Supervisory Program Specialist
Atlanta, GA - USA
Job Summary
This position is located in the Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Office Office of the Director. The incumbent serves as a Supervisory Program Specialist responsible for a wide range of duties that support the overall operations of the Regional office. The incumbent is the key advisor to the Director and the Division Chiefs on human resources issues and coordinates directly with the HR Center.
Specific duties include:
- Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates sets and adjust short- and long-range staffing plans to meet the forecasted mission requirements and changes in critical competencies.
- Evaluates work performance of subordinates; gives advice counsel or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters; interviews candidates for positions in the unit.
- Recommends appointment promotion or reassignment to such positions.
- Hears and resolves complaints from employees referring group grievances and more serious unresolved complaints to a higher-level supervisor or manager.
- Effects minor disciplinary measures such as warnings and reprimands proposing other action in more serious cases; identifies developmental and training needs of employees providing or arranging for needed development and training.
- Develops performance standards.
- Recommends selections for subordinate nonsupervisory positions. Finds and implements ways to eliminate or reduce significant bottlenecks and barriers to production promote team building.
- Provides management advisory services in counseling advising management on developing and maintaining the proper balance between organization strategic plans and goals and human resource development programs.
- Conducting systemic studies to develop management interests.
- Collaborates with the staff/managers to develop and implement policies procedures and guidelines which institute processes for work to run as effectively and efficiently as possible.
- Implementations may require recommendations for changes in established process and procedures which help workflow of applicable sections.
- Conducts data reviews and analyzes data results identifying any data trends and making recommendations for updating or creating new processes and procedures to help increase workflow.
- Provides comprehensive advice on human resource management functions to the Director Assistant Directors Division Chiefs Managers Supervisors HR Staff and employees.
- Pro-actively briefs senior management regarding key human resources trends risks threats and other significant issues to ensure HR actions taken conform with the laws and regulation governing federal civilian personnel and negotiated labor management agreements.
- Identifies problems and develops workable solutions.
- Researches and responds to a variety of time sensitive information requests (Taskers) from the Directors Office.
- Researches pressing issues to provide sound well informed recommendations to management.
- Maintain appropriate internal controls.
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#: Supervisory Program Specialist; PD38567A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required.
As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 1-year trial period or 2-year trial during which we will evaluate your fitness and 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.
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
- Selectees are required to serve a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position.
- 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.
To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 09/14/2026.
TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: As a current Federal GS employee you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
- For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level.
- If you are a current VBA employee requesting reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement you must currently hold the GS- 13 or higher and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least None.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below:
GS-13 Grade Level:
- Specialized Experience:
- One (1) year of Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-12). Specialized experience is defined as: experience applying and providing guidance on multiple fields of Human Resources rules regulations and procedures including Personnel Management Recruitment and Staffing Classification Employee Benefits and Labor Relations.
- Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to:
- Provide advice and guidance in the areas of staffing and recruitment
- Defending agency actions in front of a 3rd party hearing (FLRA MSPB)
- Experience as the chief negotiator in labor negotiations
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 primarily sedentary. Some walking is required for the tasks concerned.
For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at more information on the Who may apply eligibility requirements please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.
There is no educational substitution at this grade level.
VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service increase worker productivity and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
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 your 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 OPMs Career Transition Resources website at 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. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.
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.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA career development services for our existing Veterans and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e. physical or mental) covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position after notification of the adjudication of your request you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA please review: Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. ( should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
Manager