Social Services Assistant

Veterans Health Administration; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston seeks a candidate for a GS-7 position within the Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program (DRRTP).

The role supports Veterans with complex medical and social needs and involves maintaining program operations at the DRRTP. Qualifications include the ability to meet Time-In-Grade requirements, one year of specialized experience or graduate education, and the capacity to travel between PODS.

Qualifications

• Time-In-Grade requirements for GS-7 eligibility
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-6
• Education: one year of graduate education may substitute for experience
• Combination of experience and education may qualify at GS-7 level

Responsibilities

• Inspect and supervise building cleanup during inspections
• Travel among PODS as necessary
• Work mostly in an office; occasional lifting and physical tasks as described in the announcement

Skills

Attention to Detail

Customer Service

Decision Making

Flexibility

Integrity/Honesty

Interpersonal Skill

Education

Graduate education (1 year)

Job description

The position is located at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) and is organizationally aligned under the Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program (DRRTP) within the Veterans Care and Transitional Service. The Domiciliary is a Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment facility which provides extended care to Veterans with complex medical, psychiatric, alcohol and drug abuse and homelessness problems.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/26/2026. 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-6. 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. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• Group leader in community or residential recreation or training programs
• Counselor in a youth summer camp
• Instructor in a training program for the development of job skills
• Work that demonstrated the ability to be responsible for and to lead and train members of a job crew
• Group activities leader in the Armed Services
• Unit leader-monitor-proctor for a dormitory group in a boarding school or other residential facility
• Aid or assistant to professional or specialist staff in such fields as personnel (private or government), employment guidance in a vocational or academic institution, social service, or manpower development
• Aid or assistant to professional or associate staff engaged in work of a social services nature in private, public welfare, government program, or community organizations, or in voluntary activities
• Aid or assistant to professional or specialist staff working with individuals who are addicted to or abuse alcohol and/or drugs

Note: This experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one (1) full year of graduate education. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a bachelor's degree may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-07 level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Experience must be clearly indicated in your resume.

Physical Requirements: Work is carried out mostly in an office. However, the position regularly conducts inspections and supervises building cleanup, etc. Travel among different PODS is necessary. Occasional duties require lifting, carrying 50+ lbs, sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs, kneeling, bending, stooping, twisting, pulling/pushing, simple grasping, reading above shoulder. Conditions during inspections and drills may also include heat, cold, excess humidity, work with chemicals, dust, noise, driving a vehicle, and fire manipulation.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Ski