Duties

Summary

The Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer (VREO) oversees a team of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and other staff in the VBA Regional Office, Regional Office Out-based office locations, Vet Success On Campus school sites, or Integrated Disability Evaluation System locations on military installations. The VREO provides management/direction to staff on a wide range of rehabilitation counseling/case management services provided to veterans with service-connected disabilities

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Responsibilities

The Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer (VREO) manages the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) division and is responsible for providing administrative and technical direction and leadership to a professional and technical staff of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and clerical staff. The incumbent performs the following tasks, but are not limited to:

• Identifies and corrects deficiencies recognized through systematic analysis of VR&E operations and multiple sources of performance data reflecting timeliness and quality.
• Maintains collaboration and referral with employers, school officials, medical and rehabilitation officials, contractors, state employment service personnel, and other community resources.
• Maintains the highest technical and professional authority to make final decisions in the types of claims considered most difficult or critical.
• Serves as technical advisor to Regional Office Director for the administration of the Veteran Readiness and Employment program. Directs program activities for the delivery of VA benefit programs for Veterans.
• Maintains expert knowledge of special incentives and hiring preferences for Veterans and ensures that outreach is conducted.
• Understands, is sensitive to, and supports the objectives of the EEO program and promotes workforce diversity through recruitment, coaching, and developmental activities that are consistent with the merit system principles

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible: As determined by Station Policy
Telework: As determined by Station Policy
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer / 384270
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Relocation Incentive may be authorized up to $15,000.
Financial Disclosure Report: Selectee will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, under 5 CFR 2634.904(a) prior to entering on duty and annually thereafter.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions 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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/16/2021.

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-15 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-14. 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.

Note: If you are a current VBA employee seeking reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-15 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-15.

Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade that has equipped them with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to a level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes expert knowledge of wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods for the assessment and improvement of program effectiveness or the improvement of complex management processes and systems. Experience providing effective leadership, management, and oversight to optimize deployment of programs and services to achieve goals; experience in reviewing policies and procedures to determine the impact of field operations or conducting evaluative studies of field offices to determine field strengths, weaknesses and best practices and making recommendations.

Candidates must also have demonstrated in their work experience or training that they possess the qualities to successfully supervise subordinates and to operate and manage a successful program area.

In addition, to the specialized experience requirement above, applicants must ALSO meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR):

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT (IOR): There is an Individual Occupational Requirement that must be met to be found minimally qualified for this series, please read the requirement description carefully. This positive education requirement is IN ADDITION to specialized experience requirements and legible transcripts MUST BE SUBMITTED with your application.

A. Satisfactory completion in an accredited college or university of all the requirements of a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling (including a supervised internship);

OR

B. A master's degree in counseling psychology (or related field) that included an internship in rehabilitation counseling and was supplemented by at least 30 semester hours of course work in a majority of the following areas (coursework MUST have an emphasis on vocational rehabilitation counseling): foundations of rehabilitation counseling, human growth and development, counseling theories and techniques, vocational assessment, career development, job placement, case management, and medical/psycho-social aspects of disability (transcript required);

OR

C. A master's degree listed in A or B WITHOUT a rehabilitation counseling internship. Where the internship was substituted for professional experience following completion of the master's degree. [Experience suitable for substitution must be one full year in direct delivery of vocational rehabilitation services to adults with disabilities in rehabilitation programs, other than those in correctional facilities. The experience or internship/practicum must have been supervised by a professional in vocational rehabilitation or a closely related professional field that typically has oversight for vocational rehabilitation programs.]

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: This position is primarily sedentary with some walking, standing, bending, stooping and carrying of lightweight items (i.e. folders, claims files). This position requires mental rather than physical exertion.

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/ .

Education

There is an educational REQUIREMENT for this position.

Transcripts (unofficial and/or official) must show evidence of a supervised internship and must also show that the degree has been awarded/conferred and the date awarded.

An Unofficial or Official transcript must be submitted with your application to validate that you meet all Basic Education Requirements for this position--failure to submit will render you as ineligible.

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 information

Supervisory/Managerial Probationary Period: This is a supervisory/managerial position. If appointed to this position, you must serve a one-year probationary period, unless you have already completed one as a supervisor or manager.

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are authorized for this position. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers Permanent Change of Station (PCS) relocation services. Permanent Change of Station is the relocation of a household due to government convenience in connection with the transfer between duty stations or facilities. In consideration of the payment of expenses for travel and transportation, the selectee agrees to remain in federal service for twelve (12) months following the date of transfer. Failure to complete all conditions of the obligated service may result in repayment of travel/transportation expenses. For more information go to http://vaww.fscdirect.fsc.va.gov/pcs.asp.

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 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 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.

Financial Disclosure: Selectee will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, under 5 CFR 2634.904(a) prior to entering on duty and annually thereafter.

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 or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

How You Will Be Evaluated

You 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 Technical Knowledge: Knowledge of the Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, policies, guides, procedures, and judicial determinations applicable to Veterans' benefits and related rehabilitation services under Chapters 18, 30, 31, 34, and 35, and other chapters of Title 38, U.S. Code.
Competency 2 Human Capital Management: Builds and manages workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations and staffing needs. Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised and rewarded; takes action to address performance problems. Manage multi grade level workforce and various work situations.
Competency 3 Leadership: Develops and leads employees work activities toward meeting organization mission/goals, identify patterns in (VR&E) operations to develop solutions to enhance productivity/service, encourages an inclusive workplace, support constructive resolution of conflicts.
Competency 4 Analytical Reasoning: Analyzes (i.e. review and evaluate), comprehend and apply decisions based on data or complex information, weighs relevance and accuracy of information, generates and evaluates alternative solutions, makes recommendations or final determinations.
Competency 5 Communication: Clearly and concisely expresses information to individuals or groups, fully considering audience and nature of information, makes clear and convincing oral presentations, listens to others and responds appropriately.

SUPERVISORY/MANAGERIAL ABILITIES: Candidates must also demonstrate experience or training they possess, or have the potential to develop, the qualities of successful supervision as follows:
1. Assign and review work of subordinates, train and work effectively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and with different levels/areas of training;

2. Accomplish the quality and quantity of work expected within set limits of cost and time;

3. Plan own work and carry out assignments effectively;

4. Communicate with others effectively both orally and in writing in working out solutions to problems or questions relating to the work;

5. Understand and further management goals as these affect day-to-day work operations; AND6. Develop improvements in, or design new work methods and procedures.

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 clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

NOTE: You must submit your last 2 performance appraisals (FY19&FY20) Failure to submit ALL REQUIRED documents will render you as ineligible for consideration.

• 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, full-time/part-time, and/or not including Federal grade level(s) are insufficient to determine basic qualifications.

• Transcript - A legible transcript is REQUIRED to determine meeting basic eligibility requirements. Awarded/Conferred Master's Degree is required and must be reflected on transcripts. Transcripts (unofficial and/or official) must show evidence of a supervised internship and must also show that the degree has been awarded/conferred and the date awarded.

• 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.).
  • If you are seeking a reassignment/change to lower grade, you must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (non-award) AND the SF-50 placing you into your current position.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Other (1)
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx .

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.