Clarification from the agency

This is an internal announcement. This announcement is open to current, permanent CTVHCS facility employees, current, permanent VA employees, current permanent, Federal employees only CAZM-11756744-23-MW.

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The Chief of the Clinical Science Core position will directly support the CoE Director in overseeing and expanding psychological research at the VISN 17 Center of Excellence. The incumbent supervises the Clinical Science Core and is responsible for conducting research on the psychological factors associated with mental illnesses in Veterans and their treatment. The incumbent will be responsible for conducting, leading, and directing the research programs which evaluate existing mental health treatments, develop new interventions current assessment guidelines, develop new methods or measures in psychological assessment, test the viability and capabilities of the assessments, and implement changes aimed at increasing the reliability and validity of psychological assessments.

Major duties include, but not limited to:
Program Supervision & Development 50%

• Functions as a senior leader of the VISN 17 Center of Excellence, providing direction in planning, implementing, and coordinating the scientific, analytical, and programmatic activities of the CoE.
• Supervises all staff in the Clinical Science Core, holding regular individual and group meetings with staff to effectively communicate expectations, provide clear directions, and respond to issues in a timely manner.
• Ensures efficient operation of the Clinical Science Core through translation of management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations, including administrative and programmatic resources.
• Establishes the overall direction of the Clinical Science Core, setting measurable and attainable goals and objectives for all projects.
• Evaluate current clinical practices for PTSD and TBI and associated illness and/or injuries and identify areas that need improvement and provide direction in planning, implementing, and coordinating the scientific, analytical, and programmatic activities of the CoE.
• All decisions involving Clinical Science Core management are made exercising wide latitude and independent judgment.
• Provides leadership in planning, implementing, and coordinating all clinical research conducted at the CoE.
• Supervises research projects of the Core and leads strategic planning and development of new projects.
• Maintains advanced, up-to-date knowledge of developments in clinically-based interventions for mental health disorders, and identifies opportunities for novel, cutting-edge research projects that have applied or clinical value for Veterans' healthcare.
• Research Operations & Management 30%
• Successfully applies for grants and/or other extramural funding.
• Designs, conducts, and manages an independent line of research related to the CoE's mission that results in publications in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters and presents outcome data and research findings to VA stakeholders and at regional and national scientific meetings.
• Supports the ongoing research mission of the CoE by identifying research opportunities and ensuring the coordinated submissions for research funding of all scientists within the Clinical Science Core.

• Serves as a subject matter expert on psychological issues of PTSD and TBI, providing consultation to the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, VISN 17, and VA Central Office on clinical research findings.
• Collaborates effectively with Mental Health & Behavioral Medicine Service Clinic leadership at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System to assist with best practices for assessment and/or to treat Veterans with evidence-based therapies.

• Provides clinical support to a MH&BM clinic to maintain appropriate credentialing, support access to care and continuity of care, within CTVHCS.

• Provides training and educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, medical residents, and postdoctoral fellows working in CoE laboratories.

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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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.
• Education
  1. 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
  2. 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:
     • (a) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoralprogram; and,
     • (b) 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. Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards. OR
  3. Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. AND
• Internship.
  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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; OR
  4. Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. (NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.) OR
  5. Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program. If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program.
     • NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard.
• 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.
• Board Certification and Loss of Credential.
  1. Board Certification. Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education.
  2. Loss of Credential. Once board certified, psychologist must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted board certification to remain qualified for employment. A psychologist who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

• Experience. At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.

• 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.

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, résumé, 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.