Legal Administrative Specialist (Homeless Veteran Outreach Coordinator)
What you'd do
VA offers a wide array of special programs and initiatives specifically designed to help homeless veterans live as self-sufficiently and independently as possible. VA's major homeless-specific programs constitute the largest integrated network of homeless treatment and assistance service throughout the country.
Major duties
Typical duties include, but are not limited to: Housing programs administered by the Secretary for Veterans Affairs and the housing program for veterans supported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Compensation, pension, vocational rehabilitation, and education benefits programs administered by the Secretary under 38 USC or any other provision of the law. The homeless veterans' reintegration program of the Department of Labor under section 2021 of 38 USC (Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs); The programs under section 2033 of 38 USC (Additional services at certain locations). The assessments required by section 2034 of 38 USC (Coordination with other agencies and organizations). Establishing linkages with Social Security, Income Maintenance, Federal Housing Administration, State Department of Veterans Affairs, community housing programs, and State job services and assisting homeless veterans in applying for these programs. Referral for legal counseling and assistance. Referral through the team medical clinicians for needed medical and counseling services. Conducts comprehensive VA benefits and services briefings to groups of homeless veterans, who because of their economic, medical, or social problems have found it difficult, if not impossible, to request VA benefits and services. Uses a wide range of briefing techniques and communications skills to include psychological and motivational counseling during encounters with individual homeless veterans to encourage use of available VA benefits and services. When possible, will obtain the necessary information and complete a claim while the veteran and/or family member is present. In certain circumstances may monitor the claim to eliminate unnecessary delays in receiving needed evidence and to assure the claim is fully developed. Develops a network relationship with state and private veteran organizations, which broaden the scope of outreach. Speaks to individuals or groups or otherwise represents the agency on media programs involving matters of interest to veterans and their dependents. Conducts seminars, conferences, and other information dissemination activities. Serves as the CHALENG Point of Contact (POC) for CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups) for Veterans' Program in coordination with VA Medical Centers. Project CHALENG enhances coordinated services by bringing the VA together with community agencies and other federal, state, and local governments who provide services to the homeless to raise awareness of homeless veterans' needs and to plan to meet those needs. As CHALENG POC, participates in the annual Project CHALENG survey that asks for current perceptions of homeless veterans' needs, the degree of VA/community cooperation and collaboration in serving homeless veterans, and progress on local homeless veteran's program initiatives of both local VA staff and community participants (local government, service providers, formerly and currently homeless veterans). Coordinates the Regional Office participation in Stand Down. Stand Downs are one part of the Department of Veterans Affairs' efforts to provide services to homeless veterans. Stand Downs are typically one to three day events providing services to homeless veterans such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as housing, employment, and substance abuse treatment. Stand Downs are collaborative events, coordinated between local VAs, other government agencies, and community agencies that serve the homeless. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 07:30 a.m. 04:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST). Tour will be determined after final selections. Tour is subject to change based on program needs. 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. Position Description/PD#: Legal Administrative Specialist (Homeless Veteran Outreach Coordinator) / 41793A 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:08/26/2026. 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-10 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 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. 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 REQUIREMENTS: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience for GS-10: For a GS-10 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been inany 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. Specialized experience is defined as: (1)experience that has demonstrated the capability of being a self-reliant decision-maker and possessing the ability to work independently when providing customer service benefits counseling and claims processing. (2) The individual must possess in-depth knowledge of researching relevant subject matter. (3) The experience should be significantly and directly derived from federal, military, or the private sector. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to orating to persons from a wide variety of backgrounds regarding VA benefits programs; performing research of local, state, and Federal laws and regulations to determine Veterans' eligibility for benefits programs. OR Education Substitution: You may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education you must possess: Two and half years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position (must submit transcripts). OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond two years of progressively higher level graduate education. 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 mostly sedentary. The employee will be required to talk for long periods of time which occasionally puts a strain on the throat/vocal cords. There are no other special physical demands required to perform the work. There may be some walking, standing, and carrying of light items such as papers, books, claims folders, and files from one desk to another or for returning to storage. Extensive use of a computer and a telephone with a headset is required. 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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