Clarification from the agency

Current permanent employees of VAMC Lebanon, NECPAC, and employees of VISN4 Contracting, OI&T, CBOPC and Veterans Canteen Service located in Lebanon, PA

Videos

In carrying out the clinical duties and responsibilities of the position, the incumbent will:

• Develops coherent treatment strategies.
• Conducts assessments and provides treatment interventions.
• Provides consultation to other health care professionals.
• Develops, organizes, directs, manages, supervises, controls, and implements policies and procedures for the Audiology section of ASP in the CBOCs.
• Develops, organizes, directs, manages, supervises, controls, and implements policies and procedures for the Audiology section of ASP in the CBOCs.
• Plans and schedules work assignments of Audiology CBOC staff; accepts, amends or rejects completed work; assures that clinical productivity and quality requirements are met; appraises performance and recommends performance standards and ratings; assigns delineated clinical privileges; approves leave; effects disciplinary measures.
• Analyzes and uses data effectively to manage workload, quality, performance, access, and productivity within the section.
• Skillfully executes interpersonal communications and fosters positive working relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers.
• Utilizes evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in Audiology and guides Audiology providers in applying these tools.
• Follows applicable informed consent, HIPAA rules on privacy and protecting patient rights.
• Incumbent enforces respect, equal treatment, and equal service for all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, origin, disability or reprisal.
• Participates in the professional development of colleagues through mentorship and teaching.
• Keeps current with theory and practice through continuing education programs, journals, textbooks, and other literature.
• Participates in developing guidelines and protocols, new patient programs, and evaluation of existing programs.
• Maintains, supplies, equipment and clinical areas to optimize safety and efficiency.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Audiologist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education: The educational requirements for this position included one of the following:
  1. Doctor of Audiology (AuD) from an audiology program recognized by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The CAA is the only accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit entry-level audiology programs. HR office staff and management officials may verify the program accredited from CAA at www.caa.asha.org. OR
  2. Other doctoral degree in hearing science or a directly related field from an institution accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the USDE.

• Licensure: This position requires Individuals to hold a full, current and unrestricted license to practice audiology at the doctoral level in a United States state, territory, commonwealth or the District of Columbia.
  1. The Under Secretary of Health, or designee, in VHA Central Office may waive the requirement for licensure under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 of a candidate who will be assigned to a research, academic or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. In such instances, HR office staff can only appoint these candidates in exceptional circumstances where their credentials demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.
  2. All audiologists who perform compensation and pension examinations perform direct patient care duties and must possess a full, current and unrestricted license to practice audiology and must meet the experience requirements under Section 2. D. See 38 C.F.R. § 4.85.
  3. Failure to Obtain Licensure. In all cases, the graduate audiologists must actively pursue obtaining the required licensure from the date of their appointment. HR office staff will provide unlicensed audiologists with written requirements to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Written notices must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date. Failure to obtain the required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment.
  4. Loss of Credential. In collaboration with HR office staff, management officials must immediately relieve employees of the duties and responsibilities associated with the occupation who fail to maintain the required licensure, which may also result in separation from employment. f. HR office staff must appoint audiologists in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, Section B, paragraph 16 of this part, who have or have ever had, their audiology licenses revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited or issued/placed in a probationary status.

• Experience: At least two years of experience as a professional audiologist, with at least one year comparable to the next lower grade level, GS-12, which includes: practicing independently in the provision of audiologic services, consulting with peers and supervisors; serving as a consultant to other health care professionals and recognized as subject matter experts (SME) on matters related to hearing; evaluating, teaching, and training; diagnosing audiologic disorders, conducting audiologic or neuro-audiologic assessments, treating auditory disorders through various modalities which may include individual, family and group audiologic rehabilitation.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the KSAs required at the full performance level, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs identified below.
  • Skill to evaluate programs to ensure efficient and appropriate integration of care.
  • Ability to develop contingencies and align resources to achieve program goals.
  • Ability to effectively interpret and apply facility, VISN, and national audiology and speech pathology services polices.
  • Ability to effectively create service level polices and priorities to align with facility strategic plan.
  • Ability to supervise professional staff.

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.