Job Summary

This position is one of several with Records Acquisition and Research (RAR) located in the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Washington DC/College Park MD/ Suitland, MD; National History and Heritage Command (NHHC), Washington, DC; Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) Maxwell, AFB; United States Special Operations Command MacDill AFB, FL. Duties are supervised by the Classified Operations Chief.

Job Description

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:06/17/2026. 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 (unless if in the commuting area and eligible for a non-competitive hiring authority such as Schedule A, VRA, or 30% or more disabled Veterans). For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level. For a GS-12: position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level. For a GS-13: position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level. If you are a current VBA employee outside of the commuting area seeking reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-11 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-13. 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. These requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement and those applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-11 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-09) in the federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: applying analytical and evaluative techniques to conduct detailed analysis of complex program issues, work functions, or work processes; researching military unit records, historical documents, or similar sources to locate and compile evidence in support benefits determinations; researching and interpreting agency regulations, policies, and precedents to support program operations; and assisting in the development or recommendation of procedural improvements to enhance organizational effectiveness. Education Substitution: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. GS-12 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-11) in the federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: conducting research and analysis in support benefit determinations; providing advice and guidance to leadership on policy interpretation and program improvements related to records research or claims development; applying program-related laws, regulations, guidelines, and procedures to resolve complex research and claims processing issues; and coordinating with external agencies to obtain records and evidence necessary for benefits. GS-13 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-12) in the federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: serving as a subject matter expert on research methodology and processing for benefits; independently diagnosing systemic problems and develop and implementing plans to improve operations and effectiveness; developing procedures and protocols for the formulation, execution of research, including research involving complex or sensitive materials; researching and interpreting program related laws, regulations, and procedures. Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information. 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: Work is primarily sedentary. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.