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Posted: February 11, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Social Worker - Program Coordinator

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Fresh

Salary

$96,206 - $125,070

per year

Closes

February 19, 2026More VA jobs →

GS-1 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $21,996 - $27,534

Typical requirements: No experience required. High school diploma or equivalent.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves coordinating social work programs for veterans, managing teams, developing policies, and providing support in mental health and community settings at a VA hospital in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

It's a leadership role where you'll supervise staff, train others, and ensure smooth program operations while helping veterans and their families.

A good fit would be an experienced social worker with a passion for veteran care, strong organizational skills, and the ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced healthcare environment.

Key Requirements

  • Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school
  • Licensed or certified at the advanced practice level for independent social work
  • One year of experience equivalent to GS-11 level with advanced practice skills
  • Proficiency in spoken and written English
  • Knowledge of program coordination, administration, consultation, negotiation, and monitoring
  • Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff and provide training/orientation
  • Valid driver's license and ability to operate a government vehicle for community travel

Full Job Description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Education: Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited.

A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work.

Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the 4 accreditation standards for a masters of social work.

Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.

English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Grade Determinations: Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-12 Experience and Education: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.

Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.

Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Licensure/Certification: Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.

Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program.

Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice.

Preferred Experience: 2 years of experience in Mental Health is preferred, but not required.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The work requires sitting, bending, stooping, and walking consistent with the delivery of services in the office, hospital and community.

The position may entail lifting of no more than 25 pounds on an occasional basis. Whenever possible, carts and dollies will be utilized as an alternative to lifting.

In carrying out responsibilities, operation of a motor vehicle with a valid driver's license is required.

The social worker must meet the requirements to use a government vehicle in accordance with VHA directive 2008-020.

It may be necessary for the incumbent to travel throughout the Altoona VAMC catchment area to conduct interviews with Veterans, family members, representatives of community health, welfare and law enforcement agencies.

Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards.

Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation.

All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

(5) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C.

§ 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Major Duties:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Health Care of Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Outreach and Coordinated Entry Specialist (OCES) is responsible for organizing, coordinating, and participating in outreach services throughout the JEVZ VAMC catchment area and facilitating the VAMC's involvement in the Continuums of Care (CoC) Coordinated Entry Systems (CES).

Central goals of the programs and services that fall under HCHV are to reduce homelessness, conduct outreach, assist with engagement in treatment and rehabilitation, provide linkages to VA and community programs and provide affordable, permanent housing with recovery-oriented case management services.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), requires that all communities develop and operate a coordinated entry system (CES) for all homeless individuals, including Veterans.

CES ensures coordination of communitywide services for Veterans experiencing homelessness, systemwide awareness of the availability of housing and services, and easy access to and appropriate prioritization for these resources by Veterans who are in critical need.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Compressed/Flexible: not available EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact: vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: Social Worker, Program Coordinator 06227-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/11/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/12/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CBSZ-12884242-26-CC