Social Worker (Program Coordinator)

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

01Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

02Education

Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work.

Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work.

03Licensure

Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

04Grade Determinations

Social Worker (Program Coordinator), GS-13 Experience/Education: One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.

Candidates may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. Licensure/Certification: Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs. (a) Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility. (b) Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive. (c) Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). (d) Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care. (e) Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action. (f) Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget. (g) Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations.

05Preferred Experience

Experience working in a role that includes quality and training operations. Ability to provide oversight and apply principles of evidence-based practice to development of national guidance, policy and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive. Ability to support the development and implement a nationally standardized program, including developing guidance, training, technical assistance, systems, and reports.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

06Physical Requirements

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for this occupation, see duty section for essential duties of this position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Order of Referral: This announcement will close on 11/16/2026. Only the applications received up to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the day that 75 applications is reached will be considered. Applications that are submitted after the initial cut-off number has been reached will not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by management.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include and are not limited to: The program coordinator provides program analysis, quality control, clinical, and operational support for SAMS and collaborates with a national interprofessional team on SAMS programming. The program coordinator designs and oversees training for VA staff involved in decedent operations.

This work includes identifying clinical, communication, training, and education needs with SAMS workstreams and through surveys and focus groups, analyzing the results, and planning projects to meet them. The role also recommends innovative approaches weighing cost, objectives, VA priorities, and subject matter expert availability; develops standards for SAMS; and reviews policies and training content for consistency with VHA goals.

The program coordinator also leads or serves on task forces and work groups, maintains expertise in consultation, negotiation, and quality management, and performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized 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) 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 programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.Virtual: This position may be authorized for Virtual Work.

Virtual Work eligibility is for current VA employees that are already subject to the return to in person work mandate and highly qualified candidates with assigned space to work in-person from an agency worksite. Definition of Virtual Work: Employee works outside of original hiring duty station at a VA-owned or leased space. Return to Office (RTO): RTO mandates are in effect and selectees will be required to report to in-person work unless they are approved for an exception or an exemption.

Any approval for an RTO exception, exemption, or extension will happen after a tentative job offer, but before a final job offer. Functional Statement #: 35982A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized