Clarification from the agency

Open to all U.S. Citizens

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This announcement will close on 03/03/2023, the first 100 applications received will receive first consideration. Applications that are submitted after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the date in which the initial cut-off number has been reached will not receive consideration unless otherwise requested by management.

The major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Working independently as OD Process/Dialogic Consultants across the VHA.
• Working across all NCOD teams to ensure products designed are aligned and support other products developed by other NCOD teams for the field.
• Bringing recommendations to the Senior OD Supervisory Psychologist - National Manager.
• Serving as a member on various committees or councils as designated by the Senior OD Supervisory Psychologist - National Manager.
• Collaborating with the lead of NCOD's national coaching program to explore group level consultations that could supplement the individual level coaching services being provided.
• Providing process/dialogic OD consultation services (in-person and virtual) to leaders and leadership teams towards improving their skills in leading as an individual, leading as a team, and effectively leading their areas/organizations to success.
• Serving as partner with senior leadership and management officials at the Healthcare System, VISN, and Central Office national level. Senior OD Consultants are available to serve as key program official, advisor and analyst for their programs of assignment; develop and implement their program's vision across VHA.
• Providing leadership, consultation, and operational guidance in compliance with established external agencies and policies and procedures within the scope of the American Psychological Association (APA) standards for consultants.
• Managing and planning of national OD initiatives having a high degree of visibility and a significant impact on healthcare services and delivery.
• Providing consultations which improve the overall effectiveness of the organization through people, processes, and systems based on client-identified outcome criteria and collaboration with high level leaders to define success criteria. The consultations led by this incumbent build the capacity of leaders, processes, and systems by transferring knowledge and skills for the client system to better handle change and improvements on their own.
• Providing subject matter expertise and consultation experience within the arena of organization development, executive coaching, team building, team development, team consultations, change management, program evaluation, servant leadership, and employee engagement.
• Applying specialized knowledge of organizational development practices to partner successfully with executive leadership and management at the facility, network, and national level to build and sustain long-term sponsorship capability for leading people and leading change within VA.
• Leading the development of national OD consultation products, service, tools, and assessments aimed at improving relational, functional, and foundational aspects in their consultations and services to VA's executive leadership teams and the leadership teams that report to them.
• Ensuring that products designed are based upon data-driven best practices to support all NCOD's programs/services, including any emerging or urgent VA national priorities.
• Evaluating the national efforts of our OD Consultation Services - both current and any newly developed programs and services to assess their impact on relevant VA outcomes.
• Resolving policy implementation issues when they arise with VA Central Office, VISN, Regional, and Facility field leaders.
• Leading, conducting, or participating in complex management studies and reviews, particularly those with wide or significant effect upon organizational structure, policy, or process.
• Providing leadership coverage within when the Supervisory Senior OD Psychologist - National Manager is on leave or detailed.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

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

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 chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part)

Education: (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)

(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: VA HANDBOOK 5005/87 June 6, 2016 PART II APPENDIX G18

(a) the re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; 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.

AND

(3) Internships

(a) 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

(b) 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

(c) 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

(d) 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.)

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. (Copy of licensure/certification must be submitted)

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.

Grade Determinations: GS-14 Psychologist. Psychologists at this level direct specific mental health, behavioral health, or other patient care, administrative or organizational development program or programs. The administrative or technical work is difficult in nature, and responsibilities are considerable. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: authority to determine long range work plans and assure that implementation of the goals and objectives are carried out; serve as consultants to other management officials at the field, VISN, or national level; serve as key program official, advisor and analyst for their programs of assignment; develop and implement their program's vision across VHA. Psychologist National Managers provide leadership, consultation, and operational guidance in compliance with established external agencies and policies and procedures within psychology service. They are responsible for the management and planning of national initiatives having a high degree of visibility and a significant impact on healthcare services and delivery. Examples include but are not limited to mental health or other clinical or administrative programs at the national level. The incumbent applies specialized knowledge of health care and management for planning, organizing and directing national initiatives in the care and treatment of Veterans, educational programs, program evaluation, quality assurance, and policy and procedure formulation. They develop national policy and procedures related to delivery of care including VHA directives, handbooks, and manuals, standards and criteria for the programs they are responsible for.

Experience. At least 3 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 level.

AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

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

2. Knowledge of and ability to utilize resource materials as well as ability to develop new materials when needed.

3. Ability to relate to individual at many different levels both within and external to the organization.

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

5. Ability to provide information about policy to various stakeholders or audiences in a useable and understandable manner.

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

References: VA Handbook 5505/87, Part II, Appendix G18

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. Need for moderate computer use. Travel is required.

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.