Voluntary Services Specialist

Full Job Description

The Voluntary Services Specialist supports the Veterans Health Administration by planning, coordinating, and managing a comprehensive volunteer program that enhances services provided to Veterans, their families, and caregivers.

This position serves as a key liaison between VA staff, community organizations, and a diverse network of volunteers to ensure effective integration of volunteer resources throughout the medical facility.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/12/2026.

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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-07: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) 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 Specialist.

Qualifying specialized experience includes experience working for a company, organization, or department specializing in volunteer and/or philanthropic activities; communicating with individuals and groups in community; performing technical program development for a specialized program; performing record keeping and recognition of a volunteer and/or philanthropic program; and applying a high level of expertise in identifying special skills and attitudes necessary for sensitive assignments.

OR, Education: Successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate level education that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

or, Successful completed a Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement; OR Combination: Have a combination of education and experience to qualify at this level.

Experience and education as described above must equate to one year of experience.

GS-9: Specialized Experience: You must have one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) 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 planning, supervising, and coordinating volunteers of a volunteer program; evaluating and monitoring the effectiveness of a specialized program and devising new methods for improvement; effectively recruiting, interviewing, and evaluating prospective employees/volunteers in order to appropriately utilize their talents and interests; utilizing interpersonal communication skill to foster effective working relationships with others; and familiar with a wide variety of principles and practices to evaluate program trends Education: Successfully completed two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or masters or equivalent graduate degree, or LL.B.

or J.D., in a related field of the position to be filled. OR, Combination: Have a combination of education and experience to qualify at this level.

Experience and education as described above must equate to one year of experience.

GS-11: Specialized Experience: You much 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.

OR, Education:; 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. OR, Combination: Have a combination of education and experience to qualify at this level.

Experience and education as described above must equate to one year of experience.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Communications Managing Human Resources Organizational Stewardship 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. The incumbent 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/.

Major Duties:

Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Handles daily operations in relation to program coordination to include both the training of volunteers and supervisors in other services.

Assists in all aspects of the development, coordination, and management. Planning, establishing and implementing policy. Provide support for volunteer and donor activities for customers served.

Provide support for community outreach efforts by providing volunteers and community involvement. Developing program goals and objectives.

Managing, evaluating, and coordinating resources of assigned areas. Develops and implements programs and program changes.

Develops and fosters a robust network with internal and external stakeholders to build resilient working coalitions.

Motivates diverse groups of people, staff, volunteers, business and civic groups, services organization officials. Conducts interviews, scheduling, placement, and evaluation of volunteers.

Conducts a system of internal reviews for quality assurance. Create new and unique volunteer personnel assignments to meet the needs of the customer.

Coordinates data analysis from diverse sources to prepare reports and evaluations. Plans and executes a variety of complex internal and external special events.

Assist with budget development, contracting, procurement, logistics, planning, personnel, public relations, engagement and development of public/private partnerships.

Consults with services across the health care system, agency representatives and community officials to publicize, analyze, and recommend improvements for programs.

Conducts fact-findings and analysis to recommend potential community partnerships.

Evaluates and implements best practices for optimal recruitment and resource support of the health care system operations.

Manages implementation of the Continuity of Operations and Emergency Management Plans in relation to volunteer training and communication, deployment of resources, and support of the overall facility emergency plan.

Manages the coordination and management of all monetary and in-kind donations. Manage programs associated with volunteers to include, recruiting, interviewing, and evaluating prospective volunteers.

Accountable for ensuring fiscal management and accountability through accurate reporting, documentation and storage of all financial records.

Complies with all Federal, VA, and local acquisition laws and regulations, using mandated socio-economic entities and mandatory sources.

Provides education and training to staff on the proper use of donation expenditures, restricted purchases and procurement requirements.

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 7:00am - 3:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Voluntary Services Specialist/PD99598S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required