Volunteer Force (Detail) Job in Location Negotiable After Selection

Vacancy No. VOLUNTEERFORCE-Sept2025 Department Federal Emergency Management Agency
Salary $25,684.00 to $191,900.00 Grade 00 to 00
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/20/2024 Close Date 9/19/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Location Negotiable After Selection


Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Volunteer Force enables current federal civilian employees to help respond to humanitarian and national security events through reimbursable detail opportunities. Detailed volunteers will deploy and serve in non-law enforcement, humanitarian capacities for minimum 45-60-days to support Volunteer Force missions. Travel, lodging, and per diem will be provided by the receiving agency. The detail is not a promotion opportunity.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Current federal, civilian employees from any agency at any grade. Applications will be reviewed and submitted to DHS as they are received. The closing date will be extended as necessary to meet the volunteer staffing need.

Duties

Volunteer Force (all grade levels will be considered). Duties are dependent on mission requirements. Responsibilities may include:

  • Humanitarian care of migrants:
    • Migrant Personal Property Management: tagging, bagging, sealing, storing, and retrieval.
    • Meal Prep: distributing food and water.
    • Supply Distribution: handing out clothes, blankets, personal care items, etc.
    • Supply and Prescription Medicine Runs: picking up pre-purchased items, such as food, from local stores and medical prescriptions from local pharmacies.
    • Basic Housekeeping (as needed): picking up trash, sweeping, and cleaning refrigerators.
    • Assist in Control Room: monitoring and operating access doors, answering phones.
  • Administrative support:
    • Data Entry: enter and maintain data elements into relevant information systems.
    • Managing workflow for biometrics photo capture and informational flyer distribution to migrants.
    • Scanning, printing, tracking, mailing, and filing documents.
    • Warehouse operations: receiving stock, organizing, sorting, and labeling supply items; packing, relocating, and distributing supplies to station/site.

Please see the information below on how to apply to the Volunteer Force.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. citizenship required.
  • Current federal employees who have served with their current agency for more than 90 days and are no longer in a probationary period.
  • Employees in a good performance standing and have no current or pending disciplinary actions.
  • Possess an HSPD-12 compliant identification badge (e.g., PIV, Military ID).
  • Have a government issued travel card (preferred).
  • Supervisory approval; completion of the Supervisory Deployment Authorization form.
  • May be subject to workplace safety protocols.

Qualifications

On-the-job training will be provided.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Work Hours:
Detailees may be required to work evenings and/or weekends. Extensive overtime may be required. Appropriate premium pay rates will be used in accordance with federal pay regulations.

Deployment and Duration of Detail:
Deployments are for a minimum of 45 to 60 days but may be extended to up to 120 days. You may be asked to deploy within 4 days of receiving all approvals.

Location:
Areas within the continental United States. Locations will extend to other geographic areas according to the need. Conditions at some locations could be austere. Deployment locations are based on need and are not negotiable.

Salary Expenses:
The receiving agency will reimburse home component/agencies for all base pay, overtime, and premium pay incurred by employees while serving on an interagency detail.

Travel Expenses:
All detail-related travel expenses will be paid for by the receiving agency via invitational travel orders. Travel will be paid in accordance with applicable government travel regulations. In most circumstances, detailees will need to have a federal government travel card.

Compensation:
Detailees would continue to be paid at their current rate of pay and with their current locality. Grade and step would not be affected.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The Volunteer Force will consider all current federal, civilian employees from any agency at any grade who have approval from their supervisor and agency and meet the conditions of employment above.

Required Documents

Please provide a complete online Application Package, which includes:

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.

*To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the questionnaire.

*Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Agency contact information

DHS Volunteer Force
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

The Volunteer Force will review your application and documentation and once vetted, will coordinate with the appointed representative from your agency to obtain the necessary approval for your detail. Once approval for the detail has been obtained, the Volunteer Force will coordinate a start date and contact you about next steps. If qualified and not immediately selected, you will be kept in the application pool as additional needs arise.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.