Program Specialist at Veterans Health Administration

About the role

This position serves as a Program Specialist assigned to the Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS) program under the Chief, Social Work or Executive at the Greater Los Angeles VA Medical Center as a primary person responsible for the (SAMS) program. The position is located at 11301 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles CA 90073. Duties include but are not limited to: Serves as subject matter expert for survivor assistance and memorial benefits, providing comprehensive support and guidance to families of veterans. Coordinates survivor assistance activities, including outreach, counseling, and referral services for beneficiaries and their families. Coordinates with various VA offices, including Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), National Cemetery Administration (NCA), and other stakeholders to ensure survivors receive entitled benefits and support. Advises survivors and their representatives on eligibility, benefits, and application procedures for VA burial and memorial programs. Reviews and processes claims for burial and memorial benefits, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with VA regulations. Develops and implements outreach strategies to increase awareness of survivor assistance services within the veteran and community populations. Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, including VA staff, other federal agencies, funeral homes, and veterans' organizations to facilitate benefits delivery and resolve issues. Provides training and technical assistance to VA staff, volunteers, and partners on survivor assistance procedures and memorial benefits programs. Prepares reports, maintains program documentation, and tracks outcomes to support program evaluation and continuous improvement. Ensures proper safeguarding of sensitive and confidential information, complying with all VA privacy, data security, and records management policies. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00AM-4:30PM Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/PD14880S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/27/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have previously held a GS grade within the last 52 weeks must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For the GS-07 position, you must have completed at least 52 weeks of service at the GS-05 grade level. 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 Level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized 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: providing program/administrative support; reviewing material for grammar, neatness, technical accuracy, adherence to established format (must be in resume). Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one full year of graduate level education; 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 education as listed above. 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/. You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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.