Recreation Assistant

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

NOTE: This announcement has been extended to close on September 9 2026. Applicants who previously applied do not need to re-apply.

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-6. At the GS-4 and GS-5 grade levels you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-6. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance availability of higher-level work and availability of funds.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Leads activities encourages patient participation and documents in the medical record.
• Interacts with residents and families to gain knowledge on likes and dislikes for activities and food.
• Utilizes a wide range of activities modalities and motivational techniques to stimulate patient interest and participation.
• Plans special events and Federal holiday events.
• Collaborates with dietitians recreational therapists nursing providers and other team members to carry out resident activities and care.
• Arranges for supplies and services needed to accomplish scheduled recreation activities.
• Prepares and serve food to include dietary restrictions and modifications.
• Sets up and tears down food station and equipment management to include sterilization.
• Monitors food consumption for documentation and reports to nursing.
• Performs light housekeeping in all areas including emptying trash sweeping mopping vacuuming and wiping all surfaces.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Full Time Sunday - Saturday 6:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. This is a full-time position with a 36-44-hour work week. Work Schedule varies throughout the week and various times of the day to include days evenings weekends and holidays.

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI) Not approved

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification 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 during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public 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.

English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.
AND
Recreation Assistant GS-4 grade level applicants must possess at least one of the following qualification requirements.

EXPERIENCE GS-04: Applicants must possess six (6) months of general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience. General experience is any type of work that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of the position or experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Specialized experience is experience equivalent to the GS-03 grade level in Federal service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Qualifying specialized experience include: group leader counselor or similar work in public and private recreation programs for adults or children such as summer camps local playgrounds YWCA and YMCA clubs Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts urban community centers or resort recreational activities; teachers aide in elementary school recreation or physical education program; aid or assistant assignments in recreation while on active military service; aid or assistant in the organization and administration of recreation activities such as preparing activities calendars maintaining attendance records and providing information concerning schedules and activities; summer aid in a State or national park with duties related to the recreational activities of visitors to campsites trails picnic areas nature and raft centers boating and fishing areas etc.; aid or assistant in the issuance of authorized property and in the maintenance of inventory control and accountability for such property in a recreation facility; aid or assistant in a hotel or resort recreation service with duties such as setting up areas for games tournaments and other organized group recreational activities. Additional qualifying specialized experience includes what is stated above as well as assisting in facilitating or supporting group or individual activities designed to promote engagement socialization or well-being e.g. providing routine support helping with daily needs facilitating social interaction offering emotional support supporting or coordinating simple activities or events or performing related tasks in health care community educational or recreational settings); performing various administrative duties such as housekeeping food service ordering supplies maintaining a schedule/calendar; utilizing a computer to retrieve and/or enter data and preparing a variety of correspondence. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented within the resume to receive credit.
OR
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Successfully completed 2 years of post-high school study that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to recreation (e.g. basic psychology group dynamics physical education arts and crafts etc.). NOTE: (Transcripts required with application)
OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience. The education and specialized experience must be related to the position as listed above. NOTE: (Transcripts required with application)

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
• Food Production
• Food Service
• Teamwork
• Technical Documentation

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.

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; religious; 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.

Physical Requirements: The employee work assignment involves regular and recurring physical exertions such as prolonged walking standing bending reaching stooping climbing and stretching to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus; lifting handling and operating various supplies and equipment needed by the service lifting and repositioning patients moderately heaving lifting (50 lbs. or less) moving equipment and procuring supplies working in extreme temperatures positioning Veterans and assisting Veterans in transfer and/or ambulation. The work requires specific common and physical characteristics and abilities such as above average agility and dexterity. Incumbents must be able to push Veterans in wheelchairs on level and incline ground. At times there may be undue heavy lifting due to unforeseen circumstances such as preventing patients from falling. Most activities are rendered in the area to which the employee is assigned. At times activities are conducted outside of hospital grounds or during outings into the community. The employee work assignment requires a current CPR certificate. The employee will perform work requiring light to moderate physical effort. They are subject to continuous standing and walking and frequent stooping reaching pushing pulling and bending. They frequently lift or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds unassisted and occasionally lift or move objects weighing more than 40 pounds with the assistance of others.

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at