Summary
The Supervisory Veterans Claims Examiner (Military Exposures Operations Manager (MEOM)) leads subordinates under the Military Exposures Team within the Policy Staff. Team members are responsible for the development, review, recommendation, and update of all Gulf War Military Exposures (GWME) and environmental exposures policy development related to claims promulgation and adjudication for individuals and units who may have been exposed to hazardous materials during recent military operations.
Duties
Specific duties include: Supervises the Military Exposures Policy Team who are responsible for applying Veterans' benefits laws and regulations that pertain to CS benefit programs. Responsible for planning, programming, coordinating, and directing, and reviewing all activities for assigned areas of responsibilities. Monitors programs and activities related to disability benefits and services provided to Veterans, their dependents, or beneficiaries. Works in close cooperation with other elements of VBA in relation to Veterans' benefits. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work; assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, evaluates work performance of subordinates; gives advice, counsels, or instructions to employees on both work and administrative matters; interviews candidates for positions in the unit; recommend appointments, promotions, or reassignments; hears and resolves complaints and grievances from employees. Recommend awards or bonuses for subordinate staff employees. Effects disciplinary measures for minor infractions, such as warnings and reprimands, and recommend other actions in more serious cases. Recommends the use of overtime, training and travel for attendance at meetings. Ensures adherence to EEO, labor-management, physical security and safety and other regulations. The incumbent coaches and counsels assigned division employees. Finds and implements ways to eliminate or reduce bottlenecks and barriers to productivity. Fosters good team-building practices. Serves as an advisor to the direct and senior leadership on issues regarding technical, regulatory, procedural, and operational aspects of the CS programs for Military Exposures. Formulates and recommends instructions, directives, guidelines, policies, plans or procedures to administer or carry out functions, which support delivery of benefits and services to Veterans. Studies program operations, new legislation, automated systems, management initiatives, and the operation of interacting programs and organizations to assist in the development of new and modified policies. Manages multiple projects or programs concurrently where effort involves coordination among multiple resources, other divisions, or agents outside of the organization. Undertakes long and short-term research. Reviews, monitors, and oversees, the completion of additional assignments, to include but not limited to, special projects and preparation of recommendations for procedural or regulatory change. Deals with issues of both sensitive and high-profile nature (e.g., Agent Orange, Gulf War, etc.) and advises leadership on the national and local impact of changes in process, protocol, or legal statutes, which may impact or shape the future direction of the organization. Assists with information distribution to internal and external stakeholders. Trains others on application of regulations and processes of rulemaking. Reviews the work products of the Military Exposures Policy Staff for quality and consistency. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals and groups interested in or affected by the program. Ability to respond to challenges or criticisms from workgroup members and stakeholders in a manner that promotes collaboration. Acts as the Assistant Director for Policy, when asked to do so. Prepares and provides oral presentations to various audiences within CS, VBA senior leadership, department level executives, and outside agencies on Military Exposures. Develops PowerPoint presentations covering highlights of new material and providing practical applications and examples. Oversees work product from the Military Exposures Policy Staff to ensure delivery of accurate, clear, and comprehensible documents and emails, to include but not limited to white paper (options papers, position papers, etc.). Provides timely responses, in writing, to internal and external stakeholder inquiries in a comprehensive, accurate, clear, and comprehensible manner, while adhering to accepted standards of formatting and style, spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. Prepares all necessary administrative materials, correspondence, and justifications detailing reasons for decisions. Performs other duties, as assigned. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position. Virtual: This is a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Veterans Claims Examiner; PD39895-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.
Requirements
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the Agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the Agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Additional Conditions of Employment are as follows: 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 or trial period. Selectees are required to serve a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents. Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. 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.
Education
There is no education substitution for GS-15.
How you will be evaluated
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Conflict Management Influencing/Negotiating Manages Resources Partnering Planning and Evaluating Planning and Evaluating: Determines objectives and strategies; coordinates with other parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors and evaluates the progress and outcomes of operational plans; anticipates potential threats or opportunities. Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; uses sound reasoning to arrive at conclusions; finds alternative solutions to complex problems; distinguishes between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical judgements. Supervision: Ability to manage and/or supervise (plan, organize, direct, control, review, etc.) the work activities of subordinates. Human Resource Management: Empowers people by sharing power and authority; develops lower levels of leadership by pushing authority downward and outward throughout the organization; shares rewards for achievement with employees; ensures that staff are appropriately selected, utilized, appraised, and developed, and that they are treated in a fair and equitable manner. Communication: Effectively expresses information to multiple audiences through clear, convincing oral and written communications; demonstrates logical thinking when describing facts and concepts, and shapes communications to meet the needs of a specific audience; actively listens to others and demonstrates understanding of their comments and/or questions. Administration and Management: Knowledge of planning, coordination, and execution of business functions, resource allocation, and production. Project Management: Applies principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, monitoring, evaluating, and managing projects and resources, including technical performance. Partnering: Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13088262 The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. 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 an interview.