Summary

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Office of the Under Secretary for Benefits (OUSB), Office of Strategic Support and Initiatives (OSSI). OSSI provides strategic visioning, alignment, and planning advice; strategic and operational planning guidance; and risk management and coordination across Business Lines. The Deputy Director serves as a principal advisor to the OSSI Director, Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff.

Duties

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Specific duties include:

Strategic Program and Project Management

Leads and supports the Director, OSSI in providing centralized program and project management, including strategic guidance, integration, implementation, and modernization of VBA-wide initiatives.

Program Integration and Coordination

Ensures vertical and horizontal integration of major VBA programs by coordinating across OSSI, VBA senior leaders, and external stakeholders to align priorities, requirements, and long-range plans.

Oversight of Major VBA Programs and Projects

Exercises delegated authority to manage large, complex programs; ensures efficient, effective, and timely execution in alignment with objectives, schedules, funding, and customer satisfaction standards.

Resource, Risk, and Performance Management

Oversees project resources, enterprise risk management activities, performance metrics, and quality controls to ensure projects stay within approved scope, cost, and schedule thresholds.

Development and Review of Project Plans and Documentation

Develops, reviews, and approves project plans and documentation; monitors progress through briefings, reports, and milestone reviews; determines corrective actions to address delays or issues.

Leadership for Management Processes and Technical Integration

Provides leadership to improve management processes and ensure effective integration of technical functions including planning, contracting, IT, engagement, budget, and resource management.

Strategic Planning and Organizational Improvement

Supports VBA's evidence-based planning efforts, identifies opportunities for growth or improvement, recommends action plans, and facilitates development of strategic workstreams.

Liaison and Advisory Responsibilities

Serves as a liaison to business line leads and VBA leadership; raises obstacles, advises on decisions, provides authoritative guidance on projects and initiatives, and ensures OSSI operational continuity.

Organizational and Personnel Management

Supervises Chiefs, Analysts, and support staff; manages all aspects of personnel actions including hiring, assigning work, resolving issues, evaluations, performance standards, discipline, promotions, awards, and training.

Development of Long-Range Organizational Plans

Leads development of long-range organizational goals and plans, ensuring alignment with VBA priorities, governance structures, and performance expectations.

Promotion Potential: None

Work Schedule:Full time, Monday through Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Compressed/Flexible: Compressed 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 not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Program Specialist; PD417430

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

This is not a bargaining unit position

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:10/05/2026.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: As a current Federal, GS employee you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

• For a GS-15 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-14 level.

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.

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

GS-14 Grade Level:

Specialized Experience:Includes leading enterprise-level programs and projects; directing cross-organizational integration and strategic planning; overseeing risk, resources, and performance to ensure mission-aligned results; providing authoritative guidance to senior leaders; and supervising staff responsible for executing complex program activities.

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, although some slight physical effort may be 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-15 grade level.

Additional information

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced 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 your current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

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. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

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.

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), https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/documents/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf

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

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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.

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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.