Duties

Program Coordination (45%)

• The incumbent assists 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. This includes, but is not limited to, planning, establishing and implementing policy, developing program goals and objectives, managing, evaluating, and coordinating (internal and external) resources of assigned areas. The incumbent assists the CDCE Voluntary Services 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.

Program Advocacy & Community Relations (30%)

• The Specialist is responsible for implementing the strategic and operational plans developed by the CDCE Voluntary Services Officer. The incumbent consults 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. The incumbent develops and maintains relationships with members of the local advisory committees, Veterans Service Organizations (VSO), and other local, corporate or non- profit entities within the catchment area. Incumbent is responsible for assuring favorable interpersonal relations with executive management, volunteers, VSOs, local businesses, community service organizations, staff, and all customers. The incumbent may serve on committees and represent the CDCE Voluntary Service office at executive meetings, designated functions, special events, or in the community. Assists in the development and implementation of a positive community relations program that promotes understanding and goodwill between the facility and surrounding community and those individuals and groups who are interested in and affected by the VA.

Financial Management (25%)

• The Specialist is responsible for the coordination and management of all monetary and in-kind donations. The incumbent manages 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. Under the supervision of the Chief, the incumbent monitors and manages donated funds for the local Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration and National Cemetery Administration within the station's General Post Fund (GPF) accounts.

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. The incumbent will serve in a developmental assignment to provide the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the full range of duties as described in the target position description, PD# 99853-S, Voluntary Services Specialist, GS-0301-11. The incumbent will perform the duties outlined in the target grade position description but will operate under closer supervision and will not be expected to demonstrate the same level of subject matter mastery. All other factors remain the same.

Work Schedule: Full-Time (80 biweekly hours)
Tour of Duty: 8:00AM - 4:30PM, Monday through Friday (Eastern Standard Time Zone)
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Voluntary Services Specialist/PD99853-S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/30/2021.

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. 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: Possess one (1) year of specialized experience at the GS-07 level or equivalent for this position. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. The incumbent must demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the principles, practices, concepts, and methods used in volunteer management with the ability to apply this knowledge in a wide range of situations. The incumbent must have the ability to implement methods, techniques, and policies in highly unusual programs and circumstances. The incumbent must have the ability to conduct a needs assessment to identify the most effective use of community assets and resources to fill critical gaps and or address the most pressing needs of the healthcare system or VA-affiliated program. The incumbent must demonstrate knowledge and ability to independently develop and initiate new volunteer programs. Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methods for the assessment and improvement of program effectiveness or the improvement of complex management processes and systems. The incumbent must have the ability to effectively manage projects and events and use sound judgement and decision­-making skills to assist with launching strategic initiatives, activities and programs aligned to key priorities. The incumbent must demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills to establish and maintain functional working relationships with diverse populations, to include varied age groups and differing educational and socioeconomic levels; be competent at developing and delivering presentations for diverse audiences and varying sizes from small meetings to large conferences; developing written proposals for key programs and initiatives, presenting briefings before leadership and external organizations, preparing effective correspondence with philanthropic and community partners that serve to influence individuals or organizations to action in support of VA programs and services for Veterans. The incumbent also has the skill and ability to communicate effectively to resolve problems and defend or explain sensitive or controversial actions or decisions; OR,
• Education: Possess a master's or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. Graduate Education: Education at the graduate level in an accredited college or university meets the requirements for positions at GS-07 through GS-11. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work (must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled). One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended; OR,
• Combination: Possess equivalent combinations of specialized experience and education described above that meets 100 percent of the requirements for this position. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable. Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-09 and GS-11. (When crediting education that requires specific course work, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used). The following is an example of how education and experience may be combined. This is an example only, and is not all-inclusive: The position to be filled is a Voluntary Services Specialist, GS-0301-09. An applicant has 6 months of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 and 1 year of graduate level education coursework directly in or related to business or public administration. The applicant meets 50 percent of the required experience but none of the required education, since he or she does not have any graduate study beyond that which is required for GS-07. Therefore, the applicant meets only 50 percent of the total requirement and is not qualified for the position. (The applicant's first year of graduate study is not qualifying for GS-09).

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Organizational Stewardship
• Problem Solving
• Technical Competence
• Self-Management
• Communications

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.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/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/ .

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .