Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current, permanent Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System, Department of Veterans Affairs employees and other Federal Agencies. Health Professional Trainees who have or are completing their program may be non-competitively considered. US Public Citizens please apply under announcement CBSU-12731909-25-OYM

Videos

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY

The Supervisory Therapist of PM&R Service is responsible for making and implementing administrative decisions directly affecting patient care having decision-making authority and supervisor responsibility for the PM&R Service line. The Supervisory Therapist of PM&R Service will be considered a "working supervisory," who will work alongside those employees that he/she manages.

The fundamental responsibility of this position is to effectively use all available resources to provide the best possible patient care by planning, coordinating, and evaluating complex interdisciplinary service across the full continuum of care.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Administrative Management
The Supervisory Therapist of PM&R Service operationalizes the mission, vision, and values of the Rehabilitation Services in accordance with VHA and Medical Center priorities through applied leadership skills, professional experience, and fundamental knowledge, both at a local level and with the National PM&R office.

Ensures compliance with applicable policies and VHA Directives

Establishes and implements Therapy section and service policies and procedures, roles, responsibilities, program development and improvement monitoring for the clinical services, giving special consideration to the integration of internal & external administrative and clinical policies, to the standards and requirements of various regulatory and accrediting bodies (JC and CARF), and to the impact of internal policies on outside entities.

Resource Management
Incumbent works with the Administrative Officer in preparing formal budget and fiscal management requests (i.e., equipment needs, supplies, etc.) which support providing the best possible patient care. This involves close coordination with the supervisory program managers of the clinical areas to (1) prepare budget proposals which reflect past expenditures and changing program priorities, (2) advise program managers of fund shortages and of program adjustments which should be made to ease the shortage, and (3) promote "cost-consciousness"

Tracks, ensures accuracy, and summarizes productivity and resource utilization data, including information regarding space, FTEE, budget and equipment, and appraises Service Line Director and Administrative Officer of significant trends to support and reflect staffing and budget issues. The incumbent utilizes the DSS system to analyze the utilization of medical resources, productivity and efficiency, cost distribution and in conjunction with functional outcome measures, to assist in the determination of clinical standards for care for the Rehabilitation Service.

Personnel Management/Supervision
Incumbent recruits, mentors, selects and coordinates the orientation and training of new clinical therapy staff. Understands personnel management practices and principles by having (1) a working knowledge of government- wide and agency personnel management requirements as they relate to various employee groups (e.g., General Schedule Title 5 and Hybrid Title 38 Employees, etc.) and (2) recognition of the unique contributions and needs of different individuals and groups.

Clinical Management and Oversight
Incumbent provides for overall clinical coordination for all Speech Pathology, Physical Therapy, Recreational Therapy, and Occupational Therapy programs within PMRS, this is subject to change. The incumbent must understand and should be able to implement policies, philosophies and directives of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, the Medical Center, and VISN 19. Incumbent helps integrate PMRS with other program services and departments with EOVAHCS and assists the chief in the professional aspects of care, program planning, and administration. Incumbent has advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple rehabilitative services. Ensures that the program staff utilizes these practices in clinically appropriate treatment plans. The incumbent supplies support and assistance in the areas of management and professional responsibilities to the Chief, PMRS by providing broad rehabilitation knowledge and a comprehensive range of administrative functions such as:
Directly supervise and provide leadership to therapists of various disciplines to include Outpatient ST/TR/PT/OT, Inpatient ST/TR/PT/OT (including all PT and OT clinical positions to include PT, PTA, OT, and COTAs) depending but not limited per organizational chart

Other Duties as Assigned

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Compressed/Flexible: Not available
Telework: Situational basis
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:53351-O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)).

Education and experience. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:

(1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
(2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
(3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy.

NOTE: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PT's was either a bachelors or master's degree. In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate, master's, and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs. Effective 2002, CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in postbaccalaureate degrees(eliminating the baccalaureate degree). Effective 2015, professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students.

NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university. The CAPTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit entry-level physical therapy programs. Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at www.apta.org.

(4) Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is a non-profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and U.S. state licensing authorities by evaluating the credentials of Foreign Educated Physical Therapists (FEPTs) who wish to immigrate and work in the U.S. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction, foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US

Licensure. Individuals hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

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 Physical Therapist (Supervisory)

Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge of contemporary physical therapy across multiple areas of practice, and the demonstrated ability to apply this knowledge to provide clinical guidance to Staff PTs within the department.
2. Knowledge of human resources administration, including such functions as the ability to interview and select qualified applicants, monitor and evaluate performance, and maintain effective labor management relations within scope of responsibility.
3. Ability to effectively supervise, direct, and manage a physical therapy staff.
4. Skill in forging positive interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution.
5. Ability to analyze clinically appropriate data effectively to optimize quality, performance, and productivity within the section.
6. Ability to set priorities, delegate tasks, and solve problems in order to meet multiple deadlines and identify/address organizational problems.
7. Ability to manage advocacy roles and planning activities within the VA and the greater rehabilitation community.

Preferred Experience: 5 years Supervisory Therapy management experience

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

This position is being announced above the full performance level at a GS-13.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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.

Area of Consideration- Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.
3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.