Program Specialist

Typical duties include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for the propriety and technical sufficiency of Field Examination reports final annual accounting and correspondence to fiduciaries and all other fiduciary related issues.
• Performs quality reviews of completed actions to monitor individual performance data for Fid Hub employees.
• Analyzes data that reflects quality levels to determine training needs of Fid Hub employees from Field Examiners through clerical staff.
• Develops various quality assurance processes with emphasis on work procedures and techniques that address unique work conditions and practices.
• Ensures all program requirements imposed by VA Central Office Fiduciary Service are met or implemented.
• Performs quality reviews and develops local operating procedures for the team to supplement regulations and directives as needed.
• Functions as an authoritative consultant on the technical aspects of fiduciary activities.
• Provides management advisory services including making planned systematic studies of immediate and long-range training needs
• Uses surveys focus groups and similar tools to obtain feedback from employees managers and supervisors on training effectiveness.
• Prepares the annual training plan and may prepare training outlines and lesson plans.
• Utilizes technology in carrying out training programs. Videotapes satellite training. Computer assisted programs and computer enhanced presentations are developed for use throughout the Hub.
• Develops methods for mentoring members of the team on the technical aspects of the job in a manner that addresses individual learning needs and effectively offers feedback to identify and correct deficient areas.
• Advises the Fiduciary Hub Manager/Supervisor on all aspects of technical training policies planning review and research as related to the Instructional System Design (ISD) methodology and VBA developed training packages.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

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.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: Yes 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 GS - 11: 41105A GS - 12: 37120A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Required
Bargaining Unit: Yes

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness & whether your continued employment advances the public 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 or trial 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 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

• 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.

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 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:

GS-11 Grade Level

Specialized Experience - You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Experience that demonstrates competence in adjudicating and authorizing veterans claims.
• Experience in the development examination investigation adjudication and authorization of claims for disability compensation disability pension death compensation death pension benefits life insurance benefits etc.
• Experience in explaining VA benefits and eligibility requirements to a variety of customers.
• Training/Mentoring in investigation adjudication and authorization of claims for benefits or compensation.

OR

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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 to the competencies.

OR

• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-11 level. Equivalent combinations of (1) specialized experience and (2) PH.D graduate education. To compute divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond one year by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. (The applicants first 2 years of graduate study are not qualifying for GS-11.)

GS-12 Grade Level:

Specialized Experience: Applicant must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 addition to the specialized experience needed at the GS-11 level specialized experience is defined:

• Conducting focused evaluations and reviews to determine quality and accuracy;
• Providing advisory services to management via preparation and presentation of quality trend information;
• Developing training strategies and materials to address deficiencies and/or conducting training activities;
• Analyzing performance deficiencies and quality trends to identify knowledge/skill gaps; Providing quality-review services feedback and guidance to staff to correct unsatisfactory performance.

There is no education substitution for the GS-12 level.

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 may require walking and standing during training sessions.

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at http://://