Social Science Program Specialist - Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Summary This Social Science Program Specialist (SSPS) position is assigned to the Homeless Program which includes the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV), the Grant and Per Diem (GPO), Contract Emergency Residential Housing (CERS), Housing and Urban Development-VA Supported Housing (HUD-VASH), Homeless Veteran Community Employment Services (HVCES), Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO), and Homeless-Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT) programs at the Mann-Grandstaff VAMC in Spokane, WA. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: Schedule, coordinate, and facilitate housing opportunities for HUD-VASH participants through housing development activities. Assist HUD-VASH participants in their search to find housing that will meet the minimum qualifications of a Public Housing Authority (PHA) Inspector. Assist HUD-VASH participants with housing related issues relevant to obtaining/fulfilling lease requirements such as initial household set up, budgeting, housekeeping, health, safety/security concerns, contacting the landlord about repairs and other problems in the home. Interact and collaborate with the HUD-VASH Case Managers, Veterans and PHA staff to secure placements expeditiously once the Veteran has received a voucher. Assist, guide, and refer HUD-VASH participants to other resources as needed. Maintain good public relations with landlords and developers in the community that may be willing to rent to a Veteran with a HUD-VASH voucher. Knowledge and mastery of interpersonal relationship practices to serve as consultant to leadership at Mann-Grandstaff VAMC, HUD-VASH, PHAs, and community and private agency levels. Counsel Veteran applicants on their eligibility and assist Veterans and landlords in the leasing process at the PHA, as well monitor units under lease. Prepare reports, maintain records and databases as well as perform other related work in conjunction with HUD-VASH Case Managers and the Veterans who are enrolled in the program. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm 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. AD-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Social Science Program Specialist/PD70655O and PD706560 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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. 5 CFR 330.502 - General restriction on movement after competitive appointment applies. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 10/16/2024. 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 within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for the 0101 occupational series: All applicants, regardless of grade level must meet minimum education or specialized experience requirements. For this occupation, the education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. Basic Requirements: Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. OR, Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR, Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. GS 07 Qualifications: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of, and demonstrated ability to use sound judgment in the application of fundamental principles, methods, and theories of development and personality; skilled in writing, in a clear and concise manner, to communicate documentation of contacts and other reports; ability to provide supportive services to homeless Veterans and their families using a variety of modalities; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, professionals, and representatives from community agencies. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed one full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination equivalent of two years of undergraduate education and two years of specialized experience at the GS-05 level directly related to the work of the position as outlined above that meets the requirements of the position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. GS 09 Qualifications: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of, and demonstrated ability to use sound judgment in the application of fundamental principles, methods, and theories of development and personality; basic knowledge of crisis-oriented counseling and interventions including triage assessments and interventions with difficult, potentially dangerous clients; basic knowledge of eligibility requirements for patient services through VAMC, other Federal, State, and community programs to facilitate use of such services for Veteran clients; skilled in writing, in a clear and concise manner, to communicate documentation of contacts and other reports; ability to provide supportive services to homeless Veterans and their families using a variety of modalities; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, professionals, and representatives from community agencies. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college, or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. (Transcripts Required). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of some specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level but less than one year, and I have more than one year, but less than two years of graduate education. I have computed the percentage of these requirements that I meet, and the total is at least 100% for the GS-09 grade level. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Experience must be clearly indicated in your resume. (Transcripts Required). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer Service Interpersonal Skills Partnering 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: The incumbent must be able to travel in the local community to provide services, and some overnight travel to remote parts of the designated catchment area may be required. Lifting and carrying of light items is required, less than 15 pounds, such as binders, charts, and reports. Driving a vehicle is required, and transportation of Veterans may be needed at times. Some outreach to areas such as homeless camps will also be required. 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 Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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.