This position is in the Audiology & Speech Pathology Service at the Washington DC VA Medical Center. Incumbent is a supervisory audiologist responsible for audiologists at the main campus (Washington, DC.) and the CBOCs. The incumbent conducts a full range of hearing impairment and/or balance disorders diagnostic evaluations and rehabilitative treatment. Incumbent ensures that work assignments of the other members of a clinical team are carried out by performing a range of administrative duties.
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). b. Education. Doctor of Audiology (AUD) from an audiology program recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE) or Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). HR office staff and management officials may verify a program's accreditation from ACAE at acaeaccred.org and CAA at caa.asha.org. OR Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2007, the CAA in Audiology and 3 Speech- Language Pathology of ASHA accredits only doctoral degree or AUD programs in audiology. c. Licensure. Individuals must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice audiology at the doctoral level in a United States state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. Failure to Obtain Licensure. In all cases, the graduate audiologists must actively pursue obtaining the required licensure from the date of their appointment. HR office staff will provide unlicensed audiologists with written requirements to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Written notices must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date. Failure to obtain the required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment. Loss of Credential. Management officials, in collaboration with HR Office staff must immediately relieve employees who fail to maintain the required 4 licensure of the duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation which may also result in separation from employment 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 Determinations: GS-13 Supervisory Audiologist Assignment: Supervisory audiologist assignments spend 25% or more of their time providing technical and administrative supervision. Supervisory audiologists in this assignment serve as section chiefs. Section chiefs have broad program management responsibilities for a specific program or programs that are designed to deliver specialized, complex, highly professional services, which are important program components of the facility and significantly impact the health care provided to Veterans. Programs include but are not limited to hearing health, compensation and pension examination (C&P) programs, inpatient, outpatient and residential audiologic rehabilitation, neuro-audiologic assessments, diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus, externship and postdoctoral fellowship training programs, and management of an off-campus site. Typically, at facilities of lower complexity, section chiefs have audiology program oversight and serve as the audiology executive responsible for coordinating operations throughout the facility and its affiliated clinics. The type of programs managed, and the scope of responsibility are critical aspects of the assignment at this level. Section chiefs manage key clinical, training, research, or administrative programs including the day-to-day activities of these programs. Section chiefs in this assignment supervise and provide input for strategic plans to ensure the provision of high-quality services to meet the needs of the Veterans. They develop and implement short and long-term goals and objectives consistent with the program's strategic plan. They provide oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and deploy those resources to support the program needs. They develop and implement programs, policies, and procedures to meet program goals, VHA policy and external accreditation requirements. They monitor outcomes using data- driven quality assurance processes and implement strategies for improvement based on data analysis. Experience: To qualify for the GS-13 position, you must have at least two years of experience as a professional audiologist, with at least one year comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-12) directly related to the position that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. GS-12 experience includes: Ability to practice independently in the provision of audiologic services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. Ability to serve as consultants to other health care professionals and are recognized subject matter experts (SME) on matters related to hearing, tinnitus, and balance disorders. Ability to assign staff audiologists to any VHA program and setting, such as inpatient or outpatient medicine, primary care, surgery, hearing health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, geriatrics, compensation, and pension. Knowledge diagnose audiologic disorders, conduct audiologic, or neuro-audiologic assessments; treat auditory disorders through various modalities; and provide adjunctive interventions for the treatment of medical disorders. Ability to consult with medical center staff on various patient care issues. Ability to be involved in program evaluation, teaching, training, and research activities. Among the modalities provided are individual, family, and group audiologic rehabilitation. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs identified below. (a) Skill in conflict resolution to facilitate positive working relationships between employees, team leaders, and managers. (b) Skill in applying evidence-based practices in a professional area. (c) Ability to analyze organizational and operational challenges to develop and implement solutions. (d) Ability to develop the abilities and strengths of current employees. (e) Ability to balance responsibilities, set priorities, and delegate tasks to meet multiple deadlines. (f) Ability to analyze data to manage workload, quality, performance, and productivity within the section. 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. Physical Requirements: The incumbent will be required to walk patient from the waiting room to exam room, stand while performing audiology testing as needed, carry small packages (1 to 2 lbs.), have near vision correctable at 13" to 16", and have functional hearing (aid permitted).
Major Duties: Responsible for the supervision, administrative management, and direction of the audiology program in a unified audiology and speech-language pathology service. Responsible for general or technical supervision of key clinical or training programs and overall technical and administrative oversight of audiologists depending on grade level. Using knowledge of contemporary audiology practice, exercising independent clinical judgment and adapting clinical procedures and techniques to accommodate age-specific and unique patient conditions, needs, and expectations. Consulting with physicians and other health care practitioners related to diagnostic evaluation and treatment. Evaluating patients to determine nature, type, and severity of hearing impairment and/or balance disorders using a full range of diagnostic tests and techniques, past, family, and social history, record review, and consultation with family and other health care practitioners. Planning, coordinating, and implementing a full range of patient-focused treatment services designed to optimize function. Documenting in the medical record: evaluating, diagnosis and clinical opinion, treatment plans, outcomes of treatment, changes in functional status, and patient/family education and attends interdisciplinary team meetings; participating with other health care practitioners to address the global needs of the patient, advising on diagnosis and treatment. Providing orientation/training of medical staff; new staff; and assisting in the training and supervision of students, trainees, and fellows, providing feedback on progress toward established educational goals. Keeping current with theory and practice through continuing education programs, journals, textbooks, and other literature, and in-service programs and providing patient and family education including informed consent. Functioning as a supervisor and is responsible for ensuring that work assignments of the other members of the clinical team are carried out by performing a range of duties such as distributing and balancing workload among employees in accordance with established workflow or job specialization. Assures timely accomplishment of assigned workload, assuring the status, quality, and progress of work, making day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities. Overseeing the professional practice of peers and obtains assistance from the Chief of Audiology and Speech Pathology Service on problems that may arise. Carrying out the administrative duties and responsibilities of this position, the incumbent uses the knowledge of contemporary audiology practice. Developing, organizing, directing, managing, and supervising, controlling, and implementing policies and procedures in focused clinical programs. Having the ability to articulate and communicate assignments, projects, problems to be solved, actionable events, and objectives, as well as advise on work methods, practices, and procedures. Coaching the clinical team in the selection and application of appropriate problem-solving methods and techniques. Monitoring and reporting on status and progress of work, evaluating program quality to ensure that methods, deadlines and quality have been met; and adjusting to accomplish the workload in accordance with established priorities. Exercising supervisory responsibilities such as planning and scheduling work; assigning work to employees; accepting, amending or rejecting completed work; assuring that production and accuracy requirements are met; appraising performance and recommending performance standards and ratings; assigning delineated clinical privileges; approving leave; and effecting disciplinary measures. Having the skills in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers and has skill in problem solving and conflict resolution. Serving as coach, facilitator, and/or negotiator in coordinating initiatives and consensus building activities among clinical team members with wide divergent backgrounds, interest, and points of view. Establishing and updates the training protocol for audiology health technicians to ensure they are properly trained in otoscopy and proper referral for unusual or surgical ears, cerumen management, hearing aid repair, making of earmold impressions, chart documentation, instrument cleanliness, processing of hearing aids and understanding of the remote order entry system for processing and tracking of hearing aids, accessories and assistive listening device. Incumbent performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 25042F