The position is located at the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (NCPTSD) located on the campus of the White River Junction VA Medical Center, in White River Junction, Vermont.  This is a Complexity Level 2, medical center with outpatient clinics throughout Vermont and New Hampshire and is affiliated with the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. The National Center for PTSD was established by Public Law 98-528 to provide professional advice, guidance, and the development of policy and procedure for the Department of Veterans Affairs and the nation as a whole regarding diagnosis, treatment, education, and research services for treatment providers of veterans with PTSD. The Center is a collaborative consortium consisting of seven divisions at five sites.

The incumbent serves as Deputy for Research at the Executive Division of the National Center for PTSD, and in this capacity assists the Executive Director in the development of programs that fulfill the research mandate of the Center.  The incumbent further assists with the development of consultative relationships to support research activities outside the Center at other VA Medical Centers, VACO, DoD, colleagues and universities, and independent research organizations.

Overall, the Deputy's primary responsibility is to assist the Executive Director in the development and implementation of scientific research activities of the National Center.  The Deputy is a content expert who must provide authoritative information and consultation for professional and nonprofessional audiences, and for policymakers and legislators. The Deputy helps develop strategic plans, and create internal Center policies and programs to achieve key Center objectives.  The Deputy interacts with leaders at the other NCPTSD divisions and helps coordinate local and national research priorities.  The Deputy also represents the Center at meetings and interacts with senior personnel from other VA offices, other federal agencies, and private sector health care and academic organizations.  The Deputy supervises relevant staff as needed and assists the Executive Director with budgeting, personnel management, administrative operations, and development of annual reports and other documents describing Center activities.

Conditions of employment

• U. S. Citizenship
• Must pass pre-employment examination
• English Language Proficiency required
• Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required
• Background and-or Security Investigation required

Veterans' Preference:

When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on their application or résumé. Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased Veteran, must complete an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. Veterans who are still in the service may be granted tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD Form 214 or other proof prior to appointment to document entitlement to preference.  For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:  

• U.S. citizenship.  
• English Language Proficiency:   Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a on the VA Hanbook 5005.
• Must Pass Pre-Employment Physical

• Education

      (1)   Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).   The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.

      AND

      (2)   Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that has been accredited by APA.   Exceptions : (1) 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 Central Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern and (2) VHA facilities who offered full 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, Commonwealth of the United States (e.g., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia.

GRADE DETERMINATIONS:

Experience.   At least 1 year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-13), and must fully meet the KSAs for that level.  

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following professional KSAs and/or demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk

1.       *Knowledge of, and ability to understand and communicate, existing policies and regulations.

2.       Knowledge working as a PTSD authority within the VA and the scientific community at large. This knowledge is essential for developing, analyzing, and evaluating programmatic concepts and new initiatives as well as reinvention of current practice. 

3.       The incumbent's knowledge of PTSD must be sufficient to allow him or her to act independently and to represent the Center with senior officials at all branches of government, as well as other organizations in the private sector.

4.       *Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives.

5.       Knowledge of analysis, research, or other professional work that has provided a broad and advanced understanding of and ability to use social science principles, methods, and techniques while acting independently

6.       Ability to relate to individuals at many different levels both within and external to the organization.

7.       Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a diverse group of professional staff.

8.        Ability to act as a Principal Investigators of Merit Review, R-01, or other similar grants and a publication record that demonstrates independent and productive scholarship, preferably at the level of an Associate or Full Professor

Preferable experience in research as a Principal Investigator, such as Merit Review, R-01 or other similar grant and/or publication records that reflects research experience.  Also, preferred is sufficient evidence of scholarly publications, evidence of peer recognition, or expertise in PTSD.

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

References :    VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G18, PSYCHOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD , dated March 2006,  and OPM Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions at VA Handbook 5005 at http://www.va.gov/ohrm/joblistings/VAQualStds.doc (also available in the local Human Resources Office).

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.   You may also be evaluated based upon the question responses you provide during a structured interview. In responding to structured interview questions you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain exactly what you did, and the outcome.