Supervisory Medical Specialist

Summary

As a Supervisory Medical Specialist at the GS-0601-13, you will be part of Retirement Services, Office of Personnel Management. In that capacity, the incumbent plans and directs the work of the assigned office. The incumbent is responsible for the substantive, functional aspects of the work assigned, as well as for providing supervisory direction and control over the activities and employees of the office.

Learn more about this agency

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open the public.

Duties

• Apply medical expertise to evaluate a wide range of disability claims, including precedent-setting and difficult cases.
• Review and render decisions on medical records, diagnostic tests, and physician notes to determine disability status, severity, and impact on job performance.
• Ensure compliance with laws, court decisions, and government policy in the administration of retirement, health, and life insurance benefits.
• Supervise and review the work of subordinate Medical Specialists handling complex disability cases.
• Plan and direct the work of the assigned office.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required.
• You will be required to report to an OPM assigned office.
• This position is not eligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit

Qualifications

Basic Education Requirement: You must have a Bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of this Medical Specialist position. This degree must be from an educational program from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained.


For the GS 13: You must have one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the private or public sector) performing the following:

• Applying medical knowledge to evaluate and adjudicate disability, retirement, health, or life insurance benefit claims, including complex or non-routine cases; AND

• Reviewing and analyzing medical records, such as physician notes, diagnostic test results, and supporting documentation, to determine the presence, severity, and functional impact of medical conditions; AND

• Rendering initial determinations or recommendations on benefit eligibility based on applicable laws, regulations, and medical evidence; AND

• Providing technical guidance or oversight to staff or peers involved in medical or disability claims adjudication; AND

• Coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to resolve benefit-related issues.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.


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; religious; 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.

Education

This position has a basic education requirement listed under the Qualifications section of this announcement.

Additional information

Incentive payments may be considered. Current OPM employees may qualify as an exception.


This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across OPM.


If you are unable to apply online and would like to request information about the Alternate Application process, please use the contact information at the bottom of this announcement.



Career Transition Assistance Programs : These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position (obtain score of 85 or higher on the assessments) and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit:



Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here:


As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

For Category Rating : Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of the three quality categories: Qualified, Well Qualified, or Best Qualified. Qualified Category = Does not exceed the basic qualifications requirements described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement. Well Qualified Category = Meets the basic qualifications requirements described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and demonstrates proficiency in the Critical Competencies defined below. (This category must be met to be considered under ICTAP procedures) Best Qualified Category = Meets the basic qualifications requirements described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and excels in the Critical Competencies defined below. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position.


The Category Rating Procedures require veterans are placed ahead of non-veterans within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent or higher will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).



Structured Resume Review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume). Applicants eligible to proceed following the structured resume review will be rated and ranked as described below. All qualified Non Competitive applicants and the best-qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.



Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
Accountability
Developing Others
Interpersonal Skills
Strategic Thinking


Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.



Career Transition Assistance Programs : These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above based on the competencies listed above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit:

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Your Resume showing the applicant's name, email address, work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed to include pay plan, series, and grade level for relevant federal experience. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. Only the first 2 pages of the resume/application will be used to verify minimum qualifications. Please be sure to include specific dates of employment and work schedule(s).

• Do not include the following types of information in your resume:
  • Classified or government sensitive information
  • Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Photos of yourself
  • Personal information, such as age, sex, religious affiliation, etc.
  • Encrypted and digitally signed documents

• This position has a basic education requirement, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts for further consideration.

• Other supporting documents:
  • Cover Letter, optional
  • College Transcript(s), College Transcript(s) are Required
  • If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.
  • V eterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.) If you are a veteran and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility.
    
    If you are a veteran and you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference click here.
  • Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)
  • Worker's Compensation Separation : Agency certification of inability to place employee AND Notification of Separation OR Separation SF-50.
  • Disability Annuity Termination : Notification from OPM of disability annuity termination AND Separation SF-50 of the last position held.
  • Military Reserve or National Guard Technician Special Disability Retirement Annuity under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456 : Certification of special disability retirement annuity from a military department or National Guard Bureau AND Separation SF-50 of the last position held.

Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments, and the required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST)on 05/13/2026 to receive consideration.


The application process is as follows:

• Click the Apply Online button.

• Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.

• Click the " Submit Application " button prior to 11:59pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.

• If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.

• Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.

• Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.

• Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however most applicants complete the assessment in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.

• Your responses to the USA Hire assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically used.

For more general information, system requirements, reasonable accommodation information, and to request assistance regarding the use of USA Hire assessments, review the following resources:






To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application and click Edit My Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.


To view the announcement status or application status: Click on this: . Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.


You may preview the assessment questionnaire by clicking here:

Agency contact information

OPM Human Resources

Phone

202-606-9321

Email

[email protected]

Address

Retirement Services
1900 E St., NW
Washington, DC 20415
US

Next steps

Once referred, you may be asked to complete a structured interview, written demonstration, and/or fit interview. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position/agency during the probationary period.


Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated. You will receive another notification about the status of your application.


We expect to make a job offer within 40 days after the closing date of the announcement. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.


For Fair Chance Act Covered Positions: An agency may not request, orally, in writing, or electronically through the USA Jobs website or other electronic means, that an applicant for appointment for a position in the civil service disclose criminal history record information before the appointing agency extends a conditional offer of employment. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit

Overview

Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

04/30/2026 to 05/13/2026

Salary

$110,047 - $143,062 per year

Pay scale & grade

GS 13

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Boyers, PA

Remote job

No

Telework eligible

Yes—as determined by the agency policy.

Travel Required

Not required

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Appointment type

Permanent

Work schedule

Full-time

Service

Competitive

Promotion potential

None

Job family (Series)

• 0601 General Health Science

Supervisory status

Yes

Security clearance

Not Required

Drug test

No

Position sensitivity and risk

High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure

No

Bargaining unit status

No

Announcement number

26-JOW-12942652-DE

Control number

867434700