Program Specialist-Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS)

Full Job Description

The Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Wichita, Kansas is currently recruiting for a Program Specialist-Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS).

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/20/2026.

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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7.

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 at the GS-7 level 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: providing administrative support of programs, collecting and analyzing data and preparing reports, familiarity with contract oversight and serving as a contracting officer representative, conducting trend analysis and making recommendations for improvement, and building relationships with interdepartmental groups.

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

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement.

Transcripts must be provided with your application if using education for qualifications. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have n combination of specialized experience and education beyond high school to meet total qualification requirements.

You may qualify at the GS-9 level 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-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: Collects, compiles, and tracks data and information, analyzes workflow to determine potential problems, Exercises discretion and tactfulness in relations, Prepares, reviews, and tracks reports and policies using automated systems.

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

You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond 1 full year of graduate level education.

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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

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:

The Program Specialist - Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS) is 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.

Primary focus of this position is to support health care management officials by analyzing, evaluating, advising, and coordinating health care delivery systems and operations as it pertains to activities necessary to support high quality SAMS processes and products.

Additional functions of this position include, but are not limited to: Advising Veterans and their next of kin (NOK) of burial benefits.

Reviewing daily death notifications and submitting completed death certificates to designated Funeral Directors and County Registrar's Offices.

Ensuring Veterans with no relatives (unclaimed remains) are provided a dignified funeral and burial at VA expense.

Completing authorizations to release personal effects and remaining funds in the patient's account to the NOK or designated party.

Coordinating with VA physicians and NOK/legal designee in obtaining signed consent. Collaborating with Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), Pharmacy, and Prosthetics to cancel appointments and orders.

Working with palliative care to promote quality end-of-life care. Implementing information systems to track service activities.

Collecting, analyzing, and reporting program data to local management, VISN POCs, and the national program.

Serving as the fund control point clerk, purchase card official, and Contracting Officer Representative for contracts.

Providing general education, training, and resources about SAMS to staff throughout the hospital, community living center (CLC), and community.

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; 0730-1600 OR Monday-Friday; 0800-1630 Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist-Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS)/PD103030 and PD103032 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized