Summary This position is in the Portland, Oregon VA Regional Office. The incumbent serves as a Program Specialist responsible for decisions on adjudicative actions incident to the determination of eligibility of benefits to applicants in the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE) Program. The requisite knowledge of the governing Veterans Administration (VA) regulation demands the incumbent be well informed on certifications for special and rehabilitation benefits in VRE.
Learn more about this agency Duties Help
Specific duties include:
- Responsible for decisions on adjudicative actions incident to the determination of eligibility of
benefits to applicants in the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE) Program. The requisite
knowledge of the governing Veterans Administration (VA) regulation demands the incumbent be
well informed on certifications for special and rehabilitation benefits in VRE. - Notifies claimants and other interested persons or organizations in layman terms relative to their
rights and benefits, the submission of evidence, disposition of claims, reasons for our decisions,
evidence considered and all subsequent actions. Has a duty to assist the in the presentation of
their claims of evidence necessary to adjudicate the claim for VRE benefits to which the claimant
may be entitled, including time limits to apply or appeal. - Prepares certification of eligibility for VRE services. Develops claims files and schedules
appointments. Prepares awards, stop payments, resume payments change of name notice,
change of fiduciary notice and all adjustment actions on VRE claims as required. Process
applications for VRE, creating appropriate controls for action and initiating a general eligibility
determination (GED) as appropriate. - Through the guidance of subject matter experts (SME), makes decisions regarding input of
awards, EAAs, and other data into the master record. Inputs the data timely and accurately and
keeps VRE supervisory personnel informed of any problems. Must be able to audit VRE
benefits paid and due. Writes replies explaining decisions in a manner that shows sensitivity,
compassion, accuracy, completeness, and timeliness. - Receives visitors and telephone calls from claimants, their representatives, VRE staff, and
others on issues which include but are not limited to status of VRE applications, subsistence
allowance, VRE services, entitlement consumed, benefit pay inquiries, etc. - Through the guidance of SMEs, resolves issues related to VRE training such as payments, class
schedules, termination dates, remaining entitlement, training under other Chapters, and
accounts receivable. Issues are resolved by reviewing appropriate master records, claims files,
VBMS, and CWINRS. Explains decisions rendered by VRE. - Maintains diaries, collects, and analyzes data, and prepares recurring reports as directed by
their direct chain of command. Utilizes data analysis to identify areas of program weakness,
then prepares spreadsheets, graphs, reports, and recommends courses of action to be taken to
correct identified weakness. - Knowledge of M28C and CFR, in order to prepare authorization forms for entering participants
into training, enter payment data, review course lists submitted by trainees for conformity to
approved programs, compute entitlement used and remaining under VRE checking against the
prescribed program and basic termination date. - Make determinations to establish a claim for VRE and evaluate evidence regarding eligibility for:
Original and reopened VRE basic eligibility issues for Disallowances of claims and claims under
other Chapters such as 18, 30, 33, 35, 36, and 1606. Provide due process, as necessary. - Assists in the effective coordination of all administration functions and among other Regional
Offices and Business Lines. Performs parts of VRE's Strategic Oversight and Analysis Reviews
(SOAR) and report of internal control affecting VRE operations as prescribed. Responds to
requests for information concerning VRE. Prepares responses from source material.
Anticipates need for and prepares material so it is immediately available for supervisor's needs. - Accurately review, control, process, and route incoming mail and evidence received from
all sources. Identify items of mail that can be processed "at once". - Administers participant beneficiary travel program. Coordinates travel arrangements, prepares
travel vouchers, and maintains fiscal records. - Upon receipt of procurement packet, researches and follows Federal Acquisition Regulations to
complete purchases for participants via federal government purchase card. Complete monthly
reconciliation procedures and submit to Approving Official. - Work with and conduct training for Work-Study, Volunteers, and Non-Paid Work Experience
trainees. - Other duties assigned.
Work Schedule : Full-Time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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# : Program Specialist (VRE); PD
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required.
Bargaining Unit: Yes.
Requirements Help
Conditions of employment As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In 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, 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, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- If you receive a conditional offer of employment you will be required to complete an Optional Form-306 Declaration for Federal Appointment (OF-306).
- All federal employees are required to have federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.
Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:08/12/2026.
TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT : Under competitive merit promotion procedures, any individual who is currently holding, or who has held within the previous 52 weeks, a General Schedule position under a non-temporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service, must meet "time-in-grade" requirements (have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade of the grade for which you are applying). NOTE: All current or former Federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
- For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 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 announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
GS-09 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the
GS-07 level or higher. Specialized experience is defined as:
- The incumbent has substantial experience working within a clerical setting in a fast-paced environment.
- Incumbent should have excellent customer service skills and be a team player.
- The incumbent is highly organized and capable of monitoring and managing multiple projects, tasks, and assignments.
- The incumbent is capable of gathering and interpreting a wide range of data addressing service concerns, preparing spreadsheets and graphs, reports, power points, and recommends appropriate actions based on the data.
- Incumbent must be familiar with all aspects of VRE processes to include initial evaluations ,case management, and employment services.
OR Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a Masters Degree or equivalent doctoral degree OR two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.
Combining Education substitution & 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: The work is sedentary. Some work may require walking in offices and similar areas for meetings and to conduct HR work. Work may also require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the worksite. The work does not require any special physical effort.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at
Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:
You may submit unofficial transcripts when applying. However, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to provide an official transcript or a statement from the institution (e.g., from the registrar, dean, or other appropriate official) or equivalent documentation prior to the start date.
Additional information 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 OPM's Career Transition Resources website at
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. 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 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),
Reasonable 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. (
For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.
Candidates 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.
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