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.
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 Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. Education Requirement - You must 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. OR, have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully completed a 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; and b) the specialty in which you were retrained is consistent with the assignment you are am applying for; OR, have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. Internship Requirement - You must have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed; OR, 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 and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern; OR, 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, 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). NOTE: Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 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. Licensure: Candidates must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Exception: Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (c)(2)(B) for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Requirements: GS-14 Psychology Program Manager Experience. At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 1. Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines. 2. Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. 3. Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups. 4. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives. 5. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. 6. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. 7. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Psychologist program managers have broad program management responsibilities for a specific program or programs that are designed to deliver specialized, complex, highly professional services that are important program components of the facility and that significantly impact the health care provided to Veterans. Programs include but are not limited to addiction, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mental health intensive case management (MHICM), mental health compensation and pension examination (C&P) programs, Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Centers, inpatient mental health, residential rehabilitation, domiciliary, palliative care, neuropsychology, and internship and postdoctoral fellowship training programs; management of an off- campus site; psychology program oversight and coordination throughout the facility and its affiliated clinics as a psychology executive, typically at lower complexity facilities. Decisions made by the Program Manager affect staff and other resources associated with the programs managed and are made while exercising wide latitude and independent judgment. The type of program managed and scope of responsibility are critical aspects of the assignment at this level. Responsibilities include operation and management of key clinical, training, research, or administrative programs to include full responsibility for managing the day to day activities of those programs. Responsibility may include supervision of staff but is not required. 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 and planning, and developing and implementing short- and long-term goals and objectives consistent with the program's strategic plan. They have oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and deploy those resources in support of the program needs. They develop and implement programs, policies, and procedures to meet program goals, VHA policy and external accreditation requirements, and monitor outcomes using data-driven quality assurance processes, and implement strategies for improvement based on data analysis. 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-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14.
**THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT VHA EMPLOYEES** A. Administrative Responsibilities (80% time) Scope of Administrative Practice: Incumbent exhibits leadership characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for the AVAHCS employees. Incumbent provides administrative, technical, and clinical input necessary for accomplishing the well-being program. The CXO has a critical role designed to enhance and oversee the holistic experience of the facility's Veterans, employees, and stakeholders. This team member will play a pivotal role in shaping a culture of excellence by integrating several key programs to include Veteran Experience, Employee Experience, Center for Development and Civic Engagement, and High Reliability Organization. Responsibilities include the development and implementation of programs, policies, and procedures; oversight of administrative and programmatic resources; monitoring of outcomes and using a data- driven quality assurance process. Specifically: (1) Establishes a strategic vision of why and how the organization will improve the work environment to advance the well-being of all healthcare professionals. (2) Advises ELT members on an organization-wide strategy to advance facility customer experience for all stakeholders. (3) Works collaboratively with all levels of staff within the facility including Executive Leadership, Employee Experience/Engagement, Whole Health, System Redesign, Occupational Health, unit supervisors, and others in assessing, developing, and maintaining staff activities. (4) Leads and implements a team of ambassadors (or champions) from various disciplines to be constantly connected to the specific needs of professions from across the organization. (5) Evaluates AVAHCS culture, identifying issues in the workplace affecting morale, and makes sure any proposed changes are inclusive to all employees. (6) Implements effective evidence-based individual-level interventions, group-level interventions, and system-level interventions. (7) Implements systems-level interventions on efficiency of practice, participatory management, and empowering healthcare professionals to identify improvement measures to best serve facility goals. (8) Regularly monitors and reports outcomes, including measures of engagement, professional fulfillment, health and well-being, return on investment, value on investment, and tracks how they change with the introduction of interventions. (9) Coordinates and works with mental health leaders to decrease stigma and improve access to and awareness of peer support and mental health services for the Veterans we serve. (10) Provides direct assessment of professional fulfillment and distress, benchmarking the organizational experience relative to other medical centers, and tracks these measures over time. (11) Identifies opportunities for improvement requiring greater time, attention, and support from leaders outside the work unit to make progress. (12) Liaisons with the national Employee Whole Health Office to implement nation- wide initiatives related to enhanced customer experience and resiliency. (13) Oversees longitudinal assessment of customer experience across the organization. (14) Oversees assessment of the efficacy of well-being interventions and progress toward organizational goals. (15) Oversees implementation of enhanced customer service programming commensurate with the needs of different Veteran and employee populations. B. Clinical Responsibilities (20% time) Scope of Clinical Practice: The incumbent will adhere to clinical standards set forth by the Psychologist Professional Standards Board (PSB) and will participate in activities as directed by the Psychologist PSB as part of being a fully credentialed and privileged AVAHCS providers. The incumbent will maintain a 20% clinical workload. Productivity, performance measures, clinical outcomes, and clinic operations are consistent with Health Care System goals. Incumbent will be assigned clinical responsibilities as applicable with duties assigned. Clinical Assessment: Advanced clinical training, insight and experience is utilized to interpret data and identify viable treatment options. Incumbent assesses high risk factors, acuity, and service needs. Academic/Teaching/Training: Incumbent provides clinical consultation to various disciplines and levels of training. Psychologist may be actively involved in the APA- Accredited Psychology Training Programs. Psychologist will provide training/consultation to incoming medical residents, nursing students and fellows, as appropriate. Incumbent will provide leadership, guidance, and consultation on staff education and development to all staff, as appropriate. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 59798F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized