Program Specialist

The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) is currently seeking a Program Specialist for Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS) to join Social Work Service. This position acts as the primary liaison, offering personalized care and support to families, caregivers, and survivors during end-of-life situations. The role involves providing respectful and compassionate services in accordance with VBA, VHA, NCA policies, and applicable regulations. EDUCATION: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized 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/ . RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Administration: Provides guidance to Veterans and next of kin (NOK) regarding burial benefits, assisting with prearranged burial, cremation, and interment. Advises on eligibility, entitlement, and application processes for burial and death allowances, referring complex inquiries to VBA. Informs families of VA supportive services such as Chaplaincy and Social Work. Reviews death notifications, submits death certificates to funeral directors and county offices, and ensures dignified funerals for unclaimed remains at VA expense. Coordinates with VA offices to locate NOK when unknown, reviews unclaimed remains, and verifies VA funds are used correctly. Ensures clinical staff contact survivors within 24 hours of death, and collaborates with funeral homes for unclaimed remains, including preparing purchase orders and VA authorizations. Manages release of personal effects and remaining funds to NOK or legal representatives, and oversees consent for autopsies and body donation per facility procedures. Coordinates remains release with external agencies, cancels upcoming appointments, and prepares military and death documentation for funeral arrangements. Manages patient funds and effects for incapacitated Veterans, including in-person court proceedings as needed.

Data & Quality Management: Supports quality end-of-life care by assisting in developing action plans and process improvements based on Bereaved Family Survey data. Implements systems to track service delivery, referrals, and outcomes. Analyzes adverse quality trends, initiates corrective actions, and collaborates with staff for continuous improvement. Collects and reports program data to management, VISN, and national levels, using data to evaluate and enhance program effectiveness. Maintains proficiency in relevant databases, conducts queries on patient care trends, and manages new departmental data collection.

Fiscal Management: Coordinates with the Fiscal office to support SAMS operations, including budget projection, submission, and management. Acts as fund control point clerk, purchase card official, and contracting officer representative for SAMS contracts. Conducts quarterly audits of deceased patient funds, initiating disposition of balances, and maintains variance reports. Utilizes IFCAP and FCP processes, resolving funding needs as delegated.

Personnel Management: Participates in initiatives like No Veteran Dies Alone (NVDA), partnering with staff and leadership to identify needs. Provides training and resources on SAMS to hospital and community staff, supporting Veterans at end-of-life. Collaborates with the VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement to recruit, train, and oversee volunteers at the facility and CLC.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 08:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist/ PD14880LS

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/30/2026.

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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education s described below:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Explaining eligibility requirements for VA burial benefits, survivor benefits, or related programs; Providing customer service to veterans, surviving spouses, dependents, or family members during difficult situations; Communicating, both verbally and in writing, with grieving family members, funeral homes, cemeteries, and other stakeholders regarding post-death assistance. OR,

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement. 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 4 years of post-high school education.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ . SALARY: QuantitativeValue EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Other