Summary This Voluntary Service Officer position is in Voluntary services at the Bedford Healthcare Systems, at the Bedford, MA location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week. The incumbent is responsible for planning and leading all philanthropic activities and programs within widely dispersed locations across the healthcare system, VA Administrations and State Veterans Homes. Responsibilities The Voluntary Services Officer serves as the Chief of CDCE/Voluntary Services reporting directly to a member of the executive leadership team. The incumbent has oversight for CDCE/Voluntary Services for the full scope of business for each of the interrelated lines of business, which include Voluntary Service, Philanthropic Engagement, and Partnership Solutions. Due to the cross-cutting nature of this office, the incumbent shows a comprehensive understanding of the federal government, VA and each of its Administrations, with a primary focus on VHA; to include laws, regulations, policies and procedures. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Provides technical and administrative supervision to subordinates which may include an Assistant Chief, Specialist, Program Support Assistant, Secretary, or other administrative staff; Plans and leads all philanthropic activities and programs within widely dispersed locations across the healthcare system, VA Administrations and State Veterans Homes; Conducts and analyzes comprehensive needs assessments for optimal alignment of the program in support of the organization's mission and goals; Maintains full range of personnel actions and organization design proposals recommended for the integration of this category of without compensation (WOC) employees; Ensures compliance with all applicable standards of The Joint Commission (TJC) for VHA volunteers, to include maintaining files, records, assignment guides, competency and performance assessments, and other applicable role-specific documentation; Designs, develops, and implements the recognition and incentive awards program for the organization's volunteer workforce; Provides oversight of the organization's General Post Funds and in-kind development activities; Manages the day-to-day operations of the philanthropic development activities; Monitors all donated monetary funds at the healthcare system level within the station's General Post Fund (GPF) Accounts; Exercises discretionary authority to approve the allocation and distribution of such funds; Prepares business case justification for anticipated expenses, including alignment with VA and VHA goals and priorities, strategy identification, benchmarking, and evaluation in support of proposed budget; Serves for project and event management of varied sizes and scope; Maintains significant and expansive supervisory responsibility for every registered volunteer in accordance with the TJC and established occupational standards for the profession; Plans, design and development of each volunteer role and the work to be accomplished; Servies as a strategic advisor to executive leadership for the utilization of community resources in support of operational goals, assesses risks, anticipates outcomes, and alternative strategies; Establishes local policies and procedures for the strategic utilization of volunteers and community partnerships across the healthcare system; Serves as an advisor to VA Headquarters Voluntary Service National Advisory Committee; Conducts thorough and exhaustive research on potential community partners to determine suitability for development of non-monetary partnership agreements; Serves as the local subject matter expert on volunteer and donation management; and Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 7:30am-4:00pm. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Voluntary Services Officer/PD99897S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Notifications: This position is in the Competitive Service. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment. Current employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and @type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is NOT a Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Requirements Conditions of 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 You may be required to serve a probationary period 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) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/22/2025. 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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) 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 Voluntary Services Officer (Chief). Qualifying specialized experience includes planning, scheduling, executing special events involving community leaders, staff and visitors; developing and proposing policies and innovative programs governing voluntary services; managing general post fund accounts and other financial accounts; representing a volunteer program on speaking engagements before service, fraternal, and civic organizations; and making presentations for diverse audiences and varying sizes from small meetings to large conferences. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Financial Management Managing Human Resources Partnering Planning and Evaluating 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: 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). Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. Requires occasional travel, local and national; movement between worksites includes outpatient clinics, VBA regional offices, or national cemeteries. Extended evening or weekend work hours may be required. Work may also take place in a variety of settings including outdoor in various temperatures, crowded conferences or conventions for outreach and other events. 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/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. 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.
