Demo

Recreation Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Sioux, SD Full Time
POSTED ON 5/15/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 6/12/2026
Summary

Incumbent provides Veteran-centered care to residents in a manner conducive to the comfort and safety of those in the Hospice Cottage. The primary role is to protect - sustain - and nurture Veterans by providing assistance with daily living activities - and with other needs in accordance with established policies and procedures of the Medical Center to ensure the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times. Location: Royal C. Johnson VA Medical Center - Sioux Falls - South Dakota.

Qualifications

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; teacher's 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. 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. Incumbent 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 Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

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

Salary : $37,193 - $59,031

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Recreation Assistant?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Recreation Assistant career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$46,942 - $59,658
Income Estimation: 
$49,519 - $64,987
Income Estimation: 
$54,767 - $78,649
Income Estimation: 
$60,822 - $86,460
Income Estimation: 
$57,872 - $73,682
Income Estimation: 
$115,229 - $156,440
Income Estimation: 
$302,228 - $379,575
Income Estimation: 
$136,280 - $200,184
Income Estimation: 
$89,305 - $134,530
Income Estimation: 
$101,682 - $154,503
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Sioux, SD
  • Summary The Safety & Occupational Health Specialist position is located at the Royal C Johnson Veterans Memorial Hospital in Sioux Falls - SD. They perform... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Sioux, SD
  • Summary This position is located at the Royal C. Johnson VA Medical Center - Sioux Falls - South Dakota. This position is for the Hospice Cottage which is ... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Fort Meade, SD
  • Summary VA Black Hills is seeking a Hospitalist to care for Veterans within the Specialty Care Service Line in Rapid City - SD. The Hospitalist is responsi... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Fargo, ND
  • Summary This position is located at the Fargo VA Health Care System in Fargo - North Dakota. This is an Open Continuous Announcement. Applications in USA S... more
  • 1 Day Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Recreation Assistant jobs in the Sioux, SD area that may be a better fit.

  • Veterans Health Administration Sioux, SD
  • Summary Incumbent provides Veteran-centered care to residents in a manner conducive to the comfort and safety of those in the Hospice Cottage. The primary ... more
  • 16 Days Ago

  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Sioux, SD
  • Summary This position is located at the Royal C. Johnson VA Medical Center - Sioux Falls - South Dakota. This position is for the Hospice Cottage which is ... more
  • 1 Day Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!