Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all U.S. citizens.

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The general responsibilities of the Supervisory Orthotist-Prosthetist include such work as:

(1) Planning, developing, and directing an Orthotic-Prosthetic Laboratory and related Clinical Activities.
(2) Serving as an advisor to physicians, therapists and other medical professionals.
(3) Authorizing the purchase, fabrication or repair of prosthetic devices.
(4) Maintaining continuous liaison with manufacturers and dealers of prosthetic supplies, inspecting their facilities and services and participating in the award of prosthetic appliance contracts.
(5) Participating in investigative/research project studies.
(6) Giving technical and administrative advice and assistance on prosthetic problems to other facilities.

Other Duties include:

1. Following established regulations and procedures to insure patient privacy.
2. Identifying biomechanical conditions.
3. Conducting gait analysis, range of motion, coordination and balance, motor skills, and clinical assessment studies in accordance with occupational principles for unusual conditions, multiple complex interrelated conditions, etc.
4. Interviewing patients to determine expectations, lifestyle, home/work environment, ability to use the device.
5. Measuring casts or scans.
6. Recognizing physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life- threatening implications.
7. Assessing patient and discussing the assessment with the physician/requesting provider.
8. Considering new and emerging technologies in designing unique or innovative devices.
9. Selecting materials, components, and appropriate equipment to be used in fabrication of the device.
10. Fabricating components, or selects and modifies components, and assembles these into the finished device. Uses CAD/CAM system as appropriate in this process and performs preliminary alignment. Manages and Administers CAD/CAM operation as a Clinical Fabrication facility, overseeing these systems.
11. Fitting device on patient, assures preliminary alignment, and performs subsequent dynamic alignment.
12. Assessing and/or modifies fit and function of the device as fabricated and makes appropriate modifications to insure optimum patient outcome.
13. Evaluating patient's ability to don/doff the device provides training to the patient and/or caregiver in its use and maintenance. This may also include training the clinical staff.
14. Explaining procedures and processes to the patient to reduce anxiety and gain support and cooperation in all stages of the process.
15. Maintaining the patient's record, including the electronic record, in accordance with established JCAHO/ABC/BOC regulatory guidelines for records.
16. Attending professional and manufacturer's training seminars.
17. Completing mandatory training per hospital requirements.
18. Maintaining professional credentials and/or competency (ABC/BOC).
19. Observing appropriate, established infection control guidelines.
20. Following environmental and occupational safety guidelines.
21. Communicating and interacting with physicians, allied health professionals, patient and caregiver in various interdisciplinary clinical settings as a subject matter expert.
22. Providing guidance and direction to lower graded O/P staff.
23. Managing the daily operations of a Large Lab or Labs.
24. Planning clinical schedule for Orthotics and Prosthetics.
25. Conducting site surveys of commercial vendors to insure vendor regulatory compliance.
26. Evaluating the ability of a vendor to provide a product responsible for accreditation compliance.
27. Develops both short & long range plans/goals for the lab in accordance with local Headquarters direction.
28. Developing budget plan for lab and managing inventory of stock items, fabrication materials, and components.
29. Assuring safe workplace considering environmental concerns, OSHA/JCAHO regulations
30. Conducting quality assurance activities.
31. Supervising O/P lab staff evaluating employee performance, approving leave, interviewing candidates for positions, recommending promotions, giving advice, counseling/effecting disciplinary action, resolving complaints, etc.
32. Developing recommendations for revisions or improvements of VA Prosthetic/Orthotic Laboratory policies.
33. Assigning workload giving due consideration to priorities, requisite needs, and capabilities of the Prosthetic/Orthotic Lab.
34. Evaluating performance and competencies.
35. Analyzing training/developmental needs of subordinate employees and makes provisions for this training.
36. Allocates resources within budget and time and staff constraints; effectively using all resources.

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: Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists must be proficient in spoken and written as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).
• Education:
  • A bachelor's degree or higher in orthotics and prosthetics from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited program. OR,
  • A bachelor's degree or higher in any major along with a post-graduate orthotics or prosthetics certificate from a CAAHEP accredited program.
  • Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign degree programs must have proof of a minimum of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credential evaluation company), with a specialization in orthotics and prosthetics.
• Board Certification: Candidates must be board certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) or the Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC) as an orthotist, prosthetist, or orthotist/prosthetist. The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education. Certification as a technician, pedorthist, assistant or fitter does not meet this requirement.

• Recognizing physical abnormalities, deviations, and complicating conditions with potentially life-threatening implications
• Complex patient analyses for patients with unusual conditions, multiple complex conditions, interrelated conditions, etc.
• Assessing the patient for indications/contra-indications and discussion of the assessment with the physician or requesting providers for the purpose of developing the overall treatment plan with considerable influence in the development of that plan
• Developing a budget; managing inventory and resources
• Overseeing employees
• Planning the orthotics and prosthetics clinical schedule
• Conducting surveys of vendors
• Devising short and long range goals
• Conducting quality assurance activities; communicating and interacting with physicians, allied health professionals, patients, and caregivers

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.