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Posted: January 27, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Social Worker (Program Coordinator)

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Fresh

Location

Salary

$99,784 - $129,722

per year

Closes

February 2, 2026

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 to support veterans' health and well-being at a VA facility in Louisville, Kentucky.

The role focuses on helping veterans with their needs through counseling, resource coordination, and program management.

It's a great fit for licensed social workers passionate about veteran care who have a master's degree and experience in healthcare settings.

Key Requirements

  • United States citizenship (non-citizens only if qualified citizens unavailable)
  • Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school
  • Current state licensure or certification for independent practice at the master's level
  • Proficiency in spoken and written English
  • Eligibility for Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) with application within four months of appointment
  • Grandfathering provision applicable only to current VHA employees meeting prior criteria

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 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.

Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. English Language Proficiency.

Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grandfathering Provision.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria) 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.

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.

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.

NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS- 0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection.

If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-12: Experience and Education. Possess 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.

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.

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: Experience with suicide prevention preferred 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 in the range of GS-12 .

Physical Requirements: Work is typically performed in a clinical setting that exposes the incumbent to communicable diseases common of the client population. Major Duties:

VA Careers - Social Work: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This job opportunity announcement (JOA) will be used to fill a full-time and permanent Social Worker (Program Coordinator) vacancy at the Louisville, KY Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), within the Mental Health Service.

Major Duties: Responsible for coordinating all aspects of the local suicide prevention program Facilitating and/or advising on staff involvement in suicide prevention responsibilities, facilitating and overseeing work assignments, overseeing clinical services provided, writing policy and guidance for the SP program Managing day to day program operations Providing community outreach Creating and implementing facility wide training as pertains to Suicide Prevention efforts Demonstrates strong leadership, clinical, and administrative skills and is licensed to clinically operate independently at the advanced practice level Collaborates with multidisciplinary staff involved with programs on a local, VISN or national level Monitors all aspects of Suicide Prevention activities throughout the Robley Rex VAMC and reports to the Suicide Prevention Program Manager Responsible for knowing and following legal and regulatory guidance as applies to their licensure and should be able to follow protocol as outlined by VA, VHA, VISN and local policies, procedures, and other guiding documents while maintaining necessary flexibility to overcome any barriers to providing services to Veterans May participate in the supervision of trainees within their professional discipline at various levels of training and will serve as consultant to other disciplines in the area of suicide prevention Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact VISN9HREDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

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: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 40877F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/27/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/28/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CBTG-12873537-26-JH