Program Specialist - Veteran Outreach

Summary This position is located within the Veterans Outreach Program of the Samuel S. Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, New York with primary responsibility to support the Medical Center Director's Executive Team in forming, maintaining, and growing strategic partnership and outreach initiatives between the VA and local service areas. Amplifies awareness of services and benefits available to Veterans through communication and outreach in a servicing area. Responsibilities This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-12. At the GS-09 and GS-11 grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-12. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. Serves as an outreach coordinator and resource for the veteran community throughout the catchment area of the medical center; Plans, participates, assists, advises on community events and programs; Conducts seminars and conferences with Military 2 VA, Suicide Prevention, Women's Health, LGBTQ+, Homeless Program and many other information dissemination activities; Analyzes the activities of the outreach program within the larger VHA environment as well as the rapidly changing health care environment of the local community; Accesses VA long- and short-range policies, plans and goals to ensure strategic partnerships, Veteran outreach and community education align with initiatives; Develops and distributes outreach materials including brochures, fact sheets, web content, etc.; Provides training and information to VA staff, other federal agencies and community agencies regarding the facility's services and the goal of the outreach program; Fosters collaboration, information exchange and ensures appropriate partner relationships with Federal, State, Tribal, private sector, academic affiliates, Veteran service organizations, and non-profit organizations across the spectrum of care, benefits and services; Creates a network of resources, both within and outside the VA; Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00am - 4:30pm) With a fair amount of Nights and weekends, periodically attending outreach events. Telework: 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. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist - Veteran Outreach/PD49307A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment 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 period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/13/2025. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. GS-09 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience to at least the next lower grade (GS-07) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience would typically include, but is not limited to: assisting with tasks associated with coordinating community and outreach events/initiatives; providing high level administrative support; preparing a variety of correspondences; utilizing various database and software applications for tracking purposes and accomplishing administrative duties. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or, 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or, LL.B. or J.D., if related (Transcripts Required) OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond one full academic year of graduate level education (Transcripts Required). Specialized Experience must be demonstrated fully and clearly in resume for consideration GS-11 Specialized Experience: You 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 would typically include, but is not limited to: Assisting with tasks associated with coordinating community and outreach events/initiatives; coordinating administrative services essential to the effective operation of a program; providing high level administrative support; preparing a variety of reports, forms, and correspondence; ensuring adequate resources are available such as staffing, budgeting, equipment, materials, etc.; utilizing various database and other software applications for tracking purposes and accomplishing administrative duties. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's (or equivalent) degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree with a major study in a closely related field. (Transcript Required) OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond one full academic year of graduate level education. (Transcript Required) Specialized Experience must be demonstrated fully and clearly in resume for consideration GS-12 Specialized Experience: Applicants must posses at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes: performing analytical, evaluative, and advisory work to assist with tasks associated with coordinating community and outreach events/initiatives; managing and coordinating administrative services essential to the effective operation of a program; providing high level administrative support; preparing a variety of reports, forms, and correspondence; ensuring adequate resources are available such as staffing, budgeting, equipment, materials, etc.; utilizing various database and other software applications for tracking purposes and accomplishing administrative duties. Specialized Experience must be demonstrated fully and clearly in resume for consideration Preferred Experience: Experience in large public settings Three (3) years of VA experience or experience in the Federal Government. 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: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. Work is usually performed sitting at a desk in briefing, meetings, etc., or riding in an automobile or public transportation. A high level of physical energy is required to meet with many people in many different locations in the course of a workday. Some bending, walking, standing, lifting, and carrying outreach materials to events are required, however, no special physical demands are involved in performing the work. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. 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: 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.