Summary Incumbent serves as a Lead Insurance Specialist for the Accounts Services Section. The Division is responsible for the oversight, and exception reporting review, of the check processing activity and preparing and imagining incoming correspondence, and documentation, into the workflow system and the Veterans Insurance Claims Tracking & Response System (VICTARS). The Incumbent will assist Policyholders Services Division supervisory personnel by leading the work and resolving work related issues. Responsibilities The Lead Insurance Specialist will assist Policyholders Services Division (PSD) supervisory personnel by leading the work of the PSD division and resolving work related issues. The duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Under the supervision of the Section Chief, the incumbent leads a team of five or more individuals in performing the work within the Policyholders Services Division. The Team Leader will be flexible and support any of the individual teams established in the Policyholders Services Division. The incumbent also participates in the work of the team, which includes: Provides technical advice and guidance on all aspects of the Insurance program from policyholders, their representatives, their beneficiaries, and other third party representatives on behalf of the Chiefs, Policyholders Services and Insurance Claims Divisions. Contacts relate to the Government Life insurance programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Researches and Interprets regulations governing life insurance policies in order to reply to inquiries from policyholders on the VA administered insurance programs. Such inquiries may relate to policy maintenance, disability claim, medical underwriting, and/or death awards. As such, the incumbent must be able to respond to inquiries varying in complexity and counsel callers on a variety of topics, including but not limited to, dividends, premiums, non-medical and medical underwriting issues, matured endowments, cash surrenders, loans, death claim processing and tax issues relating to the insurance programs. Uses initiative and judgment when reviewing and analyzing and/or developing facts and evidence submitted on a broad range of insurance claims. Determines 1 f information is sufficient to support payment authorization. Makes decision to approve and authorize payment of claims. Explains the agency's positron to those protesting adverse determinations and defines appeal rights under the existing laws and regulations. Leads the team in assessing its strengths and weaknesses and provides leadership to the team by exploring alternatives and determining improvements in work methods, processes or procedures. Coaches team members on the technical aspects of their required duties; provides advice on work methods, practices and procedures of the Division. Solves work problems and assists the team and/or individual members in identifying. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Time-in-grade: Applicants who are/were federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9 level. To support your claim of time in grade, you must submit your most recent appointment, promotion, or within grade increase SF-50 (not an award or general adjustment SF-50). Some applicants may have to submit more than one SF-50 to demonstrate their eligibility. See the required documents section for more information. And Specialized Experience: Applicants 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: (1) Knowledge of legal and regulatory basis of the VA Insurance laws, programs, practices, methods, and technologies sufficient to perform assignments independently using procedures that are conventional and apply to most situations. (2) Knowledge of Insurance Service's organization and operations and familiarity with the work processes of organizations with which the VA Insurance program must coordinate its operations. (3) Knowledge of a problem-solving techniques, workload prioritization, speak and write clearly about a large variety of subjects relating to the general and technical aspects of VA insurance programs and information. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-11 level. 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. Such education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work. OR Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-11 level: Equivalent combinations of specialized experience and PH.D. graduate education. To compute, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond two years by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. The Office of Personnel Management's group coverage qualification standards, associated individual occupational requirements (IOR), and individual qualification standards covering white collar occupations in the Federal competitive service can be found here. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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. Additional Information Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 6:00am - 6:00pm, Flex schedule available Title/PD#: Lead Insurance Specialist GS - 11; PD 03808-A Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts; driving an automobile, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. 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. Special Employment Consideration: The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. A well-qualified candidate is defined as meeting all of the minimum qualification standards and eligibility requirements as well as possessing skills that clearly exceed the minimum qualifications requirements for this position. Information about CTAP eligibility can be found here. 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
