This position is located within the VA Western New York Healthcare System in Buffalo, New York. The position is responsible for providing Tai Chi and/or Qigong instruction for the purpose of promoting, restoring, and preserving health and well-being of Veterans at the VA Medical Center, and supporting additional recreational activities.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include, but are not limited, the following: Prepares and sets up Tai Chi and/or Qigong setting and equipment to support scheduled events and activities Instructs Veterans on the safe use of Tai Chi and/or Qigong equipment Provides transportation for off station recreational outings Cultivates a cooperative interrelationship between patients, family members, and VA medical center staff Conducts Tai Chi and Qigong well-being classes, either group or individual, for the purpose of promoting, preserving, or restoring health and well-being Provides informal input to the supervisor concerning pertinent topics to meet facility or patient needs Coordinates with other staff members concerning the use of the Tai Chi and/or Qigong facilities for activities and develops and maintains a calendar of programs and activities Develops marketing requests and advertising efforts for special events to encourage participation in Tai Chi and/or Qigong programs Combines breathing techniques, posture, and movement instruction appropriate for the level of the class Provides simple accurate instruction in the areas of Tai Chi and/or Qigong such as verbal, kinesthetic or visual cues to correct body alignment during various movements Leads Tai Chi and/or Qigong classes for well-being and maintenance of health Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday; 7:00am to 4:30pm or 8:00am to 5:30pm and Saturday 7:00am to 11:00am (in Batavia, NY) Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position at the GS-6 level, you must meet one of the following: 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 has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Recreation Assistant - Tai Chi/Qigong and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Qualifying specialized experience includes: serving as a 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; Teacher's Aid in elementary school recreation or physical education program, with emphasis on development of general recreational skills and abilities; 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. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed one half (½) year of graduate education (9 semester hours or equivalent) with a major that included courses directly related to the work of the Recreation Assistant - Tai Chi/Qigong. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted at the time of application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Recreation Assistant. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted at the time of application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Preferred Certification(s): ATCQGA Certified Tai Chi Instructor Level l or equivalent (150 hours documented hours of formal Tai Chi training,); Qigong instructors: Level I Qigong Instructor certified by the National Qigong Association, or equivalent is preferred. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: CommunicationsPlanning and EvaluatingTechnical Competence 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 work requires considerable physical exertion. The environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions. The work area is lighted, heated, and ventilated. 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

IMPORTANT: 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Contacts

• Address VA Western New York Healthcare System 3495 Bailey Avenue Buffalo, NY 14215 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]