Supervisory Veterans Claims Examiner

Veterans Benefits Administration•Washington, DC

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Supervisory Veterans Claims Examiner, also identified as the Military Exposures Operations Manager (MEOM), leads the Military Exposures Team within the Policy Staff. The team develops, reviews, recommends, and updates Gulf War Military Exposures and environmental-exposure policies related to claims promulgation and adjudication for individuals and units potentially exposed to hazardous materials during recent military operations. The role supervises staff responsible for applying veterans’ benefits laws and regulations and provides leadership, technical guidance, policy development, and operational oversight for Military Exposures programs. The position advises direct and senior leadership on technical, regulatory, procedural, and operational matters; develops or recommends policies and procedures; studies program operations and legislation; manages concurrent projects; and addresses sensitive, high-profile issues such as Agent Orange and Gulf War exposures. It also oversees staff work products and stakeholder communications, prepares presentations and administrative materials, and may act as Assistant Director for Policy when requested. This is a full-time virtual position with an official duty station reporting requirement each scheduled workday. Situational (ad hoc) telework may be approved case by case with supervisory approval; routine or recurring telework is not authorized. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The work is primarily sedentary. Relocation or recruitment incentives are not authorized. A one-year probationary period is required under the stated conditions, including a one-year supervisory probationary period for selectees who have not previously completed one in a Federal position.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with Selective Service.
Successful completion of a background/security investigation and online onboarding requirements is required.
Meet the GS-15 time-in-grade requirement, if applicable: current Federal GS employees must have 52 weeks at GS-14 by the announcement closing date.
For current VBA employees seeking reassignment or change to a lower grade, currently hold GS-15 or higher and have a current position with promotion potential of at least GS-15; provide an SF-50 demonstrating eligibility as specified in the announcement.
Specialized experience related to veterans’ benefits administration that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the GS-0996-15 role.
Comprehensive knowledge of complex laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and Federal legislation governing VA benefits programs, and the ability to interpret and apply them to complex issues and provide authoritative technical guidance.
Extensive knowledge of Federal, state, and local benefits programs and the ability to communicate complex benefits information orally and in writing to diverse audiences.
Experience supervising or leading staff implementing veterans’ benefits programs, including planning and assigning work, providing technical direction and oversight, evaluating performance, ensuring compliance and quality, resolving operational issues, and promoting timely, accurate, consistent program administration.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people and groups affected by the program and to respond to challenges or criticism in a collaborative manner.
A one-year probationary period is required under the stated conditions; selectees who have not previously completed a Federal supervisory probationary period must serve one year.
There is no education substitution for GS-15.

Responsibilities

Supervise the Military Exposures Policy Team and its work applying veterans’ benefits laws and regulations.
Plan, program, coordinate, direct, and review activities in assigned areas of responsibility.
Monitor programs and activities related to disability benefits and services for Veterans, their dependents, and beneficiaries.
Coordinate with other VBA elements on veterans’ benefits matters.
Plan and assign subordinate work, set priorities, establish schedules, evaluate performance, and provide employees with advice, counseling, and instructions.
Interview candidates and recommend appointments, promotions, reassignments, awards, bonuses, and disciplinary actions; hear and resolve employee complaints and grievances.
Recommend overtime, training, and travel for meetings, and ensure adherence to EEO, labor-management, physical security, safety, and other regulations.
Coach and counsel division employees, reduce productivity bottlenecks, and foster effective team-building practices.
Advise direct and senior leadership on technical, regulatory, procedural, and operational aspects of Military Exposures programs.
Formulate and recommend instructions, directives, guidelines, policies, plans, and procedures supporting benefits and services for Veterans.
Study program operations, legislation, automated systems, management initiatives, and interacting programs to help develop new or modified policies.
Manage concurrent projects or programs involving coordination with other divisions, resources, or external agents.
Conduct long- and short-term research and oversee special assignments, projects, and recommendations for procedural or regulatory changes.
Advise leadership on national and local impacts of changes to processes, protocols, or legal statutes, including sensitive and high-profile exposure issues.
Distribute information to internal and external stakeholders and train others on regulations and rulemaking processes.
Review Military Exposures Policy Staff work products for quality and consistency and ensure documents and emails are accurate, clear, and comprehensible.
Build and maintain effective working relationships and respond constructively to challenges or criticism from workgroup members and stakeholders.
Act as Assistant Director for Policy when requested.
Prepare and deliver oral presentations to CS audiences, VBA senior leadership, department-level executives, and outside agencies; develop PowerPoint presentations on new material and its practical applications.
Respond in writing to stakeholder inquiries in a timely, comprehensive, accurate, and clear manner while following accepted formatting, style, spelling, grammar, and punctuation standards.
Prepare administrative materials, correspondence, and justifications explaining decisions.
Perform other duties as assigned.