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The incumbent serves as the Associate Chief Sensory & Physical Rehabilitation (SPR) Service Line at the Manchester VAMC. The incumbent has day-to-day decision-making authority, responsibility and accountability on issues affecting the Sensory & Physical Rehabilitation Service Line.

The Sensory & Physical Rehabilitation Associate Chief is administratively responsible for the multi-disciplinary staff, composed of a variety of different professions from professional to technical and clerical. Contacts occur with executive leadership, including the Medical Center's Director and managers, who may be several managerial levels removed from the incumbent. Contacts may also occur with persons outside the agency, including consultants, contractors, affiliates or representatives from regulatory agencies/authorities.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Incumbent directs day to day clinical and administrative activities of the Service Line which includes clinics at both Manchester VA Medical Center and any offsite locations. This includes budget and fiscal management, human resource management, and program management and evaluation assuring that the clinical and administrative functions are integrated in order to provide optimum utilization of resources.
• Works closely with the Service Chief to implement clinical and administrative decisions, and policies, and provides program direction to clinical staff and assigned personnel.
• Incumbent works with the SPR Service Chief to establish Service Line objectives congruent with and reflective of the philosophy and objectives of the VISN and the Medical Center.
• Incumbent works the SPR Service Chief to develop long-range and short-term goals and programs required to meet stated objectives and for the planning and team goals and programs required to meet stated objectives.
• Incumbent works with the SPR Service Chief to formulate policies and operating procedures, ensuring compliance with VA regulations, statues and the standards and requirements of various internal and external review bodies.
• Assesses the impact of regional, national, and private sector developments as they relate to the local program, making change recommendations accordingly.
• Develops program evaluation methodology and processes, which will ascertain such areas as program effectiveness, organizational productivity, and operational efficiency and resource utilization.
• Analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of existing Service programs in meeting established program goals and objectives.
• Develop plans for organizational changes accordingly.

• This position is in the Excepted Service.
• This position is not a Bargaining Unit position.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's.

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

Health Professions Trainee (HPT) upcoming graduates 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. HPT includes interns, residents, fellows, VA advanced fellows, and pre- and post-doctoral fellows who spend all or part of their clinical training experiences at VA facilities.

COVERAGE. The following standard lists the requirements for appointment as a Physical Therapist (PT) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The requirements will apply to all VHA PTs employed in the GS-0633 series that provide clinical services to address a vast array of problems that impact the health and function of a wide range of diverse patients.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS. To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of physical therapist in VHA must meet the following:

a. Citizenship. Candidates must be a citizen of the United States.

b. 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.

c. 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.

d. Loss of Credential. A PT who fails to maintain the required license 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.

e. English Language Proficiency. Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English.

Grade Determination. In addition to the basic requirements for appointment listed above, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

GS- 13 Physical Therapist (Supervisory)

(a) 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.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge of contemporary physical therapy across multiple areas of practice, and thedemonstrated 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 diverse 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, andproductivity 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.

(c) Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties mustconsist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Supervisory PTs are responsible for the supervision, administrative management, and direction of the physical therapy program in a rehabilitation service or equivalent service-level department which consists of three or more PTs or other multi-discipline staff. The incumbent provides supervision of key clinical and training programs, including the overall technical oversight of the staff that He/she administratively supervise. Supervisors are responsible for the development and implementation of policies and procedures to address focused clinical needs and the overall services delivered and provided within the section. He/she demonstrates autonomy in performing supervisory responsibilities that include, but are not limited to, assigning work to employees, monitoring workload and clinical volume, reviewing work of employees to assure accuracy and validity of submissions, assuring adequate clinical staffing, imposing disciplinary measures, and monitoring clinical privileges. He/she is required to provide overall clinical supervision that assures the proper coordination and delivery of care within the section and the facility.

Reference: VA Handbook 5005/99, Part II, Appendix G12 dated February 7, 2018

Preferred Experience: Outpatient Physical Therapy, Supervision of an Interdisciplinary team.

Definitions:

(1) Knowledge of Contemporary Professional Physical Therapy Practice. To be creditable, a candidate must have demonstrated possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the scope of physical therapy practice. The candidate's experience may be evidenced by one or more of the following:

(a) Active professional practice. Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional PT as defined by APTA or the appropriate licensing board. Experience gained after graduation but prior to licensure is creditable provided the candidate was utilized as a graduate PT and subsequently passed the licensure examination.

(b) Completion of a post-graduate fellowship or a post-graduate residency program may be substituted for creditable experience on a year for year basis.

(2) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it was post degree experience as a professional PT and is directly related to the duties to be performed. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding the professional PT experience at the next lower grade level.

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.