Voluntary Service Specialist

Summary

These positions serve as Voluntary Service Specialists within the facility's CDCE/Voluntary Service office reporting directly to the Assistant Chief. The employee has responsibilities related to the full scope of business for each of the interrelated lines of business, which include Voluntary Service, Philanthropic Engagement, and Partnership Solutions.

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Duties

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***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

Duties include, but may not be limited to the following:

• Assisting in all aspects of the development, coordination, and management of the Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) Office and is responsible for independent management of specific programs or portions of larger programs.
• Assisting the CDCE/Voluntary Service Officer in developing short and long-range plans for the accomplishment of CDCE/Voluntary Service program goals and objectives; develops and implements programs and program changes to meet the facilities' or other VA-affiliated program's needs.
• Assisting the CDCE/Voluntary Service Officer in developing innovative/creative community outreach programs that provide volunteers and financial resources.
• Developing and fostering a robust network with internal and external stakeholders to build resilient working coalitions in support of the VA mission.
• Developing and delivering presentations to diverse groups within the facility and at off-site locations within the community.
• Interviewing, scheduling, placement, and evaluation of volunteers.
• Conducting appropriate follow up activities to ensure both adequate supervision and assignment training are provided.
• Resolving issues as they arise and consults with the CDCE/Voluntary Service Officer if policies or procedures require review and/or revision.
• Preparing all volunteer personnel files in accordance with The Joint Commission and standards for VHA volunteers.
• Consulting with services across the health care system, agency representatives (including VHA, VBA, and NCA), and community officials to publicize, analyze, and recommend improvements for programs.
• Conducting fact-findings and analysis to recommend potential community partnerships that support and extend the mission of the facility or other affiliated VA programs across Administrations within the catchment area.
• Coordinating and managing all monetary and in-kind donations.
• Managing the day-to-day operations surrounding the organization's development activities and conducts and analyzes routine needs assessments to ensure alignment with the facility's strategic plan.
• Developing tax deductibility documentation for all donations received.
• Providing education and training to staff on the proper use of donation expenditures, restricted purchases and procurement requirements.
• Planning and executing a variety of complex internal and external special events, including VISN-wide and national events where the local facility is a key host or sponsor, or responsible for securing major monetary or in-kind donations and volunteer support.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm or 8:00am - 4:30pm, including some evenings/weekends for community outreach/events.

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Required Documents" below for details.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL, YOU MUST MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Voluntary Services Specialist. Qualifying specialized experience includes managing a program of volunteers and contributing organizations within a medical or hospital setting; development and implementation of a detailed marketing plan for a specialized program; managing a program service budget and managing a donation needs list of an organization; utilizes laws and regulations governing the General Post Fund and solicitation and acceptance of donated gifts; and understanding and applying personnel management practices for interviewing, screening, placing, and counseling purposes. NOTE: One (1) 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.

~ OR ~

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: You must have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

~ OR ~

COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: You must have equivalent combination of successfully completed education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the position as outlined above that meets the requirements of the position. Only education in excess of a master's or equivalent graduate education may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-11 level. NOTE: One (1) 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. If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment : Work is moderately sedentary, although considerably variable. It requires a fair amount of standing, sometimes for long periods, walking, climbing stairs, and bending. Work may require some heavy to moderate lifting, transporting of materials, equipment and supplies for special events and other programs. Due to the diverse nature and scope of the work, it may require occasionally working in extreme temperatures (hot or cold). Driving or riding in a vehicle is also required on a routine basis to provide coverage, trainings, or other support at off-site clinics; attend outside community meetings; and support special events. Travel may also occur in support of outreach events and conferences. The incumbent must attend lengthy meetings both during and after regular scheduled work hours. Travel to other medical center facilities is also required. The work is primarily performed in an office setting, however due to the nature of the work, significant travel throughout the community and sometimes the state and surrounding states is necessary to attend meetings, presentations, conferences that may include special activities such as volunteer recruitment and philanthropic engagement events. Coordination of and participation in meetings and volunteer supervision requires presence in various on-site and off-site locations where volunteers are strategically assigned to enhance the VA mission. The Specialist has access to the fax machine, computer and other office equipment as needed. The CDCE/Voluntary Service office is a very busy environment with constant traffic from visitors, volunteers, community partners, patients and hospital staff.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

Education

IMPORTANT: 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: 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:

Additional information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA 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 RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

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

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 80 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

Note: Per " Executive Order 14251: Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs ", this position is no longer eligible for bargaining unit participation.

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.

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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.

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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.