Program Specialist

Veterans Health Administration; Biloxi (MS); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration seeks personnel for the Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS) Program to ensure compliant, respectful care for patients who expire and to support next of kin with dignity and compassion.

The role involves analyzing and coordinating health care delivery systems per SAMS processes, with qualification pathways including GS-07/GS-09 eligibility, time-in-grade considerations, and required SF-50 documentation.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-05 for GS-07 eligibility.
• Education can supplement experience (one full year of graduate-level study or SAA).
• Transcripts must be submitted with application to verify education or SAA.
• Time-In-Grade requirements apply to current federal employees and reinstatement applicants.

Responsibilities

• Provide customer service and respond to routine inquiries; refer complex issues to senior staff.
• Use software applications and agency databases to enter, update, and retrieve data.
• Organize and prioritize workload; meet deadlines and follow procedures with guidance.
• Review documents for completeness and accuracy; flag discrepancies for resolution.
• Communicate in writing and verbally to relay routine information and status updates.

Skills

Customer service

Data entry

Written and verbal communication

Time management

Communication skills

Education

Graduate-level education

Superior Academic Achievement (SAA)

Bachelor's degree in qualifying field

Tools

Software applications

Agency databases

Job description

This position is assigned to the Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS) Program and is responsible for ensuring compliance with local policy and procedures pertaining to patients who expire receiving care and ensuring next of kin receive respectful, compassionate and dignified care and service. This position is responsible for analyzing, evaluating, advising and coordinating health care delivery systems and operations in support of SAMS processes and protocols.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/05/2026. 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 for the GS-07 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-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:

• Provide customer service to include responding to routine inquiries, and referring more complex issues to senior staff or supervisors;
• Use software applications and agency databases to enter, update, and retrieve data;
• Organize and prioritize workload, meeting established deadlines and following defined procedures with guidance from a supervisor;
• Review documents or records for completeness and accuracy, following established checklists or guidelines, and forward discrepancies to appropriate staff for resolution;
• Communicate in writing and verbally, with customers and coworkers to relay routine information and status updates.

OR, Education:

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one (1) full year of successfully completed graduate level education or superior academic achievement, that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): SAA at the baccalaureate level in the coursework detailed above is fully qualifying.

Applicants who wish to apply under this provision must submit proof from their educational institution that they meet one of the criteria listed below.

To qualify for SAA, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled and meet one of the following:

Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university or major subdivision. A grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. A grade point average of "B+" (a GPA of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. For a list of recognized honor societies please visit http://www.achsnatl.org/quick_link.asp. For more information regarding SAA please visit http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e5.asp#e4f.

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 a bachelor's degree that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required.

You may qualify for the GS-09 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