Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT & will remain open until June 30 - 2025 or until position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be March 24 - 2025. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred & tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency
• Psychologists must be proficient in spoken & written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• Education (1) Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) - the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) - or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time the program was completed
• The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• For the purpose of meeting this requirement - the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body & not to specific job duties that might require special skills
• OR (2) Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology & - in addition - successfully complete a re- specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re- specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: (a) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program
• & (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program - which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship
• OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 & 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Internships (a) Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed & that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• OR (b) New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement - provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology & the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern
• OR (c) VHA facilities that offered full-time - one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96- 151 (pre- 1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement
• OR (d) Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• (NOTE: Once board certified - the employee is required to maintain board certification.) OR (e) Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 & 1978 from a regionally- accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program
• If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript - the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program
• NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision & who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard
• Licensure Hold a full - current - & unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Grade Determinations: Psychology Program Manager - GS-14 Experience
• At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level
• Assignment GS-14 level
• Responsibilities include operation & management of key clinical - training - research - or administrative programs to include full responsibility for managing the day to day activities of those programs
• Psychologist Program Managers are responsible for strategic planning to ensure the provision of high quality services to meet the needs of the Veterans being served & planning - & developing & implementing short- & long-term goals & objectives consistent with the program's strategic plan
• They have oversight of administrative & programmatic resources & deploy those resources in support of the program needs
• They develop & implement programs - policies - & procedures to meet program goals - VHA policy & external accreditation requirements - & monitor outcomes using data-driven quality assurance processes - & implement strategies for improvement based on data analysis
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - & Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to organize work - set priorities - delegate tasks - & meet multiple deadlines
• Knowledge of & ability to utilize evidence based practices & clinical practice guidelines appropriately & ability to guide staff in using these tools
• Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds - interests - & points of view
• Skill in managing & directing the work of others to accomplish program goals & objectives
• Ability to translate management goals & objectives into well-coordinated & controlled work operations
• Ability to establish & monitor production & performance priorities & standards
• Ability to analyze organizational & operational problems & to develop & implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program
• Preferred Experience: Knowledge of treatment of substance use disorders - harm reduction philosophy & principles of recovery - Supervisory & experience in managing a multidisciplinary team
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14
• Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor - as the position requires sitting - standing - & walking
• A high level of self-awareness is essential
• Work - divided between office & clinical settings - is primarily sedentary
• May require prolonged standing - moderate walking - & manual dexterity
• Requires carrying light items - such as books - files - or laptop computer
• Perform primarily light & sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands - exercise patience - & control emotions - with reasonable accommodation - if necessary - without endangering the health & safety of others
• This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing & analyzing data & figures
• transcribing
• viewing a computer terminal
• extensive reading
• & repetitive motions of the wrists - hands - &/or fingers.

Duties

• Assumes - under the direct supervision of the SUD Program manager - the responsibility for the coordination & management of outpatient substance use treatment services offered by the VA WCHCS & community partners
• Plans - supervises - executes - & monitors all activities carried out by the Outpatient SUD Program
• Provides care to the region's eligible Veterans - many of whom have complex needs that include serious & persistent mental health - medical - & psychosocial problems
• Leads a multidisciplinary team - to include psychologists - social workers - nurses - & other health care professionals
• Leads regularly scheduled staff meetings
• Responsible for the oversight of the Outpatient SUD operational policies & procedures - with the approval of the SUD Program Manager
• Conducts ongoing program evaluation & data-driven quality improvement projects that monitor the effectiveness of clinical operations within their respective program(s)
• Organizes & leads leadership team meetings in order to facilitate case disposition - care management - effective delivery of clinical interventions - & the adherence to administrative demands
• Monitors & distributes provider-specific workload reports to team leaders & ensures provider adherence to workload standards
• Plans work to be accomplished by team members - including establishing priorities - timelines for completion - & necessary adjustments therein
• Ensures timely access to care of patients assigned to each team - in accordance with local & national policies
• Initiates & maintains liaisons with associated VA health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services
• Monitors compliance of team members with VA performance measures & effectively shapes provider practice patterns to improve standing on performance measures
• Provides clinical supervision - as appropriate - to assigned team members regarding adherence to VA WCHCS medico-legal stands & policies - documentation of CPRS procedures - & the clinical management of difficult - complex - & dangerous patients
• Assists in the hiring of new staff members for the Outpatient SUD Program - to include constructing job announcement(s) - preparing functional statements - &/or selecting final job candidates
• Resolves conflicts among assigned staff & adjudicates complaints & problems of employees in a timely & effective manner
• Functions as the supervisor of record for management area team leaders & provides input on the performance evaluations for administrative staff within the section
• Assumes responsibility for taking appropriate disciplinary actions for employees with performance problems in a timely & effective manner
• Ensures that appropriate coverage is arranged for patient care responsibilities when staff members are on leave
• Approves leave for employees directly under their supervision
• Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs for effective continuity of care & coordinate services
• Ensures optimal collaboration between Outpatient SUD Program & other VA WCHCS SUD Programs
• Attends & participates in administrative & informational meetings held by the Psychosocial Services Section Chief - Mental Health Chief - Chief of Staff - &/or Facility Director
• Attends recurring Mental Health Service meetings & trainings
• Protects printed & electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with provisions of Federal privacy acts & confidentiality statutes
• Follows regulations & instructions regarding release of sensitive or protected patient or employee information
• Allocates resources within the Mental Health Service - based on a data-driven decision making process with consideration given to the overall needs of the organization & Service Line
• Oversees survey readiness for the Outpatient SUD Program - in collaboration with the SUD Program Manager - Mental Health Leadership - & the QM Manager
• Oversees & collaborates with Outpatient SUD team to ensure success on facility & Mental Health performance metrics
• Completes suspense actions related to the management area
• Conducts all required Focused Professional Practice Evaluations (FPPE) & Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations (OPPE)
• Ensures that staff are trained in conducting peer chart reviews
• Ensures that clinical privileges are appropriate - & where needed additional privileges are requested by staff
• Provides regular clinical supervision to team
• Establishes & clearly communicate guidelines & performance expectations
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: May be available
• Telework: May be available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 55448-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Jillana.martinez@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.