Summary Voluntary Service Specialist possesses a wide body of knowledge requiring substantially full qualification in distinctly separate areas across each of these business lines to include professional, technical and administrative skills and abilities. Implementing strategic and operational plans developed by Service Chief. Consults services across the health care system, agency representatives (including VHA, VBA, & NCA) community officials to publicize, analyze, and recommend program improvements. Responsibilities Announcement has been extended and will now close on March 10, 2026 Primary Duties include but not limited to: Assisting in all aspects of the development, coordination, and management of the 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. Resolves 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. Coordination and management of 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. Plans and executes 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. Performs other duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Voluntary Services Specialist/PD99853S and PD99853S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Requirements 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 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification 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) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/10/2026. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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. ***Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: GS-09 You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: 1) Planning, supervising, and coordinating volunteers of a volunteer program; 2) Evaluating and monitoring the effectiveness of a specialized program and devising new methods for improvement; 3) Effectively recruiting, interviewing, and evaluating prospective employees/volunteers in order to appropriately utilize their talents and interests; 4) Utilizing interpersonal communication skill to foster effective working relationships with others; familiar with a wide variety of principles and practices to evaluate program trends. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or, 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or, LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education. Specialized Experience: GS-11 You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: 1) Managing a program of volunteers and contributing organizations within a medical or hospital setting; 2) Development and implementation of a detailed marketing plan for a specialized program; 3) Managing a program service budget and managing a donation needs list of an organization; 4) Utilizes laws and regulations governing the General Post Fund and solicitation and acceptance of donated gifts; 5) Understanding and applying personnel management practices for interviewing, screening, placing, and counseling purposes. Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M., if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Attention to Detail Communications Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Managing Human Resources Organizational Stewardship Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork 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). 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. Employee must attend lengthy meetings both during and after regular scheduled work hours. Travel to other medical center facilities is also required. 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 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
