Summary

This Peer Specialist position may only be filled with a Veteran that meets statutory requirements that are detailed in the qualifications section.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 05/28/2026. 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 grade level. 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.

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 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 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
• You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Problem Solving Communication Teaches Others Leadership 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
• Physical Requirements: The applicant must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands - exercise patience - and control emotions - with reasonable accommodation if necessary - without endangering the health and safety of the applicant or others
• The work is primarily sedentary
• Typically - the employee sits to do the work
• There may be some walking - standing - bending - carrying of light items (such as books - papers) - and accessing transportation
• The work may require occasional use of Department of Veteran's Affairs approved behavioral management techniques with Veterans who present a danger to self or others
• Veterans demonstrate varying levels of wellness - recovery - and symptoms
• This position must be equipped to be flexible and accept that work areas are often noisy - irregular - unpredictable - and stressful
• Work is performed in a wide range of settings - including the Medical Center - group or family homes - community-based outpatient settings - community organizations - or in transport vehicles (public or government)
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• The position supervises a team comprised of peer specialists and may supervise Without Compensation (WOC) peer support employees to provide services - integrate processes - and meet program goals
• As the supervisor of a team of at least three or more peer support staff - 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 enables the peer support staff team to deliver improved quality - quantity - and timely services to Veterans
• Duties include - but not limited to the following: Provides leadership to the peer support staff team - makes difficult decisions - solves day-to-day unique operational and personnel problems - represents peer support services as a subject matter expert at internal and external meetings
• Manages individual peer support staff and team performance using various approaches such as quality reviews and in-person observations
• Provides new employee orientation to accelerate integration and productivity
• trains or provides training for peer support staff on systems - appropriate peer support practice techniques - new initiatives - ethics - privacy - etc.
• coaches and motivates peer support staff to advocate for the Veterans they serve
• Verifies and approves CEU credits for peer support staff and ensures peer support staff team members' competencies are maintained by coordinating and tracking training and certification status
• May approve leave and review and sign timesheets
• ensures the peer support staff team follows facility specific and VHA standard operating procedures - administrative practices - and policies
• Recruits and selects new peer support staff using standardized position descriptions and interviewing techniques and formats
• conducts peer support staff's mid-year and annual evaluations
• effects performance improvement plans or takes additional disciplinary measures to address performance concerns when needed
• Coordinates peer support staffing coverage to ensure that peer support services are available to Veteran health care service users as part of their comprehensive treatment and wellness recovery services
• In the event the peer support staff team has concerns - feedback - or complaints - the position creates an environment where opposing views can be discussed openly and resolved appropriately
• Maintains program and administrative reference materials - project files - and relevant background documents and makes available policies - procedures - and written instructions
• distributes written instructions - reference materials - and resources
• Maintains extensive knowledge of best practices - tools and resources related to peer support services
• Maintains working knowledge of treatments and services available for appropriate referrals
• Identifies training needs and assists in the development of training for peer support staff
• Participates in the service - training - consultation - and other professional activities of VA health care services and functions as a fully vested member of the multidisciplinary team
• Uses personal recovery experiences to model coping techniques and recovery tools to coach Veterans on relevant skills needed for self-management of their health condition(s) and pursuit of their personal wellness
• Observes behaviors that might indicate difficulty adapting or responding to treatment (e.g. - missed assessment appointments - failure to attend or maintain abstinence - risk to self or others - disruptive behavior) - completes appropriate documentation - and reports concerns to the treatment team in a timely manner
• Uses ongoing individual and group meetings to teach Veterans how to identify and combat negative self-talk and overcome fears by providing a forum that allows Veteran to share their experiences
• As necessary - handles crisis interventions for Veterans and addresses other emergent situations without the benefit of specific instructions
• Informs Veterans about VA and community supports and resources - including how to effectively utilize them in the recovery and wellness process
• Maintains a working knowledge of current trends and developments in holistic approaches in wellness and recovery by reading books - journals - and other relevant materials
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday-Friday - 8:00 a.m
• - 4:30 p.m
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Peer Specialist/PD99339-S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized