Vacancy expired!
Veterans Service RepresentativeDepartment of Veterans AffairsVeterans Benefits AdministrationOverview
##### Open & closing dates
09/30/2019 to 10/21/2019
##### Service
Competitive
##### Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 7
##### Salary
$37,829 to $60,919 per year
##### Appointment type
Permanent
##### Work schedule
Full-TimeLocation1 vacancy in the following location:-Anchorage, AKRelocation expenses reimbursedNoTelework eligibleYes as determined by agency policy- DutiesSummaryThis position is established at the GS-5 and GS-7, rather than the
full performance level for recruitment and training purposes. It is
targeted to the Veteran Service Representative (VSR), GS-0996-10.
The VSR explains benefit programs and entitlement criteria, conducts
interviews, identifies issues, gathers relevant evidence,
adjudicates claims, and inputs data necessary to generate the award
and notification letter to the veteran describing the decision and
the reason for it.Learn more about this agencyResponsibilitiesSpecifically, the VSR will:
- Make determinations as to the eligibility for the type of benefit
sought to include questions relating to adequacy of military
service, medical evidence and the evaluation of evidence of income,
employability, dependence and relationship.
- Request examinations, re-examination or opinions to evaluate
disabilities resulting from diseases or injuries.
- Review claims cases to assure all issues have been addressed,
applies and interprets VA laws, including veterans' case law,
existing statutes and procedures, precedent rulings and state law in
the adjudication process.
- May conduct interviews in person or by phone with veterans,
representatives and advocates to explain the full range of VA
benefits and related programs.
- Prepare and release correspondence for use by other federal, state
and local agencies.
- Utilize various electronic data processing (EDP) systems to input
data for processing claims and generating automated
correspondence.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, but depends on the selectee's demonstration of
the ability to perform the duties of the higher grade to the
satisfaction of the supervisor and the availability of ceiling,
funding, and enough work to support the targeted position. Grade
progression for the VSR is GS-5/7/9/10.Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 800 am-430 pm
Compressed/Flexible: May Be Available
Telework: May Be Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Veterans Service Representative -GS-5
42109A, GS-7 37300A,
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not requiredTravel RequiredOccasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.Supervisory statusNoPromotion Potential10
#### Job family (Series)
0996 Veterans Claims Examining- RequirementsConditions of Employment
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
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
VSR Skills certification required at the GS-10 level
Mandatory 8 weeks off-site training, which may require travel
Mandatory Overtime May Be Required
This is a bargaining unit position
QualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements
by the closing date of this announcement, 10/21/2019.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 GS-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-03 or
GS-04 non-temporary position.
For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the
GS-05.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.You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as
described below:General Experience:
To qualify for GS-05: You must have three (3) years of general
experience, one (1) year of which was equivalent to at least the
next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the
occupation in the organization.General experience is defined as the ability to analyze problems
to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and
recognize solutions; ability to plan and organize work; and/or the
ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.Specialized Experience:
To qualify for GS-07: You must have one year of specialized
experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in
the normal line of progression for the occupation in the
organization.Specialized experience is defined as interpretation or
application of laws, regulations, or procedures to analyze evidence
to make determinations and research routine issues to resolve
discrepancies.
Examples of experience include, but are not limited to:
- Technical assignments related to claims or benefits processing
or eligibility determinations.
- Quality assurance or auditor functions
- Compiling income and legal documentation to determine basic
eligibility for benefits or programs.
- Claims processing for: A state or federal agency, Insurance
company, Worker's Compensation, Disability Retirement or Pension
Program.
- Human Resource positions which involved determining employment
qualifications, job classification, or determining eligibility
for benefits.
- Positions involved in assisting veterans with claims
applicationsOR,Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required
experience.
- GS-05: 4-Year course of study leading to a bachelor's
degree.
- GS-07: Successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate
level education or a Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic
Achievement (3.0 GPA or higher) Superior Academic
Achievement (SAA) is based on: 1) class standing, 2) grade
point average or 3) honor society membership. For more
information on calculating SAA please visit www.opm.govOR,Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully
completed post-high school education and experience may be used to
meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels and may
be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying
experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade
level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of
the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two
percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent
to qualify an applicant for that grade level. (When crediting
education that requires specific course work, prorate the number of
hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total
education to be used.)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.Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of
work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of
time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to
receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature
of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number
of hours a week spent in such employment.Physical Requirements: Work is mostly sedentary. However, there
may be some walking, standing, and carrying of light items such as
papers, books, claims folders, and files from one desk to another or
for returning to storage.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/.EducationAll education claimed by applicants will be verified by the
appointing agency accordingly.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:
http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.Additional informationVA 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 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 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. 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.For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility
requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other
Candidate Definitions document.If you are unable to apply online view the following link for
information regarding an Alternate Application.How You Will Be EvaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the
qualifications above.IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE
WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:Competency 1: REASONING: Identifies regulations, laws, rules,
principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other
information; analyzes information and makes correct inferences or
draws accurate conclusions.
Competency 2: CUSTOMER SERVICE: Works with customers to
assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their
problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available
products and services; is committed to providing quality products
and services.
Competency 3: DECISION MAKING: Makes sound, well-informed
and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of
decisions; commits to action even in uncertain situations in order
to assist customers and meet organizational goals.
Competency 4: SELF MANAGEMENT: Displays a high level of
initiative, effort and commitment towards completing assignments in
a timely manner; works independently with minimal supervision; is
motivated to achieve; sets well-defined and realistic goals that are
in alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
Competency 5: ORAL COMMUNICATION: Expresses information
(facts, decisions, and ideas) to individuals or groups clearly and
concise, taking into account the audience and nature of the
information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial);
listens to others; asks questions and gains or shares information
related to the claims review process.
Competency 6: COMPUTER SKILLS: Uses computers, software
applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
This includes tasks such as entering, sorting and retrieving data;
analyzing data; researching information; monitoring work; and
preparing correspondence and reports.
Competency 7: WRITTEN COMMUNICATION: Prepares written
correspondence to customers and co-workers via email, letters,
reports, etc. using correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and
style; communicates information in a succinct and organized manner;
provides information that is appropriate for the purpose and the
intended audience.Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are
referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional
job related information, which may include, but not limited to;
responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a
work sample, and/or contact for an interview.Your resume and/or
supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all
instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating
or consideration for employment.Background checks and security clearanceSecurity clearanceOtherDrug test requiredNoPosition sensitivity and riskNoncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate RiskTrust determination processSuitability/Fitness- Required DocumentsTo apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application
Package which includes:
Resume
Failure to submit the documents as specified may result in lack of
consideration for this job announcement.
- Resume detailing your 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 must also indicate the grade
level. Resumes containing a general summary of all positions
held, not specifying start/end dates, and/or not including
Federal grade level(s) are insufficient to determine basic
qualifications.
- SF-50: A copy of 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).
- To verify you meet Time-in-Grade requirements, also submit a
SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade held
(e.g. Promotion, Appointment, etc.).
- Transcript if you are using education to qualify
- Non-Competitive Eligibles: Member-4 DD-214 and disability rating
letter (if applicable) or Schedule A letter should you wish to
be considered non-competitively.Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other
documents required for your application. You will not be contact for
additional information.If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution
recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be
credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the
attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting
institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this
vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may
affect the overall rating.- BenefitsA 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. Learn more about federal
benefits.Review our benefitsEligibility 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.- How to ApplyAll applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this
position, you must 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
10/21/2019 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire
click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10618254.Note: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. Applying
online will allow you to review and track the status of your
application. If you are unable to apply online please contact the
Human Resources Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement for an
alternate application process.
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.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and
appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS
account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the
Application Status link and then select the more information link
for this position. The Application page will display the status of
your application, the documentation received and processed, and any
correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your
uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan
process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA
JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy
announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents
from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.Agency contact informationChristy WyattPhone303-236-6173EmailChristy.Wyatt@va.govAddressAnchorage Regional Benefit Office
1201 North Muldoon Road
Anchorage, AK 99504
USLearn more about this agencyNext stepsOnce your online application is submitted you will receive a
confirmation notification by email. After we receive application
packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy
announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure
qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review
is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will
be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be
notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office
for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final
notification once a selection decision has been made.You may check the status of your application at any time by logging
into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information
regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help
Center.- Fair & TransparentThe Federal hiring process is setup to be fair and transparent.
Please read the following guidance.Equal Employment Opportunity PolicyThe United States Government does not discriminate in employment on
the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and
gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual
orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age,
membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental
status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job
applicants
Reasonable Accommodation PolicyFederal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants
with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable
accommodation for any part of the application process should follow
the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part
of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the
hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable
accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work
environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an
individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties
or receive equal access to job benefits.Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide
reasonable accommodations when:
An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an
equal opportunity to apply for a job.
An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform
the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive
equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and
office-sponsored events.
You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the
application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are
considered on a case-by-case basis.Learn more about disability employment and reasonable accommodations
or how to contact an agency.Legal and regulatory guidance
Financial suitability
Social security number request
Privacy Act
Signature and false statements
Selective Service
New employee probationary period
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to
apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/547279000. Only resumes
submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed
at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
