USA Staffing

Position Title: Field Examiner
Agency: Veterans Benefits Administration
Announcement Number: 327-2023-FF-12186013-BU Opens in new window
Open Period: Monday, October 30, 2023 to Monday, November 13, 2023

For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.

1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?

A. No, I do not claim Veterans' Preference

B. 0-point Sole Survivorship Preference (SSP)

C. 5-point preference based on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (TP)

D. 10-point preference for non-compensable disability or Purple Heart (XP)

E. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of at least 10% but less than 30% (CP)

F. 10 point preference based on widow/widower or parent of a deceased veteran, or spouse or parent of a disabled veteran (XP)

G. 10-point preference based on a compensable service connected disability of 30% or more (CPS)

2. Are you currently employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs?
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.

A. Yes

B. No

3. Are you an employee of the facility indicated for this position?
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.

A. Yes

B. No

4. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:

you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy; AND,
your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.

A. Yes

B. No

5. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency other than the Department of Veterans Affairs? If yes, confirm:

you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.

A. Yes

B. No

6. Are you a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions AND you:

served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (NOTE: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
are entitled to veterans' preference?

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of service which includes character of service. *Note current Federal employees must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements.

A. Yes

B. No

1. Select the location(s) you want to be considered for. You must choose at least one location.

A. Georgetown, KY

B. Hattiesburg, MS

2. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.

3. Which of the following items describes your current or recent (within the last five years) political appointee service?

If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.

A. Yes, I am considered a political appointee as described under 5 U.S.C. sections 5312 through 5316.

B. Yes, I am considered a Non-career Senior Executive Service (SES), Limited Term SES, Limited Emergency SES Executive Branch employee.

C. Yes, I am considered a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or appointee who served in a political capacity under agency-specific authority in the Executive Branch.

D. Yes, I am considered a political appointee in the Executive Branch (as described in a., b. or c above) in a covered position in an agency having an interchange agreement with OPM, which allows movement from the agency's system to the competitive civil service.

E. None of the above. I am not considered a current or recent (last 5 years) political appointee as described above in items a, b, c, or d.

Thank you for your interest in a position with Department of the Veteran Affairs. We will evaluate your resume and your response to this occupational questionnaire to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification. Choose the answers below which best describe your Time in Grade, Education, Specialized Experience, and Certification. Please review your responses for accuracy before you submit this questionnaire. Select only one response for each question. Do not overstate or understate your level of experience and demonstrated capability. You should be aware that your selections are subject to evaluation and verification based on the resume and other relevant documents you submit. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your stated level of experience and demonstrated capability. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position following acceptance

1. Please state whether you are wanting to be considered for Georgetown, KY or Hattiesburg, MS.

This vacancy is open ONLY to current, permanent Veteran Affairs employees of the Georgetown, KY or HATTIESBURG, MS commuting area, and status candidates in the local, Georgetown, KY or Hattiesburg, MS commuting area, Examples of status candidates are: current Veterans Affairs career or career-conditional federal employees, CTAP/ICTAP eligible(s) and veterans who are eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA). You must submit documentation to verify your eligibility!

2. Please select the ONE response below that most accurately describes you:

A. I reside in the local, Georgetown, KY or Hattiesburg, MS commuting area and I am a current Veteran Affairs career or career-conditional federal employee.

B. I am eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), or I am CTAP/ICTAP eligible within the local, Georgetown, KY or Hattiesburg, MS commuting area.

C. I do not meet the criteria listed above.

3. At minimum, do you possess 52 weeks in the federal service at the GS-7 grade level or higher that will qualify you for the Field Examiner's Position at the GS-9 level? You must provide an SF 50(s) to prove time in grade; such as a within-grade increase or promotion SF50. This does not apply to Non-Federal Applicants, Former-Federal applicants applying under VEOA, if this does not apply to you, please select "C" for Not Applicable.

A. Yes

B. No

C. Not Applicable

4. I have at least one (1) year (time-in-grade) at the GS-09 grade level which would qualify me for the GS-11 grade level. You must provide SF 50s to prove time in grade such as a within-grade increases or promotion. This does not apply to Non-Federal Applicants, Former-Federal applicants applying under VEOA, please select "C" for Not Applicable.

A. Yes, I have at least one (1) year of time-in-grade at the GS-09 or higher to qualify for the GS-11. (SF 50 or SF 50s must be submitted. You can submit more than one SF50 for proof of time-in-grade)

B. No, I have not held one (1) year of time-in-grade at the GS-09 or higher to qualify for the GS-11.

C. Not Applicable

5. From the description below, please select the response that best reflects your level of experience and/or education that have equipped you to perform as a Field Examiner at the GS-9 level.

A. I possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level that equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is directly related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of Specialized Experience include (but are not limited to): Fact finding sources (i.e., conducting interviews, researching court records, etc.) to verify facts and obtain specific pieces of information; and knowledge of Federal, state, and local laws and regulations applicable to the Veterans benefits programs or services. (Specialized experience must be clearly stated in your resume)

B. I possess a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. [NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF YOUR OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS for your education to be considered.]

C. I possess a combination of specialized experience and education as described in A and B.

D. I do not have the specialized experience or education as described in A, B, or C.

6. From the description below, select a response that BEST reflects your level of specialized experience and/or education you fully possess that demonstrates your qualifications for the position of Field Examiner,GS-1801-11. You will not be contacted for additional information.

A. I possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level. (Specialized experience must be clearly stated in your resume)

B. I have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related from an accredited institution AND Transcripts (official or unofficial) must be submitted when using any part of education to qualify.

C. I possess a combination of specialized experience and education as described in A and B. Transcripts (official or unofficial) must be submitted when using any part of education to qualify

D. I do not have the specialized experience or education described in "A" "B" and/or "C."

7. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information included in this questionnaire is true, correct, and provided in good faith. I understand that if I make an intentional false statement, or commit deception or fraud in this application and its supporting materials, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process, I may be fined or imprisoned (18 U.S.C. 1001); my eligibilities may be cancelled, I may be denied an appointment, or I may be removed and debarred from federal service (5 C.F.R. part 731). I understand that any information I give may be investigated. I understand that responding "No" to this item will result in not being considered for this position.

A. Yes, I certify that my answers are accurate and complete.

B. No, I do not wish to certify. I understand that I will not be considered for this position.

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