Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Psychology Technician

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Psychology Technician position is located In the VISN 17 Center of Excellence (CoE). CoE originated in 2006 when Congress Instructed the Department of Veterans Affairs to designate the Waco campus of the Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System as a CoE on mental health of returning war veterans and their families. The CoE is one of 14 national academic clinical research centers across the United States under the direction of the Office of Mental Health at VACO.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
09/10/2021 to 10/08/2021
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$35,265 to - $56,790 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 5 - 7
Location
3 vacancies in the following location:
Waco, TX
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - 4-Years
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
7
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CAZM-11225658-21-MAT
Control number
613771500

Videos

Duties

Help

The CTVHCS is recruiting for a highly qualified Psychology Technician for the Center of Excellence located in Waco, Texas.

Major Duties as Assigned, but not limited to: The CoE is responsible for leading clinical research and education efforts on post-deployment adjustment Including biological, psychological and social adjustment and rehabilitation. Core staff are funded through the congressional mandate to Office of Mental Health. Core staff also have grant funding from several federal agencies to develop and test state-of-the-art procedures for assessment, treatment, education and research on returning war veterans and their families. The CoE supports and houses an Assessment Core, a NeuroImaging and Genetics Core with a dedicated mobile 3T magnet, a Treatment Development and Treatment Outcome Core, an Education and Dissemination Core, and a Data Management and Analysis Core. The Psychology Technician will report to the Core Leaders. The Psychology Technician is likely to work under two or all CoE Cores.

Primary purpose of the Position is: to 1) receive training in clinical interviewers; 2) assist with recruitment and retention goals and; 3) assist with data entry.

Psychology Technician, GS-05: Receives training to conduct clinical interviews with research participants in accordance with instructions provided in the instrument's training manual. Gathers and records information from research participants via a variety of standardized clinical Interviews. Observes and notes any participant behavior which may be significant or may possibly confound the results of the study. Familiarity with clinical diagnostic instruments such as the Semi-Structured Clinical Instrument for the DSM or the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale is necessary.

Assists with recruitment and retention goals as required by the funded and IRB approved protocol(s) that the Incumbent is working on. This includes maintaining a weekly tracking spreadsheet of all initial human subject screens, enrollment into the study and progress through the study sessions as outlined in each protocol.

Assists with data entry Enter and maintain research data on various spreadsheets. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Psychology Technician, GS-06: Incumbent independently develops an approach to the assignment and takes responsibility for timely and accurate completion of assignments. Supervisor assigns priorities and objectives, providing guidance as needed. Work is monitored periodically and reviewed for technical adequacy and consistency with objectives. The extent of guidance and review gradually decreases and assignments become increasingly general, coinciding with the increasing responsibility of the position.

Psychology Technician, GS-07: Gathering research information through Clinical Interviews and research instruments and trains personnel gathering research information are properly trained and certified on the use of specific clinical diagnostic interviews and instruments in accordance with instructions provided in the instrument's training manual.

Gathers and records information from research participants via a variety of standardized clinical Interviews. Exercise independent judgement to identify behavior in participant interviews, identified through observation or review of notes, which may be significant or may possibly confound the results of the study. Trains and instructs other Psychology Technicians on well accepted and commonly accepted practices and Interview techniques which ensure standardization of participant treatment and control undue Influence of extraneous variables.

Ensuring adherence to the protocol(s); Ensuring regulatory compliance; Ensure recruitment and retention goals are met; Oversight of data collection and data entry; Performs other related duties as assigned.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Psychology Technician/PD674-7688-TA, PD674-7683-TA, and PD674-7619-TA
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination programs are requirements for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/08/2021.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. There is not time-in-grade requirement for the GS-05 entry level.

For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 level and for a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06 level.

The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.


Selective Placement Factor: Must have presented a scientific poster and have a bachelor's degree in psychology, counseling, neurology, biology, social work, or related field.

In addition to meeting the Time-In-Grade requirements above, you may qualify based on your experience and/or education and training as described below:

Individual Occupational Requirements (Must be met first):

  • Specialized Experience: Experience that involved the observation of and assistance in the application of techniques relating to behavior, capacities, traits, interests, and activities of either humans or, under laboratory conditions, animals. Experience may have been gained in connection with a program of research or direct services in psychology that gave a practical understanding of some of the principles, methods, and techniques of psychology needed to assist professional psychologists. OR,
  • Education and Training: For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of subjects as psychology, statistics, or other directly related subjects. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
GS-05, Minimum Qualifications Requirement:
  • Specialized Experience: Possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the federal service, that equipped me with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position and that is typically in and/or related to the position being filled.
    • Specialized experience includes but not limited to: Maintain a weekly tracking spreadsheet of all initial human subject screens, enrollment into the study and progress through a study sessions as outlined in each protocol; Verify the accuracy of the data entered from the source document into the data base; Call or mail letters to participants to ensure recruitment and retention goals; Verify that quality control procedures have been followed and that the data is entered according to the time line required in the protocol. OR,
  • Education: Possess 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to psychology, counseling, neurology, biology, social work, or related field. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR,
  • Experience/Education Combination: I possess a combination of education and experience as described above. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
GS-06, Minimum Qualifications Requirement:
  • Specialized Experience: Possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-05 level in the federal service, that equipped me with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position and that is typically in and/or related to the position being filled.
    • Specialized experience includes but not limited to: Review all regulatory compliance documents and IRB documents weekly; Utilize SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) to run basic analysis for descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA); Observe all phases of the study to ensure technicians gather data in accordance with protocol and approved study methodology and that participants are following instructions or not behaving in a manner that deviates from protocol or confounds study procedure and/or results; Preparing annual progress reports for the funding agency, the DSMB and the IRB and that reports are delivered according to the deadlines required by these various boards and agencies. OR,
    • Education: Possess graduate education, or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to psychology, counseling, neurology, biology, social work, or related field. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
GS-07, Minimum Qualifications Requirement:
  • Specialized Experience: Possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-06 level in the federal service, that equipped me with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position and that is typically in and/or related to the position being filled.
    • Specialized experience includes but not limited to: Gather and record information from research participants via a variety of standardized clinical Interviews; Document deviations from protocol and reports them to the principal investigator, DSMB, and IRB; Utilize SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) to run basic analysis for descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA); Train and instruct other Psychology Technicians on well accepted and commonly accepted practices and Interview techniques which ensure standardization of participant treatment and control undue Influence of extraneous variables; Utilize clinical diagnostic instruments such as the Semi-Structured Clinical Instrument for the DSM or the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale.
  • Education: Possess one (1) full year of graduate education related to psychology, counseling, neurology, biology, social work, or related field. Note: 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Data Collection/Documentation
  • Research
  • Analysis and Problem Solving
  • Data Management
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: If your school was accredited by U.S. Department of Education at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the DOE website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Additional information

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Resume - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:

  • Job title
  • Grade Level (for federal positions)
  • Duties (be as detailed as possible and ensure they demonstrate how you meet the specialized experience and/or Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position)
  • Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2019 to April 2020)
  • Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.