Veterans Service Representative (Senior Authorizer)_

Summary This position is located in a Department of Veterans Affairs, Regional Office (VARO), Veterans Service Center and BEST. The incumbent serves as Veterans Service Representative (Senior Authorizer) for a claims team within a section of the Veterans Service Center. Responsible for the review and authorization of a full range of claims of a larger scope of responsibility which are unusually complex cases or those of a very sensitive nature involving novel issues. Responsibilities Specific duties include: Reviews and authorizes a full range of claims of a larger scope of responsibility which are unusually complex cases or those of a very sensitive nature involving novel issues, to include any appellate reviews related to contested claims. Serves as the team mentor to lower-graded Veterans Service Representatives (VSRs) providing a comprehensive level of technical advice and guidance on complex authorization issues. Serves as the final signatory with the power to rate and award benefits on claims that are unusually complex, or to terminate, change, or deny benefits. Analyzes available data which reflects quality levels to determine training needs of lower-graded VSRs. Ensures all program requirements imposed by Compensation and Pension Service and the Court of Veterans Appeals are met or implemented. Distributes and balances the workload among the employees in accordance with established workflow and assures timely accomplishment of assigned workload. Monitors qualitative and quantitative metrics to spot patterns in quality program delivery and pinpoint areas that need more investigation. Cases being reviewed may entail contentious issues that call for the application of legal precedents and, occasionally, the requirement for a new decision. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Yes, per Agency guidelines. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Veterans Service Representative (Senior Authorizer);30077A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required 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 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. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 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. Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-11). Specialized experience includes but is not limited to experience that demonstrates: Involved experience in the development, examination, investigation, adjudication, and authorization of claims for disability compensation, disability pension, death compensation, death pension benefits, life insurance benefits, etc. Such experience is to be substantive and relevant and may have been gained in the practice of law or working with a Federal or state agency, insurance company, retirement, disability, or insurance program. 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 normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. The work is mostly sedentary. Work Environment: Most work is performed under common business office conditions at the regional office. The VSR must exercise good judgment and professional demeanor in interactions with veterans and their representatives as well as with team members. 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 There is no educational substitution for the GS-12 level. Additional Information If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. 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), a.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf." 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. 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. 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 pm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.