Veteran Outreach Program Specialist at Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Outreach Program Specialist serves as the principal outreach staff member for Military Reserve and National Guard members returning from the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND). The nature of the job requires travel throughout an assigned geographical area away from the Vet Center.

Major duties

• This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed represent the full performance level of GS-11. At the lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level. The incumbent will have an office at the Vet Center; however, it is expected that a major portion of the services provided will be conducted away from the office, in the offices of other agencies, in "nontraditional" settings, and in military, reserve, and National Guard facilities. The nature of the job requires travel throughout an assigned geographical area away from the Vet Center. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Providing information, explanation of services, support, and connection to a variety of individuals of various educational, environmental, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, regarding benefits and eligibility to VHA, RCS, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the National Cemetery Administration (NCA). Developing, managing, and distributing outreach materials to include brochures, presentations, flyers, fact sheets, web content, and other targeted information which highlights Vet Center services and locations as well as the combat Veteran experience. Creating presentations and materials with information in the appropriate format to allow the Veteran and/or Service Members, their families and representatives to understand the information they are receiving. Serving as a community liaison representing the Vet Center with organizations to include but not limited to Veterans Service Organizations, community groups, and others whose interest is in helping and protecting Veterans, their families, and their representatives. Collaborating closely with Vet Center direct service providers, helps initiate client referrals, and follows up to ensure client needs are being met timely. Collaborating, participating in the planning, coordinating, and executing of a variety of outreach events. Preparing documentation of contacts, client visits, and administrative activities in accordance with program guidelines and policies. Driving a Government Owned Vehicle (GOV) and a Mobile Vet Center to perform outreach services on a daily basis. Each Mobile Vet Center may be up to 40 feet long. Setting up and closing the Mobile Vet Center for operation, i.e., leveling the Mobile Vet Center, checking communications systems, electrical systems, etc. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Some nights and weekends may be required to meet mission. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#:Veterans Outreach Program Specialist (VOPS) PD# 76028A and PD# 76029A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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. Physical Requirements: Work is usually performed sitting at a desk, in news conferences, briefings, meetings, etc.; or riding in an automobile or on public transportation. A high level of physical energy is required, as the incumbent will be expected to meet with many people in many different locations in the course of a workday. Must be able to operate a passenger vehicle or larger vehicle that does not require a commercial driver's license. To operate the MVC. the incumbent uses moderate physical effort in operating hand and foot controls. When assigned to drive the MVC to outreach sites, the incumbent encounters all types of traffic and weather in route to assigned outreach site. Incumbent is responsible for driving the MVC in all types of weather and traffic situations.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/29/2026. This position requires you to drive to various locations to interact with the target community in the mobile vet center. You must have and maintain a state issued driver's license. As part of the selection process your driving record will be verified and annually on your birthday should you be selected. It is a condition of employment. CTAP is designed to improve your chances of finding a new job in your agency through selection priority. To receive selection priority, you must: Be "surplus" or "displaced"; Have a current performance rating of at least "fully successful" (Level III) or equivalent; Occupy a position in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; Apply for a specific vacancy at or below your current grade level with no greater promotion potential than your current position; Meet the application deadline in the announcement; and Be found "well qualified" for the job. You are "surplus" if you: Are in the competitive service; Are in tenure group I (career) or tenure group II (career-conditional); and Have an official notice from your agency saying that your position is no longer needed. This notice could be: a "Certificate of Expected Separation" (CES); an agency certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation; a notice that your position is being abolished; or a letter saying you are eligible for discontinued service retirement. You are "displaced" if you: Are in the competitive service; Are in tenure group I (career) or tenure group II (career-conditional); and Have an official notice from your agency saying you will be separated by reduction in force. This notice could be: a specific reduction in force separation notice; or a notice of proposed removal because you declined a directed reassignment or transfer of function out of the local commuting area. You are generally NOT eligible for selection priority if you are: In the excepted service; Downgraded or reassigned due to reduction in force, but not separated; In a different local commuting area from the vacancy; In a temporary or term position in the competitive service; In an agency that is not in the Executive branch; In an agency that does not follow OPM hiring procedures (this includes Postal Service, legislative and judicial branch agencies); or In the Senior Executive Service (SES). For additional information on CTAP, see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf. 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a 9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the 7. 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 announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education applicants must meet all requirement by the closing date of this announcement as described below: Specialized Experience (GS-09): You must have one full year of specialized experience, which equips you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, GS-09 position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, this specialized experience must have been equivalent to the grade GS-07 level in Federal service to qualify at the grade GS-09.Examples of specialized experience include: Participating and assisting in the planning of outreach events and generating program refers. Providing individual and group presentations to inform others of various services. Distributing and assisting in the creation of marketing materials including, brochures, presentation, flyers, fact sheets, and web content. Accurately maintaining client records accordance with program guidelines and polices. Collecting outreach data and providing reports to leadership. OR Education: To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. Specialized Experience (GS-11): You must have one full year of specialized experience, which equips you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, GS-11 position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, this specialized experience must have been equivalent to the grade GS-09 level in Federal service to qualify at the grade GS-11.Examples of specialized experience include: Working with in the community, developing, planning, scheduling, and conducting outreach events, and referral processes. Creating and presenting formal briefings to a variety of individuals with various education, environmental, ethics and cultural backgrounds. Developing, managing, and distributing outreach materials to include brochures, presentation, flyers, fact sheets, web content, and other targeted information which highlights services and locations. Preparing and maintaining records including documentation of contacts, clients visits and administrative activities in accordance with program guidelines and polices. Preparing and providing accurate reports and cursory analysis on outreach data as assigned in accordance with program requirements. OR Education: To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree OR (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related. OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and graduate level education in excess of the first year or 18 semester hours. Superior Academic Achievement: SAA is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership o Grade-point average (G.P.A.): Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. o Class standing: Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. Continued in Education: