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

Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is for a Program Manager in the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) of the Mental Health Service of VAAAHS. The incumbent organizes and manages the delivery of comprehensive mental health services and activities. This position is expected to have relevant specific training and demonstrated expertise in Recovery and Serious mental illness. Must also be knowledgeable and current in their understanding and practice in the delivery of relevant Evidence Based Methods.

Overview

Help
Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/28/2025 to 05/12/2025
Salary
$97,752 to - $127,082 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Ann Arbor, MI
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBSR-12728536-25-JKF
Control number
836125700

Videos

Duties

Help

The VA Ann Arbor is a level 1B high complexity facility with a strong academic affiliate partner in the University of Michigan. The VA Ann Arbor serves over 60,000 veterans annually with 7 community-based outpatient clinics and 2 local offsite clinics serving Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio. The Mental Health Service consists of about 30 clinical teams and a 22-bed acute inpatient mental Health unit.

In addition to our clinical mission, the VAAAHS has a strong tradition of training tomorrow's healthcare providers. The Mental Health Service houses strong training programs with about 30 Psychology trainees from undergraduate trough postdoctoral study, Psychiatry residents and fellows, medical students, and social work and nurse practitioner trainees. The research mission is also valued strongly as evidenced by VAAAHS serving as a home to the Center for Clinical Management Research, Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Evaluation Center (SMITREC), the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) and the Center for Evaluation and Implementation Resource (CEIR).

Must also be knowledgeable and current in their understanding and practice in the delivery of relevant Evidence Based Methods. The incumbent must be able to teach and monitor other professionals in their delivery of such treatments and care in general terms. The incumbent must also have a significant understanding and capability in the identification and treatment of patients with co-morbid psychological disorders and health behavior problems. The incumbent will adhere to service standards regarding matters of timeliness, accuracy, and compliance with procedures and quantity of work produced.

Serves as LPMHC Program Coordinator.
- The incumbent has broad program coordination responsibilities, which include the operation and management of key clinical, training, or administrative activities.
- Has direct responsibility for the professional activities of all program staff.
- Responsibilities include broad development and active implementation of programs, policies, and procedures, oversight of administrative and programmatic resources.
- Further, responsibilities include monitoring of outcomes using a data-driven quality assurance process for a program that delivers specialized, complex, highly professional services that are important components of the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, and significantly affect the health care provided to veterans. The Program Coordinator is responsible for the continuous evaluation of outcome monitors, measurements, and improvements in all phases of substance use disorder treatment and quality improvement initiatives.
- The program coordinator is responsible for compliance with all accreditations, VACO, and hospital requirements, policies, and procedures.
- Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance process.
- Oversees development of new treatment protocols for patients. Has direct responsibility for all aspects of psychological services in the program, including those conducted by trainees and staff.
- Provides administrative supervision, guidance and consultation for staff and trainees. Manages all personnel concerns including addressing performance concerns.
- Consults with and serves as a resource for other professional personnel concerning the need for and development of mental health services.
- 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.
- Responsible for implementation of all directives, and completion of all action items assigned in a timely manner.
- Is responsible for continuous quality improvement and action plan development and follow through.
- Evaluates and diagnoses mental disorders within their areas of competence and consistent with clinical scope.
- Treats mental health, substance use disorders, behavioral concerns, physical health, psychosocial problems, and other psychiatric comorbidities with evidence-based treatment approaches within their areas of competence and consistent with clinical privileges.
- Completes all clinical charting and documentation required by the Healthcare system, as appropriate within established timeliness guidelines and consistent with quality and accreditation standards.
- Provides clinical supervision, guidance, and consultation for staff and trainees as assigned.
- Has direct responsibility for all aspects of mental health services provided by themselves and those that they supervise

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday (7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 92952-A
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
  • All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
  • 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.
  • Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.g.)

Education. Hold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling.

Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0183 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. NOTE: It is VHA policy that a LPMHC who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record

English Language Proficiency. LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.j.

Grade Determinations:

Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Coordinator), GS-12

Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must have been in a major specialty treatment program area such as, but not limited to, Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), mental health intensive case management (MHICM), or other areas of equivalent scope and complexity. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.

Assignments. LPMHC Program Coordinators are administratively responsible for a clinical program and provide treatment to patients in a major specialty. They manage the daily operations of the program, develop policies and procedures, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They may supervise unlicensed graduate LPMHCs and may administratively manage any employees assigned to their program.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

  • In depth knowledge of the program coordinated, and demonstrated knowledge and ability to write policies procedures and or practice guidelines for the program.
  • Ability to make key decisions in the hiring and identification of top candidates.
  • Ability to provide leadership in facilitating the process of coordinating program consults, assessments, admissions, care assignments and discharges.
  • Ability to provide subject matter consultation to other colleagues and trainees within the field of counseling working on an interdisciplinary team.

Reference: VA HANDBOOK 5005/106 PART II APPENDIX G43 dated April 3, 2018

Physical Requirements: The work of the LPMHC is primarily office based with moderate physical activity. The incumbent must be able to lift small objects and sit/stand at a desk for several hours per day. The incumbent must be capable of using a computer given all clinical charting is electronic

Education

IMPORTANT: 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information


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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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 MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

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

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.

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.