopened VRE basic eligibility issues for Disallowances of claims and claims under other Chapters such as 18, 30, 33, 35, 36, and 1606. Provide due process, as necessary. Assists in the effective coordination of all administration functions and among other Regional Offices and Business Lines. Performs parts of VRE's Strategic Oversight and Analysis Reviews (SOAR) and report of internal control affecting VRE operations as prescribed. Responds to requests for information concerning VRE. Prepares responses from source material. Anticipates need for and prepares material so it is immediately available for supervisor's needs. Accurately review, control, process, and route incoming mail and evidence received from all sources. Identify items of mail that can be processed "at once". Administers participant beneficiary travel program. Coordinates travel arrangements, prepares travel vouchers, and maintains fiscal records. Upon receipt of procurement packet, researches and follows Federal Acquisition Regulations to complete purchases for participants via federal government purchase card. Complete monthly reconciliation procedures and submit to Approving Official. Work with and conduct training for Work-Study, Volunteers, and Non-Paid Work Experience trainees. Other duties assigned. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed/Flexible: Not 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#: Program Specialist (VRE); PD051330 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:08/12/2026. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). NOTE: All current or former Federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 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: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level or higher. Specialized experience is defined as: The incumbent has substantial experience working within a clerical setting in a fast-paced environment. Incumbent should have excellent customer service skills and be a team player. The incumbent is highly organized and capable of monitoring and managing multiple projects, tasks, and assignments. The incumbent is capable of gathering and interpreting a wide range of data addressing service concerns, preparing spreadsheets and graphs, reports, power points, and recommends appropriate actions based on the data. Incumbent must be familiar with all aspects of VRE processes to include initial evaluations ,case management, and employment services. OR Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a Masters Degree or equivalent doctoral degree OR two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Combining Education substitution & 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 work is sedentary. Some work may require walking in offices and similar areas for meetings and to conduct HR work. Work may also require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the worksite. The work does not require any special physical effort. 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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