Program Specialist

Full Job Description

The Program Specialist (PS) for Social Work serves as the Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS) program specialist assigned to oversee the operations of the SAMS program across the VASLCHCS.

SAMS provides personalized, supportive services to veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors at the end of a veterans life and ensures veterans who are under VA authorized care and without identified family/survivors, receive a timely and dignified interment to honor their service.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/10/2026.

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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-07: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Extensive and practical knowledge and skill in applying basic analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of the Service area.

Knowledge of an array specialized duties and responsibilities involving a wide variety of problems or situations, including developing information, identifying interrelationships, and taking action consistent with program objectives.

The employee understands how the office's various administrative services relate to one another and how they relate to the Service's mission.

The work also requires broad understanding and detailed procedural knowledge of budget, data management, personnel, and information processing functions of the office.

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 in an accredited college or university.

Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the Program Specialist.

NOTE: A transcript or course listing must be submitted if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Unofficial transcripts required.

Applications submitted without this information will not be considered. OR, Superior Academic Achievement.

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have an combination of specialized experience and successfully completed post-high school education to meet total qualification requirements for the grade level GS-07 GS-09: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 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 and skill in applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations; (2) Knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, policies and precedents which affect the use of program and related support resources in the area studied; (3) Knowledge of the major issues, program goals and objectives, work processes, and administrative operations of the organization; (4) Knowledge and skill in adapting analytical techniques and evaluation criteria to the measurement and improvement of program effectiveness and/or organizational productivity; (5) Skill in conducting detailed analyses of complex functions and work processes; and (6) Interpersonal skills in presenting staffing recommendations and negotiating solutions to disputed recommendations.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Master's or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college or university; OR, two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR, an LL.B.

or J.D., if related. NOTE: A transcript or course listing must be submitted if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Unofficial transcripts required.

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade level GS-09.

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/.

Major Duties:

Major Duties Include: Ensures compliance with local and national policy and procedures pertaining to the SAMS Program.

Develops local SAMS program policies and procedures to ensure that quality provisions are planned and correct.

Advises Veterans and their family members/survivors of burial benefits and help with prearranged burial as desired by Veteran.

Contacts survivors to offer condolences, gather information, and provide benefit guidance along with supportive services.

Ensures Veterans whose remains are unclaimed are provided a dignified funeral/burial through a contract and ensures that appropriate clinical staff involved with care prior to death.

Ensures survivors are receive clinical contact within established time lines.

Makes arrangements with funeral homes, completes required VA authorizations to release personal effects and any remaining funds, coordinates with all areas within the health care system to cancel all appointments, coordinates release of Veterans remains with appropriate services in the event of autopsy or body donation.

Processes death notifications by confirming death; creating a record in the Decedent Affairs Data Collection Tool; and updating as EHR and other platforms as required.

Collects, analyzes, and reports program data to local management/supervisor. Evaluates program progress and outcomes using data to modify and improve the facility program.

Incumbent assesses past budget requirements, projects future budget needs, submits budget requests, and manages program budget.

Plans and coordinates with logistics/acquisition points of contacts and conducts extensive research and studies.

Provides general education, training, and resources about SAMS to staff throughout the VASLCHCS and community and participates in facility initiatives relating to No Veteran Dies Alone (NVDA).

Performs other related duties as assigned. Preferred Experience: Working with family members/caregivers of deceased individuals and knowledge of VA survivor and burial benefits.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-hoc telework. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD147740