Program Specialist (VRE)

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy announcement is open ONLY to current, permanent Portland, Oregon VBA Regional Office employees and current/former VA employees who are CTAP eligible. For the purpose of this job announcement, Fiduciary Hub bargaining unit employees in the commuting area are considered facility employees.

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.

Conditions of employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the Agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the Agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Additional Conditions of Employment are as follows:

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary or trial period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• If you receive a conditional offer of employment you will be required to complete an Optional Form-306 Declaration for Federal Appointment (OF-306).
• All federal employees are required to have federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.

Qualifications

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/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.
You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
Competencies:

1. Knowledge of CWINRS claims processing for VRE benefits and services for benefit processing.
2. Knowledge of eligibility and entitlement requirements for VRE benefits and services.
3. Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) procurement procedures. Use of VA Smart Pay Credit Card.
4. Knowledge of VBA office computer programs, MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Edge, Access, Chrome, CWINRS, VBMS, and SHARE.
5. Knowledge of interpersonal communications, to include dealing with difficult, irate, or otherwise, clients.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13023003

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or an interview.

Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package to include the documents detailed below. Failure to submit the required documents may result in your application being considered incomplete and you being deemed ineligible. It is your responsibility to ensure your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. We will not request additional documentation or accept late or missing documents after the announcement has closed.

• Resume, limited to 2-pages, detailing specialized experience and competencies as they relate to this position.
  • For each position in your resume, you must specify the start and end dates (month/year) and a description of duties. If the position was Federal, you must also indicate the grade level. Resumes containing a general summary of all positions held, not specifying start/end dates, and/or not including Federal grade level(s) are insufficient to determine basic qualifications.
• Transcript if you are using education to qualify.
  • Your transcript must show coursework and the total number of credits earned to include graduation date and degree. A diploma is NOT sufficient to determine qualifications.
• Your most recent NON-AWARD SF-50. The SF-50 must indicate proof of status and should identify your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
• Your SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade (e.g., Promotion, Appointment, etc.) in order to verify time-in-grade requirements.

Additional Documents accepted:

• Most recent Performance Appraisal (VA Form 0750)
• Award SF-50s
• CTAP documentation - RIF notice, SF-50 showing VA employee, and performance appraisal.

Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or CTAP documentation (for displaced VA employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing 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
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Next steps