Summary

This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Education Service (EDU), Operations Integrity Division. The Quality Assurance Specialist at Education Service plays a critical role in ensuring the organization's systems and operations comply with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies.

Duties

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Specific duties include:

• Tasked with the comprehensive review and monitoring of various systems within Education Service to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, as well as internal policies.
• This involves analyzing system requirements across multiple platforms, identifying non-compliance issues, and recommending improvements.
• Develops, tests, and recommends enhancement, and performs maintenance of EDU systems, with a focus on workflow, data collection/ reporting, and efficient program administration for end users.
• Assists with development of guidelines and procedures for use in monitoring systems.
• The incumbent supports the Chief, Quality Assurance-Automation, in assessing internal controls and conducting Enterprise Risk Management reviews.
• The Specialist prepares detailed reports on the results of reviews and consolidates findings for presentation to senior leadership, government officials, and other stakeholders.
• This role involves preparing responses to inquiries from the general public, other agencies, and members of Congress concerning quality assurance and oversight responsibilities.
• The Quality Assurance Specialist conducts special focus reviews, as needed, which may involve in-depth analysis of systems or processes based on emerging issues, legislative changes, or specific requests from senior management.
• The Specialist collaborates with IT and development teams to test, recommend, and implement system enhancements, focusing on improving workflow, data collection, and program administration.

Promotion Potential: The full performance for this position is a GS-13

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday

Compressed/Flexible: 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 not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Quality Assurance Specialist; PD41979A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

This position is NOT in the Bargaining unit

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

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.

• 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
• Selectees are required to serve a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:08/04/2026.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade at any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet the time-in-grade requirement.

• For a GS-13 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

GS-13 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized experience is defined as experience demonstrating all of the following:

• Experience adjudicating claims under Title 38, including applying statutory and regulatory criteria and evaluating evidence.
• Experience with oversight of quality work products by vendor and assessment of internal controls.
• Experience in analyzing system requirements across multiple platforms.
• Experience in developing, testing, and recommending enhancements and platform maintenance of benefits systems.
• Experience in collaborating with IT and development teams to test, recommend, and implement system enhancements.
• Experience in conducting special focus reviews that address in-depth analysis of systems or processes.

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: The work is primarily sedentary. Occasionally requires filing or moving materials, carrying light objects such as files, books, and papers. No special physical qualifications are required.

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/.

Education

There is no education substitution for the GS-13 grade level.

Additional information

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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified, you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Click here for more information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR [redacted](u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.