Clarification from the agency

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Major duties include but not limited to the following:

Clinical:

• In-depth knowledge about physical disabilities, movement, and modifications. Skilled in developing exercise and fitness programs for individuals with a variety of disabilities.
• Exercises independent judgment in the application of specialized, complex, and extensive recreation therapy treatment theories, techniques, and evaluation methodologies in the provision of care to a vast array of patients' functional impairments. Applies advanced specialized clinical skills to medically and mentally complex patients with a wide range of impairments and acuity level.
• Provides clinical practice guidance for other staff Recreation and Creative Arts Therapists and Recreation Therapy Assistants utilizing advanced knowledge of best practices and evidence-based recreation therapy interventions.
• Conducts program and quality assurance evaluations to identify opportunities to improve program efficiency and effectiveness.
• Assures development of both conventional and unconventional therapeutic programs for the treatment of acute and chronic physical and psycho-social disorders such as: PTSD, psychosis, cardiovascular disorders, orthopedics, amputation, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, neuromuscular deficits among other medical, surgical, and mental health conditions.
• Develops quality leading-edge therapeutic interventions based on Veteran-driven health and wellness initiatives, best practices, evidence- based research and the latest advances in technology.
• Serves as a consultant to treatment teams as a subject matter expert in providing technical advice on specialized unique interventions addressing co­ morbidities including but not limited to pain program, blind rehabilitation; polytrauma; dementia care; PTSD; amputee; addictions; or the seriously mentally ill.
• Conducts comprehensive assessment and/or adapt assessment tools to the complexity of diagnosis, disability, or impairment as clinically necessary to identify underlying factors affecting patient functionality requiring the need for further in-depth assessment.

Administrative:

• Analyses clinically appropriate data and make recommendations to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity within services.
• Performs the full range of supervisory duties when authorized, which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; competency assessments; performance evaluations; selection of staff; recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions when appropriate.
• Monitors and reports on the status and progress of work, evaluate program quality to ensure that methods, deadlines, and standards have been met, and prioritize the workload.
• The incumbent may serve on committees, councils, workgroups, and/or task forces. May serve as liaison to community agencies and networks with agency representatives.
• Adapts assessment tools and treatment to the complexity of the diagnosis or disability/impairment and demonstrating sound clinical reasoning necessary to identify the needs for further in-depth specific assessment.
• Use of recognized leadership and managerial methods and strategies, including interpersonal relations and conflict resolution in the management of employees, team leaders, and managers.
• Communicates goals, objectives, and focused initiatives to an interdisciplinary team, specialized clinical program, or subsection, as well as guide the team members on work methods, practices, standards, and procedures.
• Application of regulatory requirements, interdisciplinary structure, and organizational structure to serve as a liaison between specialty care and other programs that would affect coordination of care, healthcare access, program evaluation, assessment, and planning future needs.

Supervision:

• The Program Coordinator services as the first line supervisor to assigned staff and the incumbent will perform the full range of supervisory duties including: planning and scheduling work; assigning and evaluating work of subordinate staff; resolving problems which may interfere with patient assessment or treatment; accepting, amending, or rejecting completed work; appraising performance and recommending performance standards, assessing competency levels, ratings and awards, and disciplinary actions when appropriate; approving leave; identifying continuing education and training needs.

Work Schedule: Full Time Monday-Thursday 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Fri 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

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 trial 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).
• 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

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.
• Education:

(a) A bachelor's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, with a major in therapeutic recreation or recreation/leisure, with an option and/or emphasis in therapeutic recreation. The degree must be approved by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC); OR,
(b) A bachelor's degree or higher in any field from an accredited college or university and must be a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS). The degree must be approved by the NCTRC. If hired under this education, the certification cannot be waived.
(c) Foreign Education To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. The private organization must deem such education at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.

• Certification:

Applicants must be certified in recreation therapy as a CTRS by the NCTRC. If hired under paragraph (b), certification cannot be waived.

Grade Determinations:

Experience: At lease one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level.

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

i. Knowledge of management/administration principles, procedures, and practice, which includes supervision, consultation, negotiation, mediation, and monitoring.
ii. Ability to analyze clinically appropriate data and make recommendations to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity within services.
iii. Ability to perform the full range of supervisory duties when authorized, which would include responsibility for assignment of work to be performed; competency assessments; performance evaluations; selection of staff; recommendation of awards, advancements, and disciplinary actions when appropriate.
iv. Ability to monitor and report on the status and progress of work, evaluate program quality to ensure that methods, deadlines, and standards have been met, and prioritize the workload.
v. Ability to effectively communicate goals, objectives, and focused initiatives to an interdisciplinary team, specialized clinical program, or subsection, as well as guide the team members on work methods, practices, standards, and procedures.
vi. Knowledge of regulatory requirements, interdisciplinary structure, and organizational structure to serve as a liaison between specialty care and other programs that would affect coordination of care, healthcare access, program evaluation, assessment, and planning future needs.
vii. Skill in employing recognized leadership and managerial methods and strategies, including interpersonal relations and conflict resolution in the management of employees, team leaders, and managers.

Preferred Experience: Applicants must be certified as a personal trainer.

Reference: VA Handbook 5005, PART II, APPENDIX G60, dated June 7, 2019

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: VA Handbook 5019/1, Part II, Pre-Placement Physical Examination and Evaluation.

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.