Supervisory Program Specialist (Supervisory Staff Assistant).

Veterans Benefits Administration; Newington (CT); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation expenses authorized

Job summary

Veterans Benefits Administration seeks a Supervisory Program Specialist in Newington, CT. The role leads subordinates, directs multiple benefit programs, and oversees compliance with laws and regulations.

Responsibilities include analyzing performance, allocating resources, and coordinating with internal/external customers. The position emphasizes policy development, program oversight, and accountability for outcomes and costs.

Qualifications

• Leadership of multiple programs and subordinates.
• Experience directing personnel actions and organizational change.
• Ability to analyze program results and implement improvements.
• Knowledge of veterans benefits laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for subordinates in solving problems in Veteran benefits administration.
• Direct and coordinate all functional programs and administer benefits prescribed by law and regulations.
• Analyze results and identify problem areas, directing remedial measures and follow-up.
• Allocate resources and ensure efficient, economical use of resources.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Resource management

Policy development

Personnel management

Conflict resolution

Job description

Duties

The Supervisory Program Specialist's responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provides leadership and direction for subordinates in the investigation and solution of problems arising in the Regional Office's administration of Veteran's benefits programs and services.
• Assist in the direction of all functional programs and the administration of Veterans' benefits prescribed by law and regulations
• Analyzes and evaluates results and accomplishments in each program to identify problem areas, directs remedial measures, and follows up to assure maximum improvement and service at optimum cost.
• Incumbent determines the resources required, allocates available resources among subordinate's units and is responsible for the effective and economical use of these resources
• Establishes internal policy, determines program emphasis, and establishes procedures for the Regional Office to achieve effective coordination and communication with internal and external customers.
• Delegates authority as appropriate and holds Division Chiefs and managers, within assigned areas responsible and accountable for the performance of their programs and services.
• Oversees personnel management functions for the areas assigned and resolves grievances or serious employee complaints which are not resolved at a lower level.

Work Schedule

Full time, Monday through Friday 8:00-4:30 PM

Compressed/Flexible

Not Available

Telework

This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position.

Virtual

This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#

Supervisory Program Specialist/41831-0

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Authorized

Relocation expenses and services (Permanent Change of Station - PCS) are authorized. PCS covers the relocation of a household for government convenience when transferring between duty stations. By accepting PCS, the selectee agrees to remain in Federal service for 12 months after the move. Failure to complete the service period may require repayment of PCS expenses.

Financial Disclosure Report

Not Required

Bargaining Unit

No

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Required

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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.

Additional Conditions Of Employment Are As Follows

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a supervisory probationary or trial period
• Subject to Public Trust-High Risk background 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
• 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.
• PCS Relocation Expenses are ONLY authorized for selectee choosing to physically relocate to the Official Duty location of Newington, Connecticut.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 08/28/2026.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT

As a current/former Federal, GS employee you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

• For a GS-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13 level.
• If you are a current VBA employee requesting a reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-14 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-14.

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

GS-14 Grade Level Specialized Experience

Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-13) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as expert knowledge of Veteran benefit programs or VBA business lines and laws affecting Veterans' compensation and pension benefits to provide authoritative guidance and direction on claims and appeals processing. Supervised, managed, or served as a project lead to accomplish performance and project goals; possesses knowledge and/or practical application of employee relations (e.g., performance or conduct based actions) and labor relations (e.g., grievance process or negotiations) practices. To be creditable, the experience must demonstrate all of the following activities, performed in a Regional Office, VA business line, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), or similar large, complex Federal or private-sector organization:

• Establishing priorities and determining resource needs to meet program objectives.
• Directing, coordinating and approving a full range of personnel management actions and organizational change proposals.
• Directing comprehensive and complex program reviews.
• Monitoring and controlling program progression and effectiveness through analysis of policies, directives and organizational short and long-range goals. Such experience may have been gained in federal or private sectors and is to be substantive and relevant to the position being filled.

Candidates must also have demonstrated in their work experience or training that they possess, or have the potential to develop, the qualities to successfully supervise subordinates/teams and to share responsibility for directing and supervising the administrative work necessary to manage a successful program area.

Volunteer Experience

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; 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.

Full vs. Part-Time Employment

Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements

The position is primarily in an office setting. This work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. Some travel may be necessary on occasion for training, meetings, or customer interactions.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting your current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

Placement Policy

The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members

Please visit the

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests

If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.