Voluntary Services Officer

Full Job Description

The incumbent serves as Voluntary Service Officer (VSO) with full delegated authority and responsibility for developing, managing, and administering a large, comprehensive voluntary services program within the VA Central Ohio Health Care System (VACOHCS).

This position is located in the Office of the Associate Director, at the VA Central Ohio Health Care System.

The area of oversight includes the main ambulatory care center, as well as five outpatient clinics throughout the state of Ohio.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/04/2026.

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-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.

Specialized Experience: Must have at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal Service, which equipped you with the competencies required to successfully perform the duties of the position which include but are not limited to; Advanced knowledge of the principles, practices, techniques and methods of voluntary services; advanced knowledge and skill in applying principles, practices, techniques and methods of oral and written communication, analytical methods, and interpersonal relations practices; knowledge and skill necessary to develop an awareness in the community of the medical centers' mission; knowledge of Medical Center programs, policies and activities to present this information accurately to employees, the media and the community, and to make the judgments necessary for a balanced presentation of information; knowledge of how to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of individuals to be effective in obtaining support for program implementation and maintenance; knowledge of applicable laws and regulations governing the General Post Fund and donations and gifts sufficient to secure funding without violating laws, or regulations, knowledge of veterans programs and experience working with veteran service organizations.

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).

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/.

Major Duties:

Program Oversight The incumbent serves as the Voluntary Service Officer (VSO) with full delegated authority and responsibility for designing and implementing a voluntary services program that meets the needs of a complex VA healthcare delivery system.

This includes planning, establishing and implementing policy; developing program goals and objectives; managing the gifts and donations program; resolving sensitive and complex situations; coordinating with (internal and external) sources to establish and maintain effective relationships; and has responsibility for the operation, coordination, and evaluation of the facility VA Voluntary Service (VAVS) program.

The VSO develops short and long-range plans for the accomplishment of the VAVS program goals and objectives; develops and implements programs and program changes that impact the ability to meet the medical center's needs; develops innovative and creative community outreach programs that provide volunteers as well as financial resources to the facility.

Staffing The VSO serves as full advisor to top management on the VAVS program.

The incumbent takes a proactive role in meeting the voluntary service needs of the hospital and affiliated satellite clinics and establishes a vital link with the community.

The incumbent assumes full authority for the promotion, recruitment, and recognition of volunteers; evaluates staff requests for volunteers; develops a formal orientation, education, and/or training programs for both volunteers and utilizing services; and identifies/obtains resources.

Technical and Administrative Supervision Incumbent provides direct technical and administrative supervision to the VA Central Ohio Health Care System Voluntary Service Staff: Two Voluntary Service Specialist (GS-09), two Program Support assistants (GS-7 and GS-6), One Information Receptionist ( GS-4) and one Motor Vehicle Operator (WG-5).

This responsibility includes development of performance standards, writing position descriptions, evaluating work performance, counseling of employees whose performance is marginal or unsatisfactory, and initiating disciplinary actions when necessary.

Hears and resolves complaints from employees.

Plans and assigns work to be accomplished by subordinates; sets short and long-term goals; assigns work based on priorities; approves leave, instructs employees on work and administrative matters.

Initiates recruitment actions, interviews and selects new employees. Obtains resources for continuing education of employees and determines their training needs.

Committee Duties The VSO serves as Deputy Chairperson of the facility Committee and provides information about the medical center and the VAVS program to various VACOHCS.

representatives and deputy representatives from affiliated veteran's service organizations, civic groups, and local community organizations.

Provides orientation and training to newly appointed VAVS representatives and deputy representatives.

The VSO establishes and maintains relationships with the members of the committee for the purposes of motivating increased attendance and participation at the committee meetings, as well as for increasing volunteer involvement in hospital programs.

Conducts Annual Joint Reviews with the representatives from the VACOHS Committee organizations. Arranges official visits from national, state and local organizations.

Expenditure/Purchase Approval The VSO, as a designee of the Medical Center Director, is the sole employee authorized to accept or reject offers of gifts and donations for this facility in accordance with established procedures and regulations.

Ensures gifts and donations are accepted, recorded and disbursed appropriately according to VA policy. The incumbent is the approving official for expenditures/purchases for general post fund accounts.

Program Development Has sole responsibility for developing and implementing a wide range of programs and services within the VACOHS program, including volunteer recognition ceremonies and awards programs, volunteer recruitment fairs, student volunteer programs, community outreach activities, special events, recruitment presentations, official visits/tours, and fundraisers.

Manages, plans, and coordinates all aspects of National Salute to Veterans Week, Memorial Day, Flag Day, POW/MIA Program, Veterans Day Program, VACOHS Holiday visits and gift distribution, and National Volunteer Week, etc.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: This position authorized for Ad-Hoc (per agency) telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Voluntary Services Officer/PD99897S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized