Clarification from the agency

**THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT VHA EMPLOYEES**

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**THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT VHA EMPLOYEES**

Program Management
As a GS-14 CXO, the incumbent is fully responsible for establishing a strategic vision of why and how the organization will improve the facility climate to advance the experience of the Veterans and assigned healthcare professionals. The incumbent will advise Health Care System Executive Leadership Team (ELT) members on an organization-wide strategy to advance well-being.

a. Work Planning:
Incumbent is responsible for the continuous monitoring and seeking to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, timeliness, and quality of services offered. The Service Chief will identify areas of improvement, gather relevant data, assess the data, develop, and implement ideas for improvement and evaluate efficacy of improvements in the clinical and administrative functions within the customer focused experience program. The incumbent prepares plans and advises the Deputy Executive Director of anticipated changes and program developments.

b. Work Assignment Responsibilities:

• The CXO is responsible for the implementation of the customer focused experience programs at the AVAHCS. Incumbent will maintain clinical workload commensurate with their area of clinical expertise.
• CXO works collaboratively with all levels of staff within the facility including ELT, Employee Experience/Engagement, Whole Health, System Redesign, Occupational Health, unit supervisors, and others in assessing, developing, and maintaining staff employee activities.
• Oversees the Veteran Experience service line to ensure implementation of a team of ambassadors (or champions) from various disciplines to be constantly connected to the specific profession needs across the organization.
• Evaluates AVAHCS culture, identifies issues in the workplace affecting morale, and ensures any proposed changes are inclusive to all employees.
• Implements effective evidence-based individual-level interventions, group level interventions, and system-level interventions.
• Implements system-level interventions on efficiency of practice, participatory management, and empowering healthcare professionals to develop their voice on culture.
• Regularly monitors and reports outcomes, including measures of engagement, professional fulfillment, health, and well-being, return on investment, value on investment, and tracks how they change with the introduction of interventions.
• Coordinates and works with mental health leaders to decrease stigma and improve access to and awareness of peer support and mental health services.
• Provides direct assessment of professional fulfillment and distress, benchmarking the organizational experience relative to other medical centers, and tracks these measures over time.
• Identifies opportunities for improvement requiring greater time, attention, and support from leaders outside the work unit to make progress.
• Liaisons with the national Employee Whole Health Office to implement nation-wide initiatives related to experience and resiliency.
• Manages longitudinal employee assessments across the organization.
• Manages assessments for the efficacy of experience interventions and the progress toward organizational goals.
• Manages implementation of experience programming commensurate with the needs of different employee populations.
• Works with other system leaders and stakeholders to advise and support work unit and systemwide initiatives centered on fostering employee wellbeing.
• Ensures alignment of Veteran and employee experience efforts with organizational priorities.
• Manages review and refinement of relevant strategies, policies, and procedures impacting employee well-being.

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

Basic Requirements:
Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
Education. Have a Master's degree in social work (MSW) from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school of social work is fully accredited. Please note: A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work.
Licensure. Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. VHA may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites.
English Language Proficiency. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Regulations.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Must pass a background check.

Grade Requirements:
GS-14 Social Worker (Program Manager)
Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS- 13 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Individual may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.
Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program manager must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1. Skill in large scale program coordination and administration across multiple sites, which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.
2. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.
3. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.
4. Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care.
5. Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action.
6. Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.
7. Skill in developing policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program and in participating in national program development.
8. Ability to collaborate with internal VHA partners, locally and on a national level, as well as external community partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care.
Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. At the GS-14 grade level, social worker program managers are assigned to manage, direct, and oversee a major specialty program(s) at the facility, VISN or VA Central Office level. As the facility level program manager, typical assignments include serving as a care/product line manager. Program managers may have responsibility for staffing, work assignments, budget, services provided, program criteria, day-to-day program operations, and all reporting requirements. Additionally, program managers at this grade generally have collateral assignments, determined by the needs of the local facility. The program manager provides analysis and evaluation of program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. They develop and monitor staff compliance with practice, standards and guidelines. As the VISN level program manager, typical assignments include overseeing a VISN level program. The program manager serves as consultant to facilities in matters of program operations. They develop and monitor facility compliance with practice, standards, and guidelines across the VISN. The program manager reviews program status with facility leadership. Additionally, program managers at this grade generally have collateral assignments, determined by the needs of the VISN. The VISN program manager provides analysis and evaluation of program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. As the national level program manager, typical assignments include supporting implementation of a national program. The national program manager reports to senior executive service equivalent or GS-15 grade level national program director. They may have responsibility for staffing, work assignments, budget, services provided, day-to-day program operations, and all reporting requirements. Program manager responsibilities also include developing and serving as a subject matter expert for program specific policy and regulations and interface with congressional representatives. Program managers at this grade generally have collateral assignments determined by the needs of VHA Central Office. The national program manager provides analysis and evaluation of program data and computerized programs to identify system-wide trends and needs to enhance the quality of service. They develop and monitor staff compliance with program standards, guidelines, and service delivery. They develop and implement national training programs for internal and external partners. Program managers are responsible for ensuring program development, management, and evaluation that includes assessing the mission, goals, and programs of the organization in terms of psychosocial needs of Veterans, their families, and caregivers and establishing objectives consistent with organizational goals.]

References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-14.

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.