SummaryThe Supervisory Veterans Claims Examiner (Military Exposures Operations Manager (MEOM)) leads subordinates under the Military Exposures Team within the Policy Staff. Team members are responsible for the development, review, recommendation, and update of all Gulf War Military Exposures (GWME) and environmental exposures policy development related to claims promulgation and adjudication for individuals and units who may have been exposed to hazardous materials during recent military operations.
DutiesHelp
Specific duties include:
Supervises the Military Exposures Policy Team who are responsible for applying Veterans' benefits laws and regulations that pertain to CS benefit programs. Responsible for planning, programming, coordinating, and directing, and reviewing all activities for assigned areas of responsibilities. Monitors programs and activities related to disability benefits and services provided to Veterans, their dependents, or beneficiaries. Works in close cooperation with other elements of VBA in relation to Veterans' benefits.
Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work; assigns work to subordinates based on priorities, evaluates work performance of subordinates; gives advice, counsels, or instructions to employees on both work and administrative matters; interviews candidates for positions in the unit; recommend appointments, promotions, or reassignments; hears and resolves complaints and grievances from employees. Recommend awards or bonuses for subordinate staff employees. Effects disciplinary measures for minor infractions, such as warnings and reprimands, and recommend other actions in more serious cases.
Recommends the use of overtime, training and travel for attendance at meetings. Ensures adherence to EEO, labor-management, physical security and safety and other regulations. The incumbent coaches and counsels assigned division employees. Finds and implements ways to eliminate or reduce bottlenecks and barriers to productivity. Fosters good team-building practices.
Serves as an advisor to the direct and senior leadership on issues regarding technical, regulatory, procedural, and operational aspects of the CS programs for Military Exposures. Formulates and recommends instructions, directives, guidelines, policies, plans or procedures to administer or carry out functions, which support delivery of benefits and services to Veterans. Studies program operations, new legislation, automated systems, management initiatives, and the operation of interacting programs and organizations to assist in the development of new and modified policies. Manages multiple projects or programs concurrently where effort involves coordination among multiple resources, other divisions, or agents outside of the organization. Undertakes long and short-term research. Reviews, monitors, and oversees, the completion of additional assignments, to include but not limited to, special projects and preparation of recommendations for procedural or regulatory change.
Deals with issues of both sensitive and high-profile nature (e.g., Agent Orange, Gulf War, etc.) and advises leadership on the national and local impact of changes in process, protocol, or legal statutes, which may impact or shape the future direction of the organization. Assists with information distribution to internal and external stakeholders.
Trains others on application of regulations and processes of rulemaking. Reviews the work products of the Military Exposures Policy Staff for quality and consistency. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals and groups interested in or affected by the program. Ability to respond to challenges or criticisms from workgroup members and stakeholders in a manner that promotes collaboration. Acts as the Assistant Director for Policy, when asked to do so.
Prepares and provides oral presentations to various audiences within CS, VBA senior leadership, department level executives, and outside agencies on Military Exposures. Develops PowerPoint presentations covering highlights of new material and providing practical applications and examples.
Oversees work product from the Military Exposures Policy Staff to ensure delivery of accurate, clear, and comprehensible documents and emails, to include but not limited to white paper (options papers, position papers, etc.). Provides timely responses, in writing, to internal and external stakeholder inquiries in a comprehensive, accurate, clear, and comprehensible manner, while adhering to accepted standards of formatting and style, spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. Prepares all necessary administrative materials, correspondence, and justifications detailing reasons for decisions.
Performs other duties, as assigned.
Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible: 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 a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Veterans Claims Examiner; PD39895-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.
RequirementsHelp
Conditions of employmentAs 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.
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.
Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.
QualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:10/19/2026.
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.
- If you are a current VBA employee requesting reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-15 or higher and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-15.
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-15 Grade Level:- Specialized Experience: is experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the GS-0996-15 Supervisory Veterans Claims Examiner and is typically acquired through work directly related to veterans' benefits administration. Applicants should demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of complex laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and Federal legislation governing the full range of VA benefits programs, as well as the ability to interpret and apply these authorities to resolve complex issues, provide authoritative technical guidance, and ensure consistent implementation of program requirements. Applicants should also possess extensive knowledge of Federal, state, and local benefits programs and demonstrate the ability to communicate complex benefits information effectively, both orally and in writing, to diverse audiences.
Qualifying experience should also include supervising or leading a staff responsible for implementing veterans' benefits programs by planning and assigning work, providing technical direction and oversight, evaluating employee performance, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and quality standards, resolving complex operational issues, and promoting the timely, accurate, and consistent administration of veterans' benefits programs.
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: This work at this level 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/.
EducationThere is no education substitution for GS-15.
Additional informationVA 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.
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.
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
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.
To determine if you need a RA, please review: Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation fo
