Supervisory Veterans Claims Examiner

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy announcement is open ONLY to former VA employees who are CTAP eligible living in the local commuting area of the Providence, Rhode Island.

Specific duties include:

1. The incumbent reports directly to the Deputy Executive Director for VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD), Policy and Procedures and other senior leadership in Compensation Service.
2. Supervision is primarily coordinating in nature and ensuring uniform application of performance. The incumbent supervises personnel ranging in grade from GS-9 to GS-14. It is usually limited to consultation or general instruction as to objectives. Administrative staff and supervisory functions are subject to minimal review.
3. The incumbent serves as a principal advisor to the Deputy Executive Director for Policy and Procedures and other leadership on a wide array of procedural issues to include generated guidance that allow field personnel to effectively process claims and communicate information to Veterans.
4. Responsible manager of the Procedures Staff and leads them in drafting procedural documents related to the disability claims process. He or she serves as the primary leader for initial coordination and collaborative groups related to the Adjudication Procedures Manual updates involving the practical steps necessary to adjudicate claims based on the 38 Code of Federal Regulations, along with maintaining the platforms by which such guidance is communicated and revised to disseminate procedural changes affecting CS programs, field offices, and claims processing.
5. Serves as a subject matter expert for various claims processing issues such as language governance, letter generation, customer satisfaction content and analysis of content for improvements.
6. Serves as the primary approver of the program content for disability compensation as found in Compensation and Pension Knowledge Management; and, where necessary, formulates VA's disability claims processing statements to support efficient delivery of compensation benefits to Veterans and their dependents.
7. Leads staff who maintain and monitor interagency and collaborative agreements within and external to the Compensation Program as these relate to formulating evidence and ensuring interagency exchanges of information that is necessary to administer program responsibilities. These include memorandums of agreement/understanding both with federal and non-federal entities (state programs, local agreements, etc.).
8. Monitors the private provider medical evidence and information process to ensure that such records are adequate and that there is not fraudulent activities.
9. Ensures the Veteran Experience in the disability claims process is surveilled routinely for disability claims process improvement. In addition, the incumbent ensures that information required from the Department of Defense, as an integral partner in servicing our Nation's Veterans, is properly incorporated in the Veterans claims record to ensure that disability claims processors can accurately evaluate claims and administer program benefits.
10. Exercises discretionary authority in determining the effect and impact Compensation policy and necessary policy changes, so that they are operationalized as procedural guidance from which claims adjudicators may process disability claims.

Promotion Potential: This position does not have promotion potential.
Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Telework Eligible
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Veterans Claims Examiner; 402480
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Conditions of employment

Upon completion of your probationary period OR 2-year trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

• 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 period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:06/15/2026.

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 described below:

GS-15 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: The applicant must document knowledge of a complex field of laws, regulations and Federal legislation pertaining to the full range of Veterans benefits and a comprehensive and thorough knowledge of state, federal and local benefit programs in order to be able to explain them, both orally and in writing, to individuals of all educational backgrounds.

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: Work is primarily sedentary but involves use of a personal computer so a degree of manualdexterity and visual acuity sufficient to use these tools is required. Occasional standing, bending, walking, and stooping are also necessary. Some slight physical effort is required in that incumbent lifts and carries reference books, files, and similar items. No special physical demands are 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/.

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.

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.

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):

• Supervision: Ability to manage and/or supervise (plan, organize, direct, control, review, etc) the work activities of subordinates.
• Problem Solving: Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
• Partnering: Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.
• Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
• Critical Thinking: Objectively analyzes and evaluates an issue in order to form an opinion/judgment/conclusion; Uses logic and reasoning to research, interpret and apply information such as regulatory and/or procedural guidance; Identifies the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems; Integrates information into development of a resolution.
• Decision Making: Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
• Interpersonal Skills: Considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of others; adjusts approaches to suit different people and situations.

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 apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package to include the documents detailed below. Resumes may not exceed two pages and must be legible for review of eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified. Failure to submit the documents as specified may result in loss of consideration for this job announcement.

• Resume:
  • Contact Information:
    • Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number
  • Relevant Work Experience:
    • For each relevant work experience, make sure you include:
      • Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
      • Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 - 08/2022)
      • The number of hours you worked per week
    • Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement
  • Optional Details:
    • When relevant, include:
      • Current Security Clearance
      • Job-related training
      • Language skills
      • Organizations and affiliations
      • Professional publications
      • Eligibility for special programs (e.g., military spouses, individuals with disabilities, etc.)
• Former VA Employees Who Are CTAP Eligible:
  • Your most recent APPOINTMENT SF-50. The most recent 1XX or 5XX SF-50 proving status. This SF-50 should identify your appointing legal authority, position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
  • Your SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade and step (e.g., Within Grade Increase, Promotion, Appointment, etc.) in order to verify time-in-grade requirements.
  • CTAP documentation - RIF notice, SF-50 showing VA employee, and performance appraisal

Additional Documents accepted:

• Most recent Performance Appraisal (VA Form 0750)
• Award SF-50s

Please use this checklist to make sure you have included all documents required for your application. You will not be contacted for additional information.

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