This Psychology Program Manager is located in the Mental Health Service Line. The Program Manager has oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and responsibilities for assigned Community Based Outpatient clinics (CBOC) that deliver outpatient mental health services. The incumbent is responsible for directing the activities of the multidisciplinary clinical teams at each assigned CBOC which also includes program clerk(s) with the assigned Medical Director.
All requirements for this position must be met by the closing date of the announcement. 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: Applicants must meet the English Language Proficiency requirement for positions in this occupation. To be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, or to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA, applicants must be proficient in written and spoken English. Education: 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 and not to specific job duties that might require special skills. Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology). OR Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a respecialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the respecialization 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 the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. Internships: 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 (pre1979) 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.)OR(e) 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: 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. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meets 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 representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
Major duties include, but are not limited to: Program Management Responsibilities: Duties include directing, administering, and managing all aspects of the program, including comprehensive planning, developing and implementing programs, policies and procedures; determining program needs; overseeing the type, quality and quantity of services provided; setting priorities; and establishing short-and-long range program goals, initiatives, and direction. Coordinates programming with program managers from other programs in the Mental Health Service Line (MHSL) and with other CBOC's with responsibility to negotiate service agreements and other forms of collaboration. Collaborates with discipline supervisors including psychiatry, psychology, social work, and nursing by providing input in hiring, performance reviews, incentives, and discipline. Collaborates with clerical supervisors for similar input. Duties with the clinical staff includes providing clinical consultation in utilizing evidence based therapeutic practices and clinical practice guidelines; creating a work environment that acknowledges and respects widely divergent interests, points of views and discipline perspectives; and providing support, encouragement and direction to all staff. Triages and assigns referrals for services in a systematic way and makes treatment recommendations. Monitors for the provision of services to be delivered in a manner that meets VA guidelines and standards. Implements ongoing program evaluation and outcome projects using data driven quality assurance processes including establishing and monitoring team production and performance standards; implementing treatment outcome and satisfaction projects. Supervisory Psychologist Responsibilities: Provides direct professional supervision of psychologists. Has line and staff authority for resource allocation within the area of responsibility and ensures efficient operation of the organizational unit. Works with Chief Psychologist on decisions of hiring, firing, rewarding, disciplining and performance. Ensures efficient operation of psychology units including measuring quality and performance. Incumbent provides supervisory support, and direct professional consultation. Responsibilities include supervision of staff, professional management, and administrative responsibilities that are complex in scope and that constitute a significant portion of the medical center. Decisions are made exercising wide latitude and independent judgment. Consult with and serve as a resource for other professional staff concerning the need for development of psychological services. Clinical Responsibilities: Has direct responsibility for all aspects of psychological services in the program, including those conducted by trainees and staff. Consults with and serves as a resource for other medical center staff regarding the need for and development of psychological services, case conceptualization, treatment planning, and utilization of evidenced based treatments and clinical practice guidelines. Consults with and serves as a resource for other professional personnel concerning the need for and development of psychological services. Provides a full range of interventions using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic, psychoeducational and psychosocial rehabilitation techniques in providing quality care. Academic/Teaching/Training: May hold faculty appointment at affiliated university (i.e. University of Minnesota). May be involved in Psychology Training Program and Training Committee. Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staffs of units to which assigned. May be involved in the training of psychology practicum students, interns, and postdoctoral residents and coordinates with the social work training program with the larger training programs and discipline supervisors Identifies and facilitates continuing education training opportunities for staff members; establishes team work groups to study evidence based practices; fosters research and dissemination of results at major conferences; and supports staff members during their grant submission process. Research/Program Evaluation: Responsible for timely completion of all program evaluations and documents required by the Medical Center, VISN and VACO, ensuring compliance with appropriate accrediting bodies such as JCAHO. Plans and oversees the completion of research programs designed to provide information regarding program planning and relevant treatment approaches. Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate. May present outcome data and research results at VA and regional or national scientific or professional meetings. Work Schedule: 08:00 to 16:30; Monday through Friday Telework: Ad-Hoc Only. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized