Career Center

Summary

This Supervisory Peer Specialist position may only be filled with a Veteran that meets statutory requirements that are detailed in the qualifications section. This position is part of the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL). The VCL is a 24-hour - 7-days-a-week - 365-days-a-year service aimed at connecting callers to a caring - qualified VA employee. The VCL's mission is to provide 24/7 - world-class suicide prevention and crisis intervention services to Veterans - Service Members - and their family members.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 06/09/2026. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-10. 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.

Basic Requirements:

• FOR PEER SPECIALISTS a
• Statutory Requirements
• Section 405 of Public Law 110-387 - as codified in 38 U.S.C. 7402(b)(13) - established that to be eligible to receive appointment to a Peer Specialist position - a person must: (1) be a veteran who has recovered or is recovering from a mental health condition
• and(2) be certified by -(a) a not-for-profit entity engaged in peer specialist training as having met such criteria as the Secretary shall establish for a peer specialist position
• or(b) a State as having satisfied relevant State requirements for a peer specialist position
• b
• Length of Experience in Recovery: must have at least 1 year of recovery from a mental health condition (mental illness and/or substance use disorder)
• Successful recovery is exemplified by one who manages symptoms of illness and pursues a healthy lifestyle
• lives independently
• is employed or volunteers significant time approximating at least a part-time employment schedule
• has meaningful relationships with family members and friends
• and is socially involved in the community through clubs - hobby groups - church - civic organizations or Veteran organizations in which the individual provides a service to others
• IMPORTANT NOTICE: Veteran is defined as a person who served in the active military - naval - air - or space service - and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable
• Restricted to VETERANS - See IMPORTANT NOTICE
• Open to current - permanent employees of the VA (i.e
• T38 - T38 Hybrid - and VCS employees on excepted appts covered by an interchange agreement)
• Federal employees on a Career/Career-Conditional appt.
• Former competitive civil service employees eligible for reinstatement
• Veterans eligible under VEOA - VRA - and 30% DAV
• Those eligible under the Employment Program for People with Disabilities
• and those eligible for CTAP/ICTAP
• NOTE: You MUST provide copies of your DD-214 and Peer Specialist Certification - with your application package
• ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position
• SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-10 in the Federal Service - that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Supervisory Peer Support Specialist
• Qualifying specialized experience includes post-personal mental health recovery experience as a mentor providing support to others in mental health and/or addiction recovery - a recovery advocate directly involved with consumers of mental health services - or equivalent work involving in-person communication to support others in mental health recovery
• At this level work will have been performed with considerable independence and leading other peer support providers
• providing oversight to the peer support services available
• giving advice and mentoring all peer support service providers and program managers working with peer support services
• Eligible and qualified applicants on a certificate provided to the hiring manager will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Interpersonal Skills Organizational Awareness Leadership Manages and Organizes Information 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
• 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
• Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week
• Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities
• Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment
• 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/.

Duties

• The position supervises a team comprised of Peer Support Specialists (PSS) to provide services - integrate processes - and meet program goals
• As the supervisor of a team of at least three or more peer support providers - the position ensures that peer support services are delivered to Veterans in an effective manner and coordinated with other treatment services as part of holistic - recovery-oriented - best health care practices
• The work of the position ensures that local and national VHA policies and procedures are properly employed - which in turn enables the Peer Support Specialist team to deliver improved quality - quantity - and timely services to Veterans
• Duties include - but not limited to the following: Oversee and provide floor supervision to the Peer Support Outreach Center (PSOC)
• Providing support to individual Peer Support Specialists (PSS)
• Give advice - counsel or instruction to employees on both clinical - technical and administrative matters
• Provides direct administrative and technical supervision to PSS who use patient-centered - holistic approaches in their delivery of peer support services to Veterans
• Performs a variety of therapeutic and supportive tasks that include assisting Veterans in articulating their goals for recovery - learning and practicing new skills - helping them monitor their progress and identify their strengths and assisting them in their treatment
• Maintains up to date knowledge of resources and referral sources - both internal and external to VA to support PSS and Veterans engaged in PSOC calls
• Develops or assists with the development and implementation of policies and procedures
• Establishes and maintains guidelines and expectations that are consistent with PSOC vision - mission and values
• Makes difficult decisions - solves day-to-day unique operational and personnel problems
• Verifies and approves CEU credits for PSS and ensures peer support provider team members' competencies are maintained by coordinating and tracking training and certification status
• Provides training for peer support providers on systems - appropriate peer support counseling techniques - new initiatives - ethics - privacy - etc
• Assesses and monitors staff performance
• Responsible for supervising and training employees - including planning - organizing - prioritizing and scheduling work assignments
• Evaluates the work of the employee's performances
• Ensures the PSS follows VCL specific and VHA standard operating procedures - administrative practices - and policies regarding Time and Leave
• Ensures all required documentation is entered into system of recording a timely manner
• performs peer support note reviews and may serve as co-signer for peer support provider notes
• Recruits and selects new PSS providers using standardized position descriptions and interviewing techniques and formats
• Represents PSOC as a subject matter expert at internal and external meetings Serves as liaison for PSOC for HR and Union related issues
• Coordinates PSS staffing coverage
• Manages or assists in the management of program resources (financial - human - material or informational) to ensure all business lines are covered
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: The PSOC operates from 10 AM to 10 PM (EST)
• PSOC employees must be able to work any tour of duty during PSOC operating hours
• Work schedule includes day and evening tours of duty - Monday - Friday: 10:00 am to 6:30 pm - or 1:30 pm to 10:00 pm Remote: This is remote position
• Selectees will work 100% of the time in a non-VA-owned space outside of the local commuting area of a parent station
• The employee's workspace must be suitable for conducting business and as such - remote employees are expected to provide a secure - distraction-free home-based worksite with reliable high speed internet connectivity
• The employee will be required to travel to the closest VA Medical Center or VA Outpatient Clinic for issuance of equipment - and as needed for technical support
• Selectees will be required to self-certify that their remote workplace meets all safety - privacy - and internet speed requirements
• Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Peer Specialist/PD07640A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not required Financial Disclosure Report: Not required This is not a bargaining unit position.