This position is located in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program, Claims Division. OJP provides federal leadership, funding, and other critical resources to directly support law enforcement, combat violent crime, protect American children, provide services to American crime victims, and address public safety challenges, including human trafficking and the opioid crisis.
Duties
The duties and responsibilities for a GS- 0301-13 generally include, but are not limited to, the following: Serves as a Program Specialist (PSOB) with the responsibility of reviewing PSOB applications and claims, conducting detailed medical reviews, analyzing medical causation and forensic evidence, performing related program activities, and implementing the federal benefit programs. Reviews medical documentation submitted with disability and death applications and claims, including hospital records, physician statements, diagnostic imaging results, autopsy reports, and other medical records to determine consistency with PSOB eligibility requirements. Coordinates with independent medical examiners and specialists to obtain expert opinions on complex medical cases. Reviews mental health and psychological records in disability claims involving Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, and other behavioral health conditions. Provides expert guidance to resolve complex PSOB program and policy challenges and ensures PSOB policies and procedures comply with applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines.
Salary
Qualifications
To qualify for the position of Program Specialist (PSOB), at GS-0301-13, you must meet the qualification requirements listed below. Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: Analyzes medical evidence to determine causation in disability and death claims, distinguishing between duty-related injuries and pre-existing conditions based on clinical documentation and applicable program criteria. Translate complex medical terminology and clinical findings into clear written and verbal communications for claimants, beneficiaries, agency representatives, or senior leadership. Assesses case complexity to identify claims requiring independent medical examiner consultation for resolution of disputed causation or cause of death determinations. Conducts comprehensive reviews of benefits applications by evaluating medical records against regulatory requirements, identifying documentation deficiencies, coordinating expert referrals, and preparing detailed medical analyses. Online Assessment: This position requires an online assessment. After you submit this application, you will receive an e-mail informing you that a USA Hire assessment is required of you. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement 08/17/2026 to complete the assessment as this assessment is part of your application. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Reading Comprehension Decision Making Attention to Detail Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Self-Management Teamwork Reasoning You MUST meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade, by the closing date of this announcement, 08/17/2026. Your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating. See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume. After you submit your application, you will receive notification indicated whether or not the USA Hire assessment is required. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement to complete the assessment which is part of your application.
Education
Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone. No substitution of education for experience is permitted.
Required Documents
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Resume (Maximum 2 pages): Include for each job: Official position title Employer name and contact information Start and end dates (month and year) Full-time or part-time hours per week Duties performed and accomplishments See How do I write a resume for more information Current or Former Federal employee: Most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) or equivalent agency form (not award SF-50s) Must show: Full position title, series, grade and step, organization, duty location, effective date, service type, and tenure status Performance evaluation with final rating (or statement explaining why unavailable) List of awards from the last 5 years (e.g., superior performance, special act/achievement, quality step increases). Documentation will be forwarded to the selecting official for consideration during selection. This applies to federal and non-federal work See Current & Former Employees for more information Veterans or Qualifying Family Members: Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): Preference eligible OR veterans with 3+ years active service DD-214 Member #4 Copy showing service dates, character of service, and discharge type; OR Certification letter from armed forces confirming expected honorable discharge/release within 120 days 30% or More Disabled Veteran: VA Letter with disability rating DD-214 Member #4 Copy SF-15 (10-point Veterans Preference form) 5 or 10-point Veterans Preference: DD-214 Member #4 Copy VA Letter (if applicable) SF-15 Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA) (GS-11 or below): Disabled veterans; wartime/campaign veterans; Armed Forces Service Medal recipients; or veterans separated within the past 3 years DD-214 Member #4 Copy VA Letter (if applicable) See FedsHireVets or USAJOBS Help Center - Veterans for more information Military Spouse Appointing Authority: If spouse is on active duty: Spouse's active-duty documentation Marriage certification If spouse has 100% disability: Documentation showing 100% disability rating Marriage certification If spouse was killed on active duty: Documentation of death while on active duty Marriage certificate Statement certifying unremarried status See Military spouses for more information Schedule A (Individuals with disabilities): Official letter on letterhead from a doctor or licensed medical professional; Licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, OR; Federal, state, or local disability benefits agency Letter must state you have an intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability. See OPM's Schedule A for more information CTAP/ICTAP (Career Transition Programs): Separation notice, agency RIF letter, OR letter of intent to separate Most recent performance appraisal SF-50 showing current/former position details See Career Transition Programs for more information Land and Base Management: Most recent SF-50 equivalent agency form See Base facilities or land management agency for more information Peace Corps or AmeriCorps VISTA: Certification of service documents See Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA for more information
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application questionnaire and submit your supporting documentation. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 08/17/2026 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on08/17/2026. After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder. If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account. Essay Questions: The following four narrative questions provide an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question (see the application questionnaire). You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you and explain how you would help implement them if hired. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position. Need Help? If you need help with USAJOBs or the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help website which includes information on managing your account, creating an application, uploading documents, etc. Reasonable Accommodation: To request reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the hiring agency contact directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
