Veterans Claims Examiner (Training Consultant)

This incumbent must reside in the local commuting area of either Lakewood, CO or Houston, TX Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Office. Regarding local commuting area: Commuting area means the geographic area surrounding a work site that encompasses the localities where people live & reasonable can be expected to travel back and forth daily to work as defined in 5 CFR 550.703.

Duties

• Prepares clear & concise documents. Assists in developing & updating procedural guidance for distribution to field offices. Drafts training letters, writes briefing papers, & answers Congressional & external stakeholder inquiries. Research Veteran specific issues & prepares all necessary administrative materials, correspondence, & justifications detailing reasons for decisions.
• Deals with issues of both sensitive or of a high-profile nature while advising leadership on the national or local impact of changes in process, protocol, or legal statutes, which may affect or shapes the future direction of the organization.
• Uses efficient learning techniques to acquire & apply new knowledge and skills, using training, feedback, or other opportunities. Knowledge of teaching, training, research, making presentations, lecturing, testing, & other instructional methods.
• Formulates & recommends instructions, directives, guidelines, policies, plans or procedures to administer or carry out functions, which support operations delivery or supporting delivery of benefits or services to Veterans. Develops & conducts training on a national level that supports policies and procedures.
• Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, cooperation, concern, & politeness to others; relates well to different people from varied backgrounds and different situations.
• Responsible for the creation of instructional materials through the utilization of various training authoring tools, in accordance with course objectives.
• Plans, organize & delivers instruction in ways that maximize student learning & employs appropriate instructional methods & strategies to meet the diverse needs of students. Evaluates student performance fairly and consistently.
• Analyzes & evaluates, on a quantitative or qualitative basis, the effectiveness of training programs or operations in meeting established goals and objectives.
• Monitors training programs & activities supporting compensation & pension benefits & services provided to Veterans, their dependents, or beneficiaries.
• Works in close cooperation with other elements of VBA as it relates to Veterans benefits. The incumbent represents Compensation Service management at meetings & conferences within VA, at other Government agencies, with VA contractors & with representatives of service, civic & fraternal organization.
• Assists field stations with instructions for implementing policy, procedures, or training. Studies program operations, new legislation, automated systems, management initiatives, & the operation of interacting programs & organizations to develop new & modified operating instructions & training material.
• Performs & conducts methodical national in-persona & remote audits & site visits which include review, examination, & verification of individual employee records & performance data to determine if employees are properly completing & complying with VBA's National Training Program & Competency Based Training System requirements. This also includes audit interviews with Veterans Service Center employees & management. Additional duties include visits to field stations to observe & assess the quality of training implementation & assist station management and training.
• Undertakes long-and short-range research & studies program activities within the Compensation Service to support the organization's business goals & objectives.
• Prepares for & gives oral presentations to various audiences within Compensation Service, VBA senior management, department level executives & outside agencies. Develops presentations covering highlights of new material and providing practical applications & examples.
• Serves as an advisor & consultant to the supervisor on precedent determinations involving decisions on individual cases & national issues regarding technical, regulatory, procedural, & operational aspects of the Compensation program. The incumbent may act for his/her immediate supervisor when called upon to do so.
• Leads in-house efforts & participates actively as a team member or sub-group leader on project teams involving participants outside of VBA.
• Past experience reflects evidence of processing Veteran's claims in the position(s) of either Veterans Service Representative (VSR), Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR), Authorization Quality Review Specialist (AQRS), Rating Quality Review Specialist (RQRS), Decision Review Officer (DRO), Assistant Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Assistant Coach), or Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Coach).

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Veterans Claims Examiner (Training Consultant); PD41504-A, PD41526-A, and PD39944-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Salary

• $63,163 - $117,034/year

Conditions of Employment

• 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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements : https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 04/25/2025.

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.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50 that indicates proof of status, and shows Time in Grade (for example, you were a career or career-conditional employee) and identifies your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). 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 also submit your most recent promotion or within-grade increase in addition to your recent SF-50. If you previously held a higher grade, you must also submit any SF-50 showing that grade. DO NOT submit Award SF-50's and/or General Adjustment SF-50's as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade.

• 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.
• For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
GS-11 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: Candidate must be meeting or exceeding their current performance standards. Candidate must have one year of experience to at least the next lower grade GS-09, in order to qualify for GS-11, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

1. The incumbent must show experience in either of the following positions: Veterans Service Representative (VSR), Senior Veterans Service Representative (SVSR), Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR), Assistant or Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Assistant Coach or Coach), Rating Quality Review Specialist (RQRS), Authorization Quality Review Specialist (AQRS), that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position(s).
2. The applicant must show documented knowledge and experience on a complex field of Veterans benefits laws, regulations and Federal legislation pertaining to the full range of comprehensive knowledge of state, federal and local benefit programs.
3. The incumbent must show a clear ability to communicate orally and in writing.

• Education Substitution: Successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. (Must submit transcripts.); or a combination of the required experience and education for this grade level. OR, a combination of specialized experience and education as described, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement.

GS-12 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: Candidate must be meeting or exceeding their current performance standards. You must have one year of specialized experience to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in order to qualify for GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

1. The incumbent must show experience as either a Veterans Service Representative (VSR), Senior Veterans Service Representative (SVSR), Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR), Assistant or Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Assistant Coach or Coach), Rating Quality Review Specialist (RQRS), Authorization Quality Review Specialist (AQRS), that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position(s).
2. The applicant must show documented knowledge and experience on a complex field of Veterans benefits laws, regulations and Federal legislation pertaining to the full range of comprehensive knowledge of state, federal and local benefit programs.
3. The incumbent must show a clear ability to communicate orally and in writing.
4. In addition to the duties described above, the incumbent must possess an ability to train or mentor individuals of diverse backgrounds.
5. In addition, the incumbent must have documented experience leading, mentoring and/or training.

GS-13 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: Candidate must be meeting or exceeding their current performance standards. You must be meeting or exceeding your current performance standards. You must have one year of specialized experience to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in order to qualify for GS-13 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

1. The incumbent must show experience as either a Veterans Service Representative (VSR), Senior Veterans Service Representative (SVSR), Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR), Assistant or Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Assistant Coach or Coach), Rating Quality Review Specialist (RQRS), Authorization Quality Review Specialist (AQRS), that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position(s).
2. The applicant must show documented knowledge and experience on a complex field of laws, regulations and Federal legislation pertaining to the full range of Veteran's benefits and a comprehensive knowledge of state, federal and local benefit programs, both orally and in writing.
3. In addition to the duties described above, the incumbent must possess an ability to train or mentor individuals of diverse backgrounds.
4. In addition, the incumbent must have documented experience leading, mentoring and/or training preferably with WARTAC or VIP program.

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: Work is primarily sedentary but involves use of a personal computer so a degree of manual dexterity and visual acuity sufficient to use these tools is required. Occasional standing, bending, walking, and stooping are also necessary. Significant periods of standing while providing classroom instruction or course managing may be necessary. Some slight physical effort is required in that incumbent lifts and carries reference books, veteran 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/. Education Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited towards qualifications. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. All education claimed by applicants will be verified upon appointment. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit. Other Information

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 11/12/13.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package to include the documents detailed below. 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 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 should also indicate the grade level. Resumes containing a general summary of all positions held, not specifying start/end dates, and/or not including documentation supporting Federal grade level(s) are insufficient to determine basic 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.
• Transcript if you are using education to qualify

Additional Documents accepted:

• Most recent Annual Performance Appraisals (2024) *Candidate must be meeting or exceeding their current performance standards.
• CTAP documentation - RIF notice, SF-50 showing VA employee, and performance appraisal

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

How to Apply

Complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/25/2025 to receive consideration. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12723222.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

Click here for instructions on viewing your application status.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in the Job Opportunity Announcement.

Benefits

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