Program Specialist
What you'd do
This position is in the Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Office. The incumbent serves as a Human Resources Liaison for the regional office. The incumbent serves as a Program Specialist responsible for providing performance management and technical support for the regional office Human Resources program.
Major duties
Specific duties include: Communication and performance of duties involves managing a large workload, a diverse workforce, and leaders tasked with significant responsibility for large numbers of federal employees They offer a need viable strategy recommendation and course of action in emotionally charged situations often with imperfect information and short response times Provides leaders and managers with strategic counsel and advice interpreting and implementing provisions of agency policy, management of programs, collective bargaining agreements, and practices as they apply to individual cases Provides leaders, employees, and job applicants with accurate information and interpretations of Federal civilian recruitment policies and placement procedures Provides information to all employees on matters pertaining to federal employee benefits to include FEHB, FEGLI, TSP, EAP, leave and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Develops multiple recruitment strategies utilizing various hiring flexibilities and authorities Prepare recruitment packages to include crediting plans, job analysis on a variety of complex positions using research, interview, observation, and analytical techniques Provide assistance on Employee Relation and Labor Relation matters Conduct in-processing and out-processing employee interviews Process and track Office of Workers Compensation Program (OWCP) cases Provide training to leadership and employees in all HR matters Provides outstanding customer service to both internal and external entities, in such a way as to enhance customer satisfaction design work processes and practices 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, GS-11, full performance level GS-12. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday, Hours of duty to be determined by the hiring Regional Office. Hours of duty generally fall between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm. Compressed/Flexible: May be available as determined by the hiring office 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; PD39563A, PD39564A, and PD39565A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:08/21/2026. 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 (unless if in the commuting area and eligible for a non-competitive hiring authority such as Schedule A, VRA, or 30% or more disabled Veterans). 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. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level. If you are a current VBA employee outside of the commuting area seeking reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-09 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-12. 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. These requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement and those applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-09 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-09, you must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level or higher. Specialized experience is defined as experience applying and providing guidance on multiple fields of Human Resources rules, regulations, and procedures including Personnel Management, Recruitment and Staffing, Classification, Employee Benefits (OWCP, retirements, and insurance programs), and/or Labor Relations. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Assist employees with advice on a variety of rules, regulations, and practices pertaining to human resources Provide guidance and explanations of the organization's policies, procedures, and guidelines to leaders and employees Provide advice regarding appropriate levels on personnel actions. Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must possess 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 for the GS-11, you must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or higher. Specialized experience is defined as experience applying and providing guidance on multiple fields of Human Resources rules, regulations, and procedures including Personnel Management, Recruitment and Staffing, Classification, Employee Benefits (OWCP, retirements, and insurance programs), and/or Labor Relations. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Provide advisory services to leaders and employees on a range of human resources concepts, laws, and policies; Assist leadership in solving a range of complex problems and issues; Participate in policy development groups or projects based on broad organizational requirements. Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or successful completion of three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or a LL.M., if related, and obtained in an accredited college or university. GS-12 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: To qualify for the GS-12, you must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or higher. Specialized experience is defined as experience providing advisory services, quality review services, or experience drafting and approving standard operating procedures and/or other forms of regulatory guidance covering multiple fields of Human Resources rules, regulations, and procedures including Personnel Management, Recruitment and Staffing, Classification, Employee Benefits (OWCP, retirements, and insurance programs), and/or Employee and Labor Relations. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Provide advice and guidance in the areas of classification and staffing and recruitment; Defending agency actions in front of a 3rd party hearing (FLRA, MSPB); Experience as the chief negotiator in labor negotiations. Education Substitution: There is no education substitution for the GS-12 grade level. 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 work is sedentary. Some work may require walking in offices and similar areas for meetings and to conduct Human Resources 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/.
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.
Similar openings
Browse all →Legal Administrative Specialist-Contact Representation (Senior Legal Administrative Specialist)
Legal Administrative Specialist (Public Contact Representative (PCR)) (Bilingual- Spanish)
Mission Support Specialist
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.