Social Worker (Program Coordinator)

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs; Salisbury (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP

Paid Time Off

Telework: Ad‑Hoc Virtual (not virtual)

Job summary

The Community Engagement and Partnerships Coordinator (CEPC) at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Salisbury, NC focuses on connecting and coordinating suicide prevention efforts across VISN, state and local levels.

You will develop and strengthen community-based interventions, serve as a SME in public health, and facilitate outreach with veterans, partners, and coalitions to reduce veteran suicide across communities.

Qualifications

• Experience in community-based suicide prevention and health outreach.
• Ability to develop and strengthen community partnerships and coalitions.
• Proven ability to coordinate multi-agency initiatives and trainings.

Responsibilities

• Develops and facilitates community-based interventions for suicide prevention at local, state and VISN levels.
• Connects VA programmes, partners and stakeholders to implement outreach and education on suicide prevention.
• Leads coordination of trainings on lethal means safety, mental health apps, and other gatekeeper topics.
• Hosts outreach events and maintains partnerships with Veteran service organizations and local communities.

Skills

Community engagement

Partnership development

Public health knowledge

Stakeholder outreach

Suicide prevention awareness

Job description

Summary

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.

Major Duties

The Community Engagement and Partnerships Coordinator (CEPC) positions focus on connecting, developing, and coordinating suicide prevention efforts at the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), state, local, and federal level. The CEPC serves as a subject matter expert for community-based suicide prevention and facilitates the integration of suicide prevention education throughout the community. The CEPC supports community capacity development for suicide prevention by organising community partners and coalitions to implement suicide prevention programmes aimed at reducing Veteran suicide at the community, state, and Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) levels. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Develops, facilitates, and strengthens Community-based Interventions for Suicide Prevention at the community, state, and VISN levels. Connects VA programmes and stakeholders-including, but not limited to, Veterans, Veteran Service Organisations, congressional staff, media, community business partners, and community members throughout the health care system and VISN catchment areas - to conduct community-based interventions and provide outreach and education on suicide prevention related topics and services. Serves as a subject matter expert (SME) in public health and suicide prevention, supporting partnerships and coalitions by providing new or existing community education and outreach initiatives on behalf of the assigned VA Health Care facility and the surrounding catchment area. Implements VHA Community-Based Interventions for Suicide Prevention including collaborating with community, Veteran, and state partners to develop, conduct, and/or support community-based suicide prevention programmes as defined and supported by the VHA Suicide Prevention Programme; Develops VHA-community partnerships – meet with prospective community partners and/or establish formal relationships between the VHA and local partners to facilitate suicide prevention in the community. Develops and provides suicide prevention related media/marketing, including interviews (print or broadcast), social media postings, and communication campaigns (Paid/PSAs); Provides a variety of suicide prevention trainings including but not limited to a focus on training in Lethal Means Safety, Mental Health Apps (Hope Box, PTSD, etc.), Military Culture, Other Gatekeeper Training (QPR, ASSIST), Postvention, Safety Planning, S.A.V.E., Suicide Risk Evaluation, and Whole Health/Wellness; Hosts Outreach Awareness Tables on suicide prevention at community events. Leads meetings with prospective and existing community stakeholder(s) focused on Veteran suicide prevention. Performs other duties as assigned. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Monday‑Friday, 8:00 to 4:30 pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact James Grimm, [e-mail], 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 towards 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 programmes can be carried into retirement) Telework: Ad‑Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognised by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition‑of‑foreign‑qualifications/.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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 licences or state‑issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilised as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre‑employment physical evaluation/examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination programme is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 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 organisational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Evaluations

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programmes (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organisations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre‑employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career‑search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: License Long‑form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) MSW Transcript The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF‑50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD‑214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Long‑form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) MSW Transcript PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Separation Notice (RIF) SF‑15 SF‑50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript

Other Information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit towards annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt‑in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health‑related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.