Job Summary

This position serves as a Program Specialist assigned to the Survivors Assistance and Memorial Supports (SAMS). Program under the Chief, Social Work or Social Work Executive at the VA medical Facility as a primary person responsible for the facility SAMS Program. SAMS's focus is to provide personalized, supportive services to families, caregivers and survivors at the end of a Veteran's life and ensures Veterans without identified family receive dignified burials to honor their service.

Job Description

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/01/2026. 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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. Grade Determination: GS-7 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-5 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 a wide range of concepts, principles and practices in the areas of end-of-life, hospice death, burial, funeral and bereavement, ability to perform analytical studies and interpretation of results to coordinate the evaluation of medical/scientific programs and policies and to recommend improvement. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing, to make presentations, explain recommendations, represent the division and assigned program areas, provide guidance and advise program administrators, respond to inquiries and prepare reports. Ability to work in a multifaceted, complex and demanding environment; to evaluate and prioritize workload tasks and requirements; and to complete tasks and assignments with minimal supervision. Understanding and detailed procedural knowledge of budget, purchasing, personnel, and basic office information functions. Knowledge of standard processes and procedures for evaluating program efficiency to implement processes to improve programs. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have One (1) full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement. Superior Academic Achievement is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond. GS-9 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 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 a wide range of concepts, principles and practices in the areas of end-of-life, hospice death, burial, funeral and bereavement, ability to perform analytical studies and interpretation of results to coordinate the evaluation of medical/scientific programs and policies and to recommend improvement. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing, to make presentations, explain recommendations, represent the division and assigned program areas, provide guidance and advise program administrators, respond to inquiries and prepare reports. Ability to work in a multifaceted, complex and demanding environment; to evaluate and prioritize workload tasks and requirements; and to complete tasks and assignments with minimal supervision. Understanding and detailed procedural knowledge of budget, purchasing, personnel, and basic office information functions. Knowledge of standard processes and procedures for evaluating program efficiency to implement processes to improve programs. OR Education: 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. OR Combination: Combination of successfully completed education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the position. Only education in excess of the first year (18 semester hours) may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-09 level. Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary, but also demands some standing during presentations, briefings, and outreach activities. Performance of duties requires walking, bending, lifting, and carrying of clinical folders, forms, and miscellaneous supplies to various locations within the medical facility. 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/.