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: 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 re-specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re-specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and, 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. AND 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 (pre-1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement. 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. 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 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: Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines. Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. 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.
Major duties include but not limited to: Responsible for day-to-day management and operational aspects of the Addictive Disorder Treatment Program (ADTP). Provides leadership, guidance, and coordination of ADTP staff following the mission/vision of the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System and program direction of the Mental Health Service. Conduct, evaluate, and coordinate the execution of the program (this may include coordination of day-to-day staffing schedules, coordination of staff productivity, coordination of program/staff efficiency, coordination of program/staffing cost effectiveness, coordination of quality performance, outcomes and/or coordination of clinic effectiveness and clinic productivity). Review program analysis and provide appropriate assessments of the outcomes and make recommendations as needed. Expected to advise the ACOS, Mental Health Service on the goals, objectives, and needs of the program. Knowledge and use of Quality Performance and Improvement, survey instruments and techniques, computer analysis, research design, and VA regulations concerning program operation, business planning or operations of programs. Ensures that ADTP provides substance use disorder (SUD) services that are consistent with recommended psychosocial and pharmacological SUD treatment specified by the VA-DOD Clinical Practice Guideline, and ensures that Veterans have the flexibility to move throughout the SUD continuum of care as appropriate and needed. Collaborates with other VA staff, including Women's Health, to ensure the availability of SUD treatment tailored to the needs of women Veterans. Strives to continue improving SUD care through participating in VA medical facility and national quality improvement initiatives. Plans work to be accompanied by employees under his/her span of control, setting and shifting priorities and schedules to the mission requirements of VASNHCS as it applies to the management of the ADTP. Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff. He/she observes workers' performance; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary. Advises, counsels and instructs employees on both technical and administrative matters; interviews candidates for positions in the section; recommends appointments, promotions and reassignments; resolves problems and referring serious matters to the next higher level of management or source of resolution. Expected to continually seek out process improvements (QA/QI initiatives) for all work assignments within his/her area of assignment, which will increase efficiency and decrease operating costs. Develop performance standards for employees assigned to the section. Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff, which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system. Performs the administrative and personnel management function relative to staff supervised. Develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary. Exercises supervisor authorities and responsibilities involving work assignment and review, as well as the administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised. Performs a wide range of services and provides technical assistance to State, local, and private agencies, and universities. Administers information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to patients. Develops and implements information systems to track activities including visits, referrals, inpatient days, patient demographics, equipment utilization and patient satisfaction and evaluates clinical guidelines and protocols to establish appropriate utilization of services. Provides psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients. Provides a full range of comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy. Identifies patient problems requiring consultation with other medical center staff and making appropriate referrals. Education to patients, family members, and significant others providing where appropriate, refers patients, families and significant others for counseling in health maintenance and disease prevention. Functions independently as a member of the VASNHCS Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges. Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical findings, patient care decisions, and documentation. Consults with peers and supervisors as appropriate. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday Telework: This position is eligible for telework on an Ad-Hoc basis Virtual: This is not a virtual position. EDRP Authorized: Contact V21CCOEEDRP@VA.GOV, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required