USAJOBS · 9 hours ago
Program Specialist-Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS)
Tomah, Wisconsin, USA
Full-time
Hybrid
Entry, Mid Level
$50K/yr - $50K/yr
1+ years expThe USAJOBS company is seeking a Program Specialist for the Survivors Assistance and Memorial Support (SAMS) Program at the Tomah VA Medical Center. The role involves providing personalized support services to families, caregivers, and survivors during the end-of-life process for Veterans, ensuring dignified burials for those without family.
ConsultingGovernmentHuman ResourcesInformation TechnologyInternetStaffing Agency
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Advises Veterans and their Next of Kin (NOK) of burial benefits
Help Veterans and NOK prearrange burial, interment, cremation, as desired by Veteran
Review eligibility and entitlement of burial and death allowances and advises on the process of applying for those benefits
Refers surviving relatives with specific benefit inquiries to a Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) point of contact
Inform Veteran, caregiver and NOK of available supportive services within the medical facility
Review daily death notifications
Submit completed death certificate to designated Funeral Director and County Registrar's Office
Request any clinical staff involved with care prior to death contact the survivor within 24 hours
Complete required VA authorizations to release personal effects and any remaining funds in the patient's account to NOK or designated party
Collaborate with palliative care to promote quality end-of-life care by assisting in developing action plans and process improvements related to quantitative and qualitative reporting from the Bereaved Family Survey
Implement information systems to track service activities including visits, referrals, demographics and outcomes
Collect, analyze, and report program data to local management, the designated VISN POC and the National SAMS Program
Collect and manage new data about current practices in the department and across sites of care
Serves as the fund control point clerk, purchase card official and Contracting Officer Representative for SAMS contracts
Conduct quarterly audits of patient fund accounts to identify any deceased patient fund accounts with VA policies and local procedures
Initiates disposition of funds when deceased patient fund account balance is identified
Participates in facility initiatives relating to No Veteran Dies Alone (NVDA)
Partners with staff and leadership to identify needs and opportunities throughout facility
Provides general education, training and resources about SAMS to staff throughout the hospital, community living centers, and community who provide support to Veterans at end-of-life and to their family and NOK
Collaborate with the VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement to recruit, train, schedule, and oversee volunteers at the facility and CLC
Performs other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education
Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
Subject to background/security investigation
Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/09/2026
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
For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07
An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials
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 must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization
Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: analyzing, evaluating, advising and coordinating health care delivery systems, prioritizes and accomplishes assigned delegated responsibilities, implement and evaluate policies, and plans and internal operational systems
Applicants may substitute education for the required experience
To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one full year of graduate level education
Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level
You must have a combination of specialized experience and education
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations
A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week
The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required
Routinely views the body and/or remains of deceased Veterans at funeral homes using an authorized vehicle
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating
Preferred
Prior experience providing personalized, supportive services to families, caregivers, and survivors at the end of a Veteran's life
Knowledge of VA burial benefits and Veterans who are unclaimed
Company
USAJOBS
USAJOBS enables federal job seekers to access job opportunities across hundreds of federal agencies and organizations.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageRecent News
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